The event was held in collaboration with the National Program of Coders, and supported by sponsors such as Emirates NBD, EDGE Group, Hale Education Group and the University of Birmingham, Dubai.

The three-day event culminated with a grand finale on 16 March 2025 at the University of Birmingham and was attended by students, teachers, parents and partners. The event’s theme for this year, ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing’ aligned with the Nation’s strategic vision to harness artificial intelligence for societal advancement.

The winning team, ‘Machine Mindset’, presented an AI-powered emotion detection system that analyses students’ emotions in real-time using DeepFace and face recognition. Runner-up teams at the event included ‘Data Minors’ and ‘ModernAItes’, both from GEMS Modern Academy. ‘STEMPALS’ from Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills were adjudged the Best Female-majority team, and ‘Desert Innovators’ from the American Academy for Girls were declared Best Emirati-majority team.

A resounding success, the event showcased the incredible talent and innovative spirit of 289 young AI enthusiasts across 34 Nationalities and 44 registered schools, with participants working tirelessly to develop creative solutions addressing critical aspects of mental and financial wellbeing.

Dr. Abdulrahman Al Mahmoud, Director at the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, said: “Strategic partnerships within the UAE’s AI ecosystem reflect the UAE’s vision and commitment to leveraging AI for the benefit of humanity. These collaborations bring together diverse sectors to create innovative solutions that address global challenges. By uniting key players, the UAE is driving transformative change that empowers both industries and communities.”

Dr. Al Mahmoud further added, “Partnerships have the power to fuel impactful AI innovations, shaping a resilient, sustainable future for all. Through this unified approach, the UAE is paving the way for a future where AI drives progress and serves humanity at its core.”

Miguel Rio-Tinto, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at Emirates NBD, said: “We are incredibly impressed by the ingenuity and dedication displayed by the students at InnovAIte 2025. The solutions they developed demonstrated the transformative potential of AI in addressing critical real-world and societal challenges, and the winning teams showcased exceptional talent in leveraging AI to create tangible, life-enhancing solutions.”

He added: “Emirates NBD is proud to have supported this initiative and to play a role in nurturing the next generation of AI leaders. The event served as a platform to connect and engage with top digital talent, presenting us early access to AI experts who have the potential to drive and contribute to the bank’s long-term success.”

Student presentations, workshops, and speaking sessions were held at the grand finale, where a panel of 25 esteemed judges, including experts from Emirates NBD, the University of Birmingham, EDGE Group, and Hale Education Group, as well as subject experts in various sectors evaluated the projects based on innovation, feasibility, impact and presentation.

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Organized by a group of dedicated Dubai College students, the hackathon is run in collaboration with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office and is supported by the UAE National Program for Coders, EDGE Group, Emirates NBD, Hale Education Group, and the University of Birmingham Dubai. This unique event will challenge students to create practical AI-driven solutions to real-world problems.

The inaugural InnovAIte Hackathon in 2024 was a resounding success, drawing 120 students from 25 nationalities and 45 schools across the UAE. Hosted at the DIFC Innovation Hub, the event offered over AED 10,000 in prizes and was supported by leading organizations like OpenAI and the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office.

Aryav Odhrani, Cofounder and Director of InnovAIte, said: “At InnovAIte, we aim to empower students to shape the future of AI through their creativity. Our goal is simple: to provide a platform where students can innovate, solve meaningful problems, and become the next generation of AI leaders. We’re proud to support the UAE’s vision for technological advancement.”

The Hackathon will begin with two days of online collaboration, Teams of 4-5 students from across the UAE will work together on projects centered around a theme revealed at the start of the event. On the third day, participants will gather in person at the University of Birmingham Dubai for the grand finale, where teams will present their projects to a panel of judges.

With a focus on creativity, impact, and technical execution, the teams will compete for over AED 40,000 in prizes, including cash awards and exclusive university admissions counseling sessions.

The InnovAIte Hackathon is gaining momentum as a key event for shaping the future of AI innovation in the UAE, with influential leaders from the AI community backing its vision.

Sana Al Dauomi, SVP for Human Capital at EDGE Group, emphasized the hackathon’s role in shaping future innovators: “InnovAIte can provide a supportive environment in which students can hone their skills and benefit from this pool of experience. EDGE invests to guarantee that the next generation will have the necessary tools and guidance to generate the impact they need.”

Miguel Rio Tinto, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at Emirates NBD, added: “InnovAIte will give the next generation an opportunity to showcase their inventive ideas to create solutions that significantly impact society. The sky is the limit when working with artificial intelligence and we, at Emirates NBD, encourage and applaud the founders of this initiative.”

Peter Davos, Founder and CEO of Hale Education Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the event: “We are thrilled to support the UAE Innovate Hackathon, which will inspire and challenge the next generation of changemakers and thought leaders. Today’s students stand to benefit tremendously from participation in this event.”

The InnovAIte Hackathon is also committed to diversity and inclusivity, offering special prizes for the Best Female Majority Team and Best Emirati Majority Team to encourage wider participation in the tech field.

With registration now open, the event expects to host 60 teams of students from Years 10-13 (Grades 10-12). It promises to be an exciting, dynamic event where young innovators will collaborate, learn, and develop the skills they need to succeed in the fast-evolving world of AI.

To register or for more information, visit www.uae-innovAIte.com/registration.

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Emirates NBD has consistently championed innovation, with a focus on nurturing promising talent and creating opportunities for them to thrive. The bank’s long-standing collaboration with like-minded partners reflects its commitment to fostering creativity and developing innovative solutions to practical challenges. This partnership aligns seamlessly with Emirates NBD’s overarching mission to support the community and actively contribute to shaping a future that empowers young people.

Miguel Rio Tinto, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer, Emirates NBD, said: “InnovAIte will allow the next generation to showcase their inventive ideas to create solutions that significantly impact society. The sky is the limit when working with artificial intelligence and we, at Emirates NBD, encourage and applaud the founders of this initiative. We commend the co-sponsors of this event, the DIFC Innovation Hub and Hale Education Group, in embracing the collective goal to develop the digital capabilities of young talent who will shape the future of the nation.”

Aadi Jain, Founder of InnovAIte, said; “Our mission with InnovAIte is to provide a platform for students to not only learn about AI but also to actively engage in creating solutions that address real-world challenges.”

Peter Davos, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Hale Education Group; “Hale is enthusiastic to contribute to the AI Hackathon, recognising the dynamic spirit of student organisers. The company is dedicated to cultivating future tech trailblazers and shares a commitment to fostering innovation in alignment with the event’s collaborative ethos. As sponsors, Hale embraces the potential of each student participant, acknowledging the transformative impact of their ideas. Together, the goal is to spark creativity, dismantle barriers, and chart a course towards an expansive future in technology

Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO, DIFC Innovation Hub, said: “Embracing the spirit of innovation and collaboration, DIFC Innovation Hub is proud to support the InnovAIte Hackathon – a pioneering initiative empowering young minds to explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence. By fostering diversity and inclusivity in STEM fields, this hackathon aligns perfectly with our commitment to nurturing talent and driving technological advancement. We look forward to witnessing the innovative solutions that emerge from this Hackathon and are excited to play a part in shaping the future of AI alongside our partners.”

Inspired by the vision to foster diversity and innovation in STEM fields, InnovAIte Hackathon is a pioneering event aimed at empowering young minds to explore the limitless potential of Artificial Intelligence. Inclusivity is a key focal point for the organisers who encourage participation from students of all background and nationalities, with a special emphasis on female and Emirati representation.

Participating teams (groups of 2 to 4 students) will be tasked with developing innovative solutions to a central theme that will be revealed on the day of the Hackathon. Participants will be challenged to think critically, innovate boldly and develop practical solutions that help the community around them. This would include developing working prototypes of their solutions with the aid of OpenAI APIs and other pre-existing AI tools, so that students understand AI from a practical rather than just a theoretical perspective.

Registrations for the Hackathon, restricted to 35 teams, are open. Day 1 session will start on 1 March from 2 to 3 PM with an online introduction, prompt reveal and Q&As, followed by developers working on finding unique solutions. On Day 2, the students will continue working on AI Solutions; Day 3 will kick off, at the DIFC Innovation Hub, at 11 AM with presentations and code submission by participants and on Day 3, the final day, presentations by the participants will begin at 2 PM followed by the Awards ceremony.

With free participation and prizes exceeding AED 10,000, including cash rewards and exclusive opportunities, InnovAIte, aims to shape the future through innovation, collaboration and the transformative power of AI.

To register for InnovAIte click on this link: https://www.uae-innovaite.com/registration. Make sure only one person from the team registers; participants should be available on the given dates. Prior experience in AI is not required. Guidance on how to use AI tools will be given on the day of the Hackathon. For any enquiries email uae.innovaite@gmail.com.

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