Arabic Computing Challenge

The Arabic Computing Challenge is a global technology challenge aimed at addressing issues in Arabic language computing. It focuses on the automated processing of the Arabic language and the development of models that support researchers in analyzing, understanding, and advancing it. The challenge attracts technical and linguistic talent, where programmers and specialists compete to develop solutions and create digital platforms. The first edition was launched by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language on March 6, 2022, as part of its initiatives in the field of Arabic language computing. It is also referred to as “Arabic Hackathon.”

On May 23, 2022, the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language announced the conclusion of the registration phase for the Arabic Computing Challenge, with the participation of approximately one thousand programmers from forty countries, 57.2 percent of whom were Saudis, followed by participants from Algeria at 12.2 percent, and Egypt at 9.1 percent.

Tracks of the Arabic Computing Challenge

The first challenge targets the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop automated models capable of generating Arabic poetry, predicting its themes and types, identifying and correcting errors in meter and rhyme, and recognizing poetic meters.

The second challenge centers on the development of electronic Arabic dictionaries. It involves enabling machines to predict the user’s intended meaning based on input, adjust interpretations according to context, and distinguish between word types, whether noun, verb, or letter.

The initiative also aims to strengthen children’s connection with the Arabic language and integrate it into their daily lives. Its third challenge focuses on the creation of digital language games that emphasize proper pronunciation, enrichment of Arabic vocabulary and structures, and improvement in spelling and handwriting.

Prizes of the Arabic Computing Challenge

Approximately one thousand contestants from forty countries participated in the Arabic Computing Challenge. Seventy-one teams, comprising 192 contestants, qualified for the finals and competed across the three challenge tracks for a total prize pool of SAR1 million.

On June 18, 2022, four prizes were awarded for each of the three challenge tracks, as follows: SAR150,000 for first place, SAR80,000 for second place, SAR50,000 for third place, and SAR20,000 for fourth place.

In the Arabic poetry challenge, the first-place prize was awarded to Team “Al-Rawiyah,” second place to Team “Hayek,” third place to Team “Sha‘bour,” and fourth place to Team “Qawafi.” In the dictionary challenge, first place went to Team “Asl,” second place to Team “Sadaf,” third place to Team “Talafeef,” and fourth place to Team “Ibn Sīdah.” As for the children's language games track, the prizes were awarded to Team “Tahseen” in first place, Team “Bari‘” in second place, Team “Mutawirun Rahhal – UnderShell” in third place, and Team “Tala’i‘” in fourth place.

The competition also awarded a special prize of SAR20,000 for the most outstanding and innovative ideas to Teams “Tashjir” and “Nadeem.” The User Experience Prize was awarded to Teams “Bari‘” and “Al-Rawiyah,” while the Data Quality Prize went to Teams “Talafeef” and “Ra’idun.” Teams “Ghusn” and “Asl” received the Presentation Appeal Prize, and the Cleanest Source Code Prize was awarded to Teams “Mutanabbi Al-‘Arabiyah” and “Sha‘bour.”

Objectives of the Arabic Computing Challenge

The Arabic Computing Challenge aims to achieve several objectives, including introducing the field of Arabic language processing, raising awareness of its importance and ways to contribute to it, and strengthening relationships with specialists in the field by highlighting and recognizing their efforts. The initiative encourages interested individuals to develop creative and innovative solutions for processing and computing the Arabic language through competitive challenges and by raising the level of competition.

Second edition of the Arabic Computing Challenge

On October 31, 2023, the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launched the second edition of the Arabic Computing Challenge. This edition focused on enriching the Riyadh Lexicon through innovative applications and new ideas, such as developing apps that connect to the lexicon and retrieve content from it, or apps that enrich its content, such as creating games based on the lexicon, tools for teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, tools that allow specialists to contribute to the enrichment of its data, or adapting various platforms, systems, and applications to activate the lexicon. Examples include developing dialect tools, enabling search via camera, or generating images automatically for dictionary entries.