Origin Story

Crammed in a KFUPM dorm room in 2011, four, soon-to-be visionary engineers gathered over a feast of luciene sandwiches to brainstorm ideas for their senior project proposal. They decided on a remote control car but now all they had to do was decide on what made it unique. Having just been inspired by the story of the world solar challenge one engineer decided to ask a big what if? and a few moments later they decided to reach for the sun and pitch a solar car project. In 2011, the pioneers would go on to make it to the Bridgestone world solar challenge with the pride of being the first Saudi team to ever qualify for the competitive race. With Wahaj 1, the team proudly waved the first Saudi flag at the finish line. This once-in-a-lifetime experience changed the founding team and exposed them to an innovative hands-on experience that would shape their careers as engineers. Fuelled by their enthusiasm and unwavering determination, the team rejoined the race in2013. But much to their dismay, the car did not make it to Australia. A shipping accident caused their car to be burnt to the ground and the race was over before it begun. But having gotten a glimpse of the starting line, the team vowed not to give up until they experienced the finish line. The experience was an indescribable one that the founding team wanted to share with generations to come. And so Estidamah was born to blaze the trail for Saudi-made innovation and as an incubator for the exceptional innovators, entrepreneurs, engineers, and inventors of the future.