The ninth edition of the UAE Hackathon 2026 for the emirates of Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah kicked off today at Umm Al Quwain University. Organized by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) under the slogan “Creating Impact Beyond Ideas,” the event aims to foster a culture of innovation, develop digital skills, and create innovative solutions that contribute to improving government services and supporting the UAE’s digital transformation journey.
A total of 250 participants from five categories took part in the first day’s activities, including school and university students, entrepreneurs, startup owners, and government innovators. The hackathon seeks to attract talent and creative minds while fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange to develop practical solutions to the challenges presented.
The hackathon is being held as part of national efforts to leverage modern technologies and artificial intelligence in developing government services and transforming creative ideas into practical projects, in line with the UAE’s priorities in quality of life, government bureaucracy elimination, and the digital economy.
In her opening remarks, Al Anoud Al Ali, Team Lead of the UAE Hackathon at TDRA, said the ninth edition focuses on transforming innovative ideas into practical solutions that deliver sustainable impact. She noted that since its launch in 2018, the hackathon has attracted approximately 18,373 participants and received 494 ideas, resulting in the actual implementation of 10 projects.
She explained that this year’s edition aligns with national priorities, particularly the Year of the Family 2026, the Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, and national artificial intelligence directions. This is achieved through specialized tracks and support programmes that help develop projects and turn them into practical solutions, while expanding participation and strengthening the connection between innovation and community needs.
For his part, Dr. Hany Bakr, Deputy Director of Umm Al Quwain University, said the university’s hosting of this national event reflects its commitment to supporting innovation and empowering young people and entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into practical solutions that help develop government services and enhance quality of life. He emphasized the important role universities play in preparing generations who do not merely use technology, but are also capable of developing it and applying it to serve people and society.
He explained that the hackathon’s themes complement the university’s academic disciplines and programmes, including Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems, Cybersecurity, Business Information Systems, and New Media and Public Relations. He stressed the importance of integrating technical, administrative, and media disciplines and connecting academic knowledge with practical application to develop solutions that support the creation of a smarter government and a more inclusive digital society.
He also noted that the university continues to develop its academic programmes in line with labour market requirements and digital transformation. He highlighted the university’s accreditation as a training institution by the National Qualifications Authority at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the accreditation of its Bachelor’s programme in Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems, the international accreditation of its Bachelor of Law programme, and the establishment of the College of Computer Science, all of which strengthen the university’s focus on future-oriented disciplines.
The programme also featured a presentation by Eng. Tarek Salah El Din, Open Innovation Officer at the UAE Hackathon. He outlined the hackathon’s stages, team participation mechanisms, and the process of developing ideas and projects, as well as the training tracks and mentoring stages leading to the evaluation of innovative solutions.
The hackathon focuses on four main themes: human-centred inclusion, which aims to improve access to digital services for all segments of society; knowledge-driven smart government, which focuses on using artificial intelligence and data to support government decision-making; digital trust and national cybersecurity, which seeks to strengthen data protection and privacy; and seamless government services, which focuses on simplifying procedures and improving the customer experience.
The first day’s programme included two training sessions on design thinking. The first, “Understanding and Defining the Problem,” focused on analysing challenges, understanding beneficiaries’ needs, and identifying problems. The second, “Generating Ideas and Solutions,” aimed to develop participants’ creative thinking skills and their ability to create innovative, practical solutions.
Participants in the training programme were divided into two tracks: one for university students and another for school students. Specialized mentors supervised the groups, helping participants shape their ideas, develop their projects, strengthen teamwork skills, and exchange knowledge, with the aim of turning ideas into practical solutions within the hackathon’s themes.
The programme will continue tomorrow with two training sessions. The first, “Design Thinking – Prototyping and Testing,” will focus on turning ideas into prototypes and testing their effectiveness. The second, “Business Model – From Idea to Value,” will introduce participants to developing business models that help transform innovative solutions into implementable projects.
Video: