Saudi programmers to compete in international contest 

(MENAFN - Arab News) In a search for talents in Saudi Arabia, Arab Net and Bab Rizq Jameel (BRJ) launched contests for web and mobile programrs in the Kingdom.

The contest is one of five similar events organized by Arab Net in five Arab states. Arab Net has already organized several successful events for the digital sector in Beirut and Cairo. The contests are seeking to gather developers and programrs to compete for Best Developer in the Arab World. The first four winners from each country will get a cash prize of 5,000 (SR 18,750) and an opportunity to represent their country in the Arab Net Programrs Championship, which will be organized during Arab Net Digital Summit in March 2013.

After Beirut and Amman, last Thursday Riyadh was the third stop for the contest. Competitors spent 12 hours of programming to produce web or mobile applications. The first winner, Dhayf Allah Al-Otaiby, won first prize and received 2,500. Second place was for Abdullah Al-Qathami, who won 1,500. The winners of third and fourth place, Azoz Al-Hassani and Osama Mazy, each received 500.

All four winners got a free travel ticket and accommodation to compete with the winners from other Arab states at the finals.

Omer Christidis, founder of Arab Net, said that the Arab region is one of the most important digital markets in the world. It enjoys one of the fastest growth rates in the number of mobile phones. The acceleration in using web and mobile technologies in the region has generated demand for content and applications, which in turn created an urgent need for programming talents.

"These contests can help create more job opportunities in the digital industry for young people. To establish a base of entrepreneurs in the digital industry, BRJ is keen to finance successful projects," said Mohammed Hakami, program development general director at Bab Rizq Jameel.