ALKHOBAR: Aged just 23, Saudi developer Kady Al-Yahya is helping define how technology can teach. Her hand-coded game Orbital Sweeper — a blend of space exploration and environmental awareness — has earned her global recognition and a place among the winners of Apple’s prestigious WWDC Global Student Challenge, a feat few from the Kingdom have managed.
The young developer from Riyadh’s achievement highlights her creativity, persistence, and passion for using technology to educate. The game invites players to collect debris orbiting Earth.
“The inspiration for Orbital Sweeper came from my fascination with both space and environmental sustainability,” Al-Yahya told Arab news. “I 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.
“The idea was to combine entertainment and education — showing that games can inspire real-world curiosity and responsibility toward our planet and beyond,” she added.
Gameplay from Orbital Sweeper, where players navigate a rocket equipped with a net to collect orbital waste around Earth. (SUPPLIED)
