9th International Women in Data Science (WiDS) Conference
Advancing Data Science for Global Challenges | April 14–15, 2026 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
WiDS 2026 Conference at Prince Sultan University
The Ninth International Women in Data Science(WiDS) Conference will be organized by Prince Sultan University(PSU), Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics (AIDA) Lab, in collaboration with Stanford University. The conference aims to foster women's interest and professional participation in data science, engineering, and computer science. WiDS PSU 2026 will bring together high-profile international researchers and industry pioneers. Prince Sultan University (PSU) is the WiDS Ambassador for Stanford, and the conference aims to expose the latest data science research and practices in the Arab Middle East by promoting the exchange of ideas, encouraging mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration in line with technological advances in the Kingdom under the umbrella of the Saudi Vision 2030.
WiDS PSU 2026 will allow national and international researchers to present their novel research findings and exchange information with the research community. It will bring specialists, leading researchers, scholars, scientists, and professors from computer science, technology, engineering science, business, education and alternative connected areas to act and exchange ideas concerning the state-of-the-art technologies associated with artificial intelligence, IoT & big data analytics.WiDS PSU will comprise oral sessions, keynote speeches, technical workshops, panel discussions, best regular paper & poster awards, Poster shows, and video shows by specialists in AI, Data Science and IoT domains. WIDS PSU 2026 will be held in a HYBRID MODE from April 14-15, 2026, with LIVE INTERACTIVE SESSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS ONLY opened to REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS.
Leadership Team
| Role | Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Honorary Program Chair | Dr. Ahmed Al-Yamani | President, Prince Sultan University (PSU) |
| Program Executive Chair | Dr. Heba Khoshaim | Vice President for Student Life at Prince Sultan University |
| Program Chair | Prof. Tanzila Saba | WiDS Ambassador, AIDA Lab Leader, Associate Director (Research & Initiatives Center), PSU |
| Organizing Chair | Ms. Fatima Khan | WiDS Co-Ambassador, Program Manager (Digital Academy), AIDA Lab Member, PSU |
Technical Tracks
Data Science & AI for Sustainability
Exploring how data science can address environmental and societal challenges.
Generative AI & ChatGPT
Applications, challenges, and human-AI collaboration in generative models.
Cybersecurity, IoT & Data Security
Latest advancements in securing connected systems and data.
Computer Vision & NLP
Including Large Language Models and their applications.
Big Data Analytics & Visualization
Techniques for processing and presenting large datasets.
AI Applications in:
- Healthcare (Digital Clinical Diagnosis)
- Renewable Energy, Smart Agriculture
- Business, Law, Digital Humanities
- Architecture, Interior Design
Important Dates
| Milestone | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Paper Submissions Open | October 1, 2025 |
| Full Paper Submission Deadline | January 20, 2026 |
| Acceptance Notification | February 20, 2026 |
| Final Revised Paper Submission | February 25, 2026 |
| Paper Registration Fee | March 5, 2026 |
| Camera-Ready Paper Submission | March 12, 2026 |
| Conference Dates | April 14–15, 2026 |
Publication Opportunities
All accepted papers will be published in IEEE Xplore® (Scopus-indexed).
Top papers will be invited for extended versions in:
- Nature Scientific Reports (Impact Factor: 3.8, Q1)
- International Journal of Computers and Applications
Unique Features
- WiDS Datathon: 24-hour hackathon for real-world problem-solving
- Student Engagement: Poster competitions, NextGen Data Science program
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with researchers, academics, and industry professionals
Program Advisory Board
We honor the contributions of our distinguished Program Advisory Board:
Dr. Muhammad AlShara
Dean, College of Computer & Information Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Dr. Reem Alsuhaibani
College of Computer & Information Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Dr. Dhafer Almakhles
Director of Research & Initiative Center, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Prof. Gwanggil Jeon
Professor, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
Prof. Seifedine Kadry
Professor, Noroff University College, Norway
Prof. Robertas Damaševičius
Professor, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
Dr. Layla Alfawzan
Vice Dean, College of Computer & Information Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Prof. Maysaa Al Qurashi
Professor, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
Prof. Hadeer Abouelnagah
Director of Translation & Authoring Centre, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Prof. Hoshang Kolivand
Professor, Liverpool University, United Kingdom
Dr. Connie Mitchell
Vice Dean, College of Humanities & Sciences, Director of TLC, Prince Sultan University, Saudi Arabia
Prof. Ali Kashif Bashir
Professor, Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom
Dr. Syed Ahmad Chan Bukhari
Director, Healthcare Informatics, St. John's University, New York, United States
Call for Posters
🚀 Calling all Data Science & AI enthusiasts!
Submit your research posters by March 28, 2026 for a chance to:
- Present at a top-tier conference
- Receive expert feedback
- Win prizes and gain recognition
📍 Showcase Date: April 14, 2026, at Prince Sultan University
📧 Contact: aidalab@psu.edu.sa
Event Gallery
From groundbreaking demos to inspiring collaborations, our journey has been powered by innovation and passion. Here's a glimpse into the moments that define who we are.
Conference Contacts
Prof. Tanzila Saba
PSU WiDS Ambassadors
Associate Director PSU Research & Initiative Center (CW)
AIDA Lab Leader
tsaba@psu.edu.sa
+966 11 494 8655
Ms. Fatima Khan
PSU WiDS Ambassadors
Associate Director Evaluation & Academic Accreditation Center CW, Manager Digital Academy
fkhan@psu.edu.sa
+966 11 494 8145