The InnovAIte Hackathon 2025 is set to ignite the creativity of young minds across the UAE. From March 14 to 16, high school students will gather at the University of Birmingham Dubai to compete in an exciting AI competition that’s all about fostering innovation. Registration is now open and free through the InnovAIte website.
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.
