Their entry of a “sliding emergency exit” is original, practical and innovative and this could help them win the top prize.

The competition is being organized under the supervision of the Ministry of Education.

More than 45 projects were entered in the  competition, known as Masar Ibtikar (Innovation Path).

A judging panel will evaluate all the entries on Sunday to pick the winning projects for participation in the Kingdom level competition. The winning projects will participate in the Intel ISEF in the US in which more than 1,600 male and female students from 50 countries will participate.

The project designed by the two girls is a sliding emergency exit to be installed in all buildings for use by occupants during emergencies.

Shahad and Samar said they were inspired by the recent fire at Braim Al-Watan Girls School in which three teachers died and 52 others injured.

They said their invention would have sensors that will warn occupants at times of fires or other emergencies.