They were among 120 meritorious students across the Kingdom, including 12 global and 37 national winners. The students outperformed thousands of candidates worldwide who sat examinations in Cambridge IGCSE, International AS, and A levels.

Head of the Education Ministry’s English department Nabeel Samerkandi and John Guy, senior education adviser at University of Cambridge International Examinations, presented the awards to the students during a ceremony at the Holiday Inn in Alkhobar. Similar ceremonies were held in Jeddah and Riyadh last month.

The top-ranking students from the Eastern Province were Hebah Mohamed, Umaymah Khan, Lujain Ahmed, Naziha Mohamed Deriche, Ahmed Taguri and Sowsan Majdi Baddourah from Manarat Al-Sharqia School; Talal Bastaty, Dara Ayman, Fairouz Majed Khallad, Humera Kaleem, Yomna Ashraf and Madeeha Kaleem from Al-Hussan Academy; Fahim Abdullah and Maleeha Chowdhury from Bangladesh International School; Mariam Hassan, Omar Mohammed, Omar Nabil, Siham Ahmed, Mohammad Mohanna Khan and Ahmed Osama from Al-Majd International School; Marawan Yasser and Rawan Ashraf from Excellence International School; Mohamed Galal and Sara Jalal from Al-Reeyada International School; Ahmed Tariq, Rabiya Farooq and Mehak Ali Zaidi from New World International School; Umar Khan from the British Council; Connie Prudden from Dhahran British Grammar School; Khalid Adnan, Bakhtawar Amjad, Akshayaa Govindan and Ahmed Samir from Jubail International School; and Fathima Mohideen, Rubab Fatima and Khadijah Mohiuddin from Orbit Academy.

“It is encouraging to acknowledge the high standards of education offered by schools in Saudi Arabia reflected through these exceptional results,” said William Bickerdike, Cambridge regional manager. “These achievements are a credit to the partnerships Cambridge has established with schools, and demonstrate the dedication and commitment of teachers, support provided by families and friends, and learners’ determination and passion to succeed,” he said.

In Saudi Arabia, the Cambridge tests are administered with the assistance of the British Council, and Mike Bailey, regional examinations manager at the British Council, congratulated the young people on their achievements.

“It shows just how committed they are to reaching their full potential across a wide variety of subjects; it also clearly demonstrates the high levels of professionalism of the teachers and schools who have supported them in their learning,” he said.

Bailey said the British Council was proud to be working with Cambridge International Examinations in Saudi Arabia. “Through this association we are providing opportunities for young people to gain access to these prestigious qualifications, and help them in achieving their lifetime ambitions,” he said.

Ma’arif for Education and Training, the organization that runs the prestigious Manarat chain of schools in the Kingdom, congratulated its students for doing exceptionally well in the Cambridge examinations.

The organization has run full-page advertisements in local newspapers highlighting its achievers and global toppers including Tala Ammar Adnan Qadomi from Manarat Riyadh and Mohammed Hussain Abdulwahab from Manarat Jeddah; both topped in mathematics worldwide.