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\n\t\tGameplay from Orbital Sweeper, where players navigate a rocket equipped with a net to collect orbital waste around Earth. (SUPPLIED) <\/p>\n
\n\tALKHOBAR: Aged just 23, Saudi developer Kady Al-Yahya is helping define how technology can teach. Her hand-coded game Orbital Sweeper \u2014 a blend of space exploration and environmental awareness \u2014 has earned her global recognition and a place among the winners of Apple\u2019s prestigious WWDC Global Student Challenge, a feat few from the Kingdom have managed.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe young developer from Riyadh\u2019s achievement highlights her creativity, persistence, and passion for using technology to educate. The game invites players to collect debris orbiting Earth.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThe inspiration for Orbital Sweeper came from my fascination with both space and environmental sustainability,\u201d Al-Yahya told Arab news. \u201cI realized that while people often talk about pollution on Earth, few know about the growing problem of space debris. I wanted to create a game that makes players aware of this issue in an engaging, interactive way.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThe idea was to combine entertainment and education \u2014 showing that games can inspire real-world curiosity and responsibility toward our planet and beyond,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tGameplay from Orbital Sweeper, where players navigate a rocket equipped with a net to collect orbital waste around Earth. (SUPPLIED)
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\n\tAl-Yahya\u2019s path to the WWDC stage was a long one. Before creating Orbital Sweeper, she spent months at the Apple Developer Academy, where she shaped her design and her business mindset.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThe academy completely transformed the way I approach technology and creativity,\u201d she said. \u201cIt gave me hands-on experience in app design, user experience, and teamwork, while also encouraging me to think like an entrepreneur.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tShe learned that creativity is not just about aesthetics, it\u2019s about problem-solving. \u201cI learned to develop ideas with real-world impact, to prototype quickly, and to refine designs based on feedback. The mentors emphasized human-centered design \u2014 focusing on solving problems that matter,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\n\tShe also gained skills that extend beyond programming. \u201cI gained confidence in presenting my ideas and collaborating with people from diverse backgrounds, which prepared me to turn creative concepts like Orbital Sweeper into tangible, high-quality products,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\n\tFor Al-Yahya, gaming is more than entertainment, it\u2019s a way to democratize complex ideas.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cGamified learning captures attention in a way traditional education cannot,\u201d she said. \u201cGames allow players to interact, make decisions, and experience consequences \u2014 which helps information stick. By transforming global issues like space debris into playable challenges, we turn passive awareness into active understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tShe believes the future of education will increasingly rely on interactive storytelling. \u201cPeople are more likely to care about a topic when they experience it rather than just read about it,\u201d she said. \u201cGames simplify complex topics and make them accessible to all ages. Through fun and challenge, players can learn empathy, responsibility, and problem-solving \u2014 powerful tools for addressing global issues creatively.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tHer success has made her a role model for young Saudis entering the fast-growing tech and gaming ecosystem.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tKady Al-Yahya recognized among the five Saudi winners of Apple\u2019s Swift Student Challenge 2025, celebrating young innovators in app development. (SUPPLIED)
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\n\t\u201cMy message to young Saudi developers and creatives is simple: Believe in the power of your ideas,\u201d she said. \u201cEven if you start small, every innovation begins with curiosity and courage. Technology is not just about coding \u2014 it\u2019s about solving real problems and improving lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tSaudi Arabia, she said, is now fertile ground for young innovators. \u201cThe tech ecosystem in Saudi Arabia is growing rapidly, and this is the perfect time to dream big,\u201d she said. \u201cSurround yourself with people who inspire you, and always keep learning. Your creativity has the power to represent the future of Saudi innovation globally.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tKady Al-Yahya at her Apple Developer Academy graduation in 2024, where she first developed the concept for her space-themed educational game. (SUPPLIED)
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\n\tBehind Al-Yahya\u2019s victory lies a story of determination.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWinning the WWDC Global Student Challenge was an unforgettable milestone that encouraged me to think even bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat makes this victory even more meaningful is that I had tried to participate the previous year but didn\u2019t make it. However, I never lost hope \u2014 I kept learning, improving my skills, and pushing myself until I finally achieved my goal.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cMy next step is to expand Orbital Sweeper into a more immersive educational platform \u2014 one that can be used in schools to teach environmental and space awareness.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tFor Al-Yahya, the recognition is only a first step. \u201cI also want to mentor other students and share what I\u2019ve learned through workshops and community projects,\u201d she said. \u201cThis achievement is just the beginning of a journey toward shaping meaningful digital experiences for the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tHer work reflects a broader transformation in Saudi Arabia\u2019s digital and creative economy, one where technology, art, and education intersect. As gaming and AI become national priorities under Vision 2030, innovators like Al-Yahya are proving that creativity can be both playful and purposeful. From Riyadh to Cupertino, her story embodies the Kingdom\u2019s new creative energy: bold, experimental, and globally aware.<\/p>\n
\n\tThrough Orbital Sweeper, Al-Yahya isn\u2019t just cleaning up space debris \u2014 she\u2019s clearing the path for a new generation of Saudi talent ready to innovate for a better, smarter world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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