RIYADH: Layan Allhidaan, Maram Bin Gubair and Noura Alshathry are the latest winners of the Apple Swift Student Challenge after they used their coding skills to solve real-world environment, communication, and climate change challenges.
Through the Swift Student Challenge, Allhidaan created Velora, an application that supports communication for people who stutter.
Allhidaan, 22, who recently graduated in computer information systems from Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, said: “Public speaking is a common fear, but for those who stutter, that fear can accompany every single interaction.
“I believe technology has a responsibility to do more than just solve functional problems; it should understand and support human emotion.
“By providing a space to manage the pressure and anticipation of speech, Velora helps people show up more fully in their classrooms, workplaces, and communities.”
She added: “If an app can make someone feel even slightly more empowered to share their voice, the impact is profound. We are seeing a shift where technology is becoming more human-centric, and I’m proud to be part of a generation of developers building solutions that genuinely care for the user.
“Velora is an interactive fluency scenario engine that moves beyond isolated repetition. Users navigate structured, real-life scenarios — practicing breathing, gentle voice onset, and rhythm — while receiving real-time feedback.”
Maram Bin Gubair designing her winning application Carbi, an innovative educational game that blends her background in biology with her passion for sustainability. (Supplied by Apple)
In 2022, the Apple Developer Academy became the first coding institution in the region to partner with the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, represented by Tuwaiq Academy and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.
Since its inception, the Apple Swift Student Challenge has hosted annual cohorts that empower students to create significant social impact through their coding expertise. The program draws talented participants from across the Kingdom, fostering a new generation of innovators.
Allhidaan told Arab News: “Beyond the personal challenge, I am deeply driven by the creative energy currently defining Saudi Arabia. Being part of a generation that is constantly building and moving forward makes you feel like there is no excuse not to try; it naturally pushes you to step up, and that is exactly what I chose to do.”
After participating in the program, Allhidaan’s perspective on technology shifted significantly.
She said: “It was there that I began to see code not just as a functional tool, but as a medium for meaningful storytelling. I’ve always been drawn to building projects that reflect real human experiences, and the academy helped me turn that instinct into a structured, intentional craft.”
Allhidaan described her experience in the program as "intense, fast-paced, and — ultimately — a lesson in extreme resilience.”
She added: “I discovered the challenge late, leaving me with only two weeks to move from concept to submission.”
She highlighted that during the challenge her device failed but she managed to submit her project just 20 minutes before the deadline.
She said: “At that point, simply hitting ‘submit’ felt like a victory. Being named a distinguished winner was more than just a success; it was a powerful confirmation that persistence under pressure can lead to something truly meaningful.
“The late nights, the steep learning curve, and the persistence to keep going when the hardware failed. The pressure was at its peak.
“This isn’t an endpoint for me; it’s a powerful starting point that has given me the confidence to keep exploring what is possible.”
Bin Gubair, 27, was also one of the top-ranking winners of the challenge. A biology graduate from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, she was inspired to participate in the Swift Student Challenge after witnessing the “amazing projects from previous years.”
Her main motivation came from her passion for innovation, and she said: “I wanted to challenge myself and prove that I could combine my biology background with coding skills to build an app that made a real impact.”
Bin Gubair’s winning application was Carbi, an innovative educational game that blended her background in biology with her passion for sustainability and climate change.
She said: “The idea came from my major: studying biology is a highly visual experience. I kept asking myself how could I share this fascinating microscopic world with someone who is blind? That’s how Carbi (a carbon atom character) was created.
“The app explores the cell structure of mangrove trees and their role in absorbing carbon, all through an interactive, audio-based environment.
“I wanted to create an experience where blind users can learn and play seamlessly, while sighted players have the option to close their eyes and rely purely on sound, experiencing the game exactly as a blind person would.”
Unlike other participants in the challenge, Bin Gubair’s background was not in technology. For her, winning the challenge was “encouragement and motivation for any student from a non-tech background who feels hesitant to step into this field.”
Maram Bin Gubair designing her winning application Carbi, an innovative educational game that blends her background in biology with her passion for sustainability. (Supplied by Apple) q
She added: “My goal is to bridge the gap between science, UX, and AI. I want to build intelligent systems that truly adapt to people’s unique needs.
“This challenge was a perfect stepping stone because it confirmed what I strongly believe: The foundation of any great technology is empathy and inclusive design.”
The third winner of the challenge was Alshathry, 21, who is currently a student at the Apple Developer Academy at Tuwaiq. She first discovered the Swift Student Challenge through an introductory session led by mentors at the academy, and the spark to participate stayed with her.
She said: “I viewed the challenge as a definitive opportunity to synthesize everything I’ve learned and, more importantly, as a platform to transform my ideas into impactful solutions for our community.”
She described her participation in the challenge as “incredibly rewarding.”
Alshathry created Verdant, an iOS application designed to protect the natural landscapes by using machine learning to identify invasive plant species in real time.
She said: “Through a simple camera interface, the app not only identifies the plant but also assesses its impact on the local ecosystem and provides a guided, step-by-step removal process.”
The inspiration for Verdant was deeply personal, Alshathry explained, and rooted in her grandfather’s garden.
She added: “He spent a lifetime nurturing native Saudi flora, but over time I watched unfamiliar plants begin to crowd out his hard work.
“He had no way of knowing they were harmful invaders. That image of his vanishing garden stayed with me. I built this app for him — and for anyone who cares about their environment but lacks the technical knowledge to protect it.”
When asked how she felt about winning the challenge, she said: “My first reaction was complete disbelief — I had to read the notification twice before reality set in. Sharing that moment with my family was incredibly emotional.
“As a Saudi student, winning the Swift Student Challenge feels like a milestone that goes beyond my personal success.”
When asked how she believes apps will impact society or help solve real-world problems, she said: “I believe the greatest barrier to environmental action isn’t a lack of care but a lack of clarity.
“People often ignore ecological issues simply because they don’t know where to start. Apps like Verdant bridge the gap between intention and action. Putting the ability to identify an ecosystem threat instantly into someone’s pocket is transformative. It takes specialized knowledge that once lived only in textbooks or research labs and makes it a universal tool.
“To me, the true power of technology isn’t in the flashy features — it’s in these quiet, empowered moments where a person is suddenly capable of protecting the world around them in a way they never could before.”
In line with Vision 2030 objectives, Tuwaiq Academy launched Apple Developer Academy in collaboration with Apple as the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, aimed at enhancing technical skills through a self-directed learning methodology.
