FAQs

The UAE Hackathon is part of the innovative initiatives launched by The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). Several government agencies participate in the UAE Hackathon. This includes local digital and electronic governments, a number of federal and local government agencies, and the private sector.

The UAE Hackathon follows a hybrid format, combining both in-person and online elements to provide a comprehensive and flexible experience. The Hackathons, workshops and collaborative sessions will take place on-site, fostering hands-on learning and networking opportunities. Meanwhile, trainings and mentorship sessions will be conducted online, ensuring accessibility and convenience for participants across the UAE.

This year, the UAE Hackathon will consist of five hackathons, covering all seven emirates to ensure widespread participation and engagement. Each hackathon provides a unique opportunity for innovators across the UAE to contribute their ideas and solutions to the nation’s challenges. For detailed information about the hackathon schedule, locations, and phases, please visit the Journey section of the website.

A significant new addition is the one-week design sprint, which provides winners with the opportunity to refine and advance their ideas, creating more complete and impactful prototypes. The main themes—AI-Powered UAE, Cyber-Resilient Future, Green by Design and Zero Government Bureaucracy—are derived from the We the UAE 2031 Vision, the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, and the Green Agenda 2030. Additionally, participants across all tracks will receive special recognition for outstanding contributions, celebrating their efforts in addressing the UAE’s national priorities and shaping its future.

Anyone residing in the UAE with a valid Emirates ID is welcome to participate in the UAE Hackathon 2025. Registration is open to all UAE citizens, including students, employees, entrepreneurs, and creators—anyone with the passion and ability to innovate and develop creative, flexible ideas. Participants are encouraged to join one of four tracks based on their qualifications: the Rising Stars Track, designed for school students aged 11 to 17, focuses on ideation and fostering a spirit of creativity and innovation; the Pioneers Track, for university students aged 18 to 25, emphasizes ideation and prototyping to bridge the gap between ideas and tangible projects; the Entrepreneurs Track, tailored for professionals and entrepreneurs, focuses on ideation and prototyping to identify intrapreneurship opportunities and lead meaningful transformations; and the Government Innovators Track, designed for federal employees, policy leaders, and decision-makers, centers on creating initiatives that transform public services and address national challenges. These distinct tracks ensure that participants from all backgrounds can contribute meaningfully to shaping the UAE’s future.

Visit the UAE Hackathon website and click Register. Click Create New Account. If you don’t have the UAE Pass app, download it and sign up. Select the track you belong to from the following: Rising Stars Track (School Students), Pioneers Track (University Students), Entrepreneurs Track (Professionals and Entrepreneurs), or Government Innovators Track (Federal Employees, Policy Leaders, and Decision-Makers). Choose the theme that interests you and the specific challenge you wish to work on. Fill in your details, sign in, and gain access to the Hackathon platform.

Yes, the UAE Hackathon 2025 features four specific tracks: Rising Stars Track (School Students), Pioneers Track (University Students), Entrepreneurs Track, and Government Innovators Track.

Rising Stars Track: This track is for school students aged 11 to 17 who have not yet enrolled in university. It focuses on fostering creativity and a spirit of innovation among youth. Pioneers Track: This track is for university students aged 18 to 25, providing a platform to bridge the gap between ideation and prototyping. It emphasizes transforming ideas into tangible solutions through experimentation and collaboration. Entrepreneurs Track: This track is for professionals and entrepreneurs who have experience in their fields or are actively involved in driving innovation within their organizations. It focuses on developing and prototyping solutions to identify opportunities and lead meaningful transformations. Government Innovators Track: This track is for federal employees, policy leaders, and decision-makers who aim to drive innovation in governance. It emphasizes creating and prototyping impactful initiatives to enhance public services and address national challenge

The Hackathon's timeline is as follows The Abu Dhabi Hackathon: February 10-11-12 Sharjah-Ajman Hackathon: February 12-13-14 Ras Al Khaimah - Umm al Quwain Hackathon: February 17-18-19 Fujairah Hackathon: February 19-20-21 Dubai Hackathon: February 24-25-26 Shortlists finalists & Awards: March 3 - March 7 Online Webinars, mentorships & training for the finalists: March 7 - March 28 Innovation Summit & Awards Ceremony: April 21 Design Sprint for winners: April 22 - May 2

Teams participating in the UAE Hackathon must submit their projects before the designated Pitching Day. For more details on the Hackathon journey and submission guidelines, please visit: https://hackathon.ae/en/journey.

Team participation is open to anyone holding a valid Emirates ID.

Unfortunately, online participation and training will not be available for team members residing outside of the UAE.

All you need is an interest in exploring or utilizing open data and trending technologies to address a challenge related to one of the themes. No specific technical skills are required to participate, but a curiosity about emerging technologies, such as AI and blockchain, is encouraged, as the UAE continues to lead in pioneering advancements in technology.

No specific technical skills are required, and technical training will be available during the hackathon for those interested.

Successful teams typically consist of 4 to 5 members, but exceptions can be made—feel free to contact us if your team size differs. If you don’t have a team, simply register, and we’ll help connect you with one.

You can register either in English or Arabic.

Yes. You have to choose one of the themes and present your idea according to the challenges proposed in it.

AI-Powered UAE: Harnessing Innovation for a Future-Ready Nation Cyber-Resilient Future: Building a Secure and Trusted Digital Ecosystem Green by Design: Pioneering Sustainable Digital Transformation Zero Government Bureaucracy: Revolutionizing Efficiency Through Seamless Governance

The Hackathon’s themes intersect with several fields of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), AI Agents, Intelligent Chatbots, Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, Cybersecurity Technologies, and Big Data and Data Analytics. These cutting-edge technologies serve as the foundation for developing innovative solutions to address key challenges and drive progress across various sectors.

You can apply individually or with a team. However, it is highly recommended to join as a team.

Yes. Submission is editable, you can edit or resubmit your data.

No, participation in a co-ed team is not mandatory. Most locations encourage diverse teams, but participants can apply with or request to join female-only or male-only teams if preferred

The agenda will be announced soon. Stay tuned by following our social media channels for updates.

During the Registration phase, carefully review the challenges/themes, choose one, and collaborate with your team to develop the idea. In the Hackathon phase, check the locations in each emirate, and attend the one closest to you with your team to participate in training sessions and work on your idea. Throughout the Mentorship phase, select a suitable quiet place to attend the session, prepare your laptop, and get ready with your presentation and questions.

Yes, participants will have access to technology and business sessions led by mentors in these fields, as well as international experts and influencers specializing in technology and business

This depends on the track: For the Rising star track, a well-defined idea or blueprint concept would be acceptable. For the Pioneers track, we expect students to have a low-fidelity prototype. For the Entrepreneur's track, we expect participants to have a high-fidelity MVP. As for the Government Innovators Track, a well-defined idea or blueprint concept would be acceptable.

At the end of the hackathon, participants will present their ideas or prototypes. A jury of prestigious judges will evaluate the presentations. The shortlist of finalists will be announced between March 3-7, afterwards online mentorship and training sessions will take place from March 7 -28. The final evaluation of shortlisted teams will take place on April 15 & 16. Then the Innovation Summit and Award Ceremony will take place on April 21st. The newly added Design Sprint for winners will take place between April 22 - May 2.

Prizes will be awarded during the closing ceremony on the 21st of April.

Rising Stars Track: 1st place – 10,000 AED, 2nd place – 8,000 AED, 3rd place – 5,000 AED, 4th place – 4,000 AED, 5th place – 3,000 AED, and 6th to 10th places – 2,000 AED each. Pioneers Track: 1st place – 25,000 AED, 2nd place – 20,000 AED, 3rd place – 15,000 AED, 4th place – 10,000 AED, 5th place – 5,000 AED, and 6th to 10th places – 3,000 AED each. Entrepreneurs Track: 1st place – 50,000 AED, 2nd place – 30,000 AED, 3rd place – 25,000 AED, 4th place – 20,000 AED, and 5th place – 15,000 AED. Government Innovators Track: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will each receive 10,000 AED. Disclaimer: For the Pioneers and Entrepreneurs tracks, teams must provide a letter or proof of registration in an incubator in the UAE to receive monetary awards. For the Government Innovators Track, winners must present their idea to the innovation center within their entity.

All participants will be awarded a certificate recognizing their contribution.

Hackathons are meant for collaboration in a creative, open and transparent way to solve large challenges. As part of that, the work done in hackathons is generally provided openly and the quick timing precludes any lengthy legal procedures. We encourage teams to look at the Creative Commons licenses if they are interested in retaining intellectual ownership or acknowledgement of their work. Most often, hackathon teams choose the CC By or CC By-SA license.

Once you register your team, select your challenge, and participate in the training and physical hackathon, mentorship session details will be shared with all participants via email.

If you encounter any issues, you can reach out to us via email at hackathon@tdra.gov.ae.

Each track will have a dedicated judging panel tailored to the nature of the track participants, their qualifications, and the level of expected outcomes. Projects will be evaluated based on specific elements, including their potential impact on themes, data utilization, impact and relevance, innovative use of emerging technologies, solution feasibility and planning, market potential and commercialization, and presentation clarity. These elements collectively help identify the most innovative ideas that align with the hackathon's themes and can be transformed into impactful solutions. For detailed evaluation criteria, please visit the Criteria Page. https://hackathon.ae/en/Criteria

The UAE Hackathon does not retain ownership of the ideas. However, it’s worth mentioning that ideas cannot be protected on their own; only their successful implementation guarantees they are not replicated or used by others.