The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) continues to deliver the Youth Track of the ninth edition of UAE Hackathon 2026, under the theme “Make an Impact… Going Beyond the Idea”. The track brings together school and university students across five locations in the UAE, aiming to empower the next generation to apply their skills and knowledge to develop innovative solutions that address real-world challenges.
The track offers participants a practical experience that goes beyond idea generation, enabling them to explore challenges, develop solutions and leverage emerging technologies to turn their ideas into scalable outcomes, within an environment that encourages experimentation, teamwork and critical thinking.
The Youth Track forms part of TDRA’s efforts to strengthen youth participation in the national innovation ecosystem. Its activities continue during UAE Innovation Month, “UAE Innovates 2026”, which serves as a national platform celebrating ideas and initiatives that contribute to creating a positive and sustainable impact on society.
H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, said: “We view young people as partners in shaping the digital future, not merely as beneficiaries of the technologies transforming the world. Through UAE Hackathon, we provide them with the space and tools to turn their knowledge and aspirations into solutions that can make a real difference in society.”
His Excellency added: “In this edition, our focus extends beyond the idea itself to participants’ ability to understand challenges, test solutions and leverage emerging technologies to develop practical, scalable outcomes. This experience is an investment in a generation equipped with the confidence, skills and capabilities to contribute to shaping the UAE’s digital future.”
H.E. Eng. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Deputy Director General of the Information and Digital Government Sector at TDRA, said:“UAE Hackathon provides a practical platform for developing young people’s ability to leverage technology to address challenges, while strengthening their analytical thinking, innovation and teamwork skills. Through the Youth Track, we are committed to providing school and university students with opportunities to engage with real-world challenges, explore the potential of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, and transform their knowledge into practical and scalable solutions.”
The Youth Track comprises two categories designed for different age groups and educational stages. The first, “Emerging Generation”, is for students aged 11 to 17, while the second, “Leading Generation”, is for university students aged 18 to 25.
Through these two categories, participants engage in an interactive experience that helps develop their critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills, while exploring the potential of emerging technologies and applying them to address the challenges presented.
This approach reflects the ninth edition of UAE Hackathon’s focus on moving from idea generation to creating tangible impact by encouraging participants to test and develop their ideas and transform them into practical solutions that respond to society’s needs and future aspirations.
The Youth Track of UAE Hackathon 2026 has commenced across several emirates and will continue through a series of upcoming locations, welcoming school and university students and enabling them to develop their ideas and work on real-world challenges in an interactive environment that fosters innovation.
Extending the activities across multiple emirates broadens youth participation, creates more opportunities for knowledge-sharing and teamwork, and empowers participants to develop practical solutions to the challenges presented.
UAE Hackathon is one of TDRA’s national initiatives supporting innovation and digital transformation. It aims to strengthen community participation in developing innovative solutions that leverage emerging technologies to address challenges, improve quality of life and contribute to achieving national priorities.
Since its launch in 2018, UAE Hackathon has attracted 18,373 participants and received 494 innovative ideas. In its ninth edition, it continues to serve as a national platform bringing together talent, ideas and expertise, contributing to the development of digital and creative capabilities, fostering a culture of innovation, and transforming ideas into projects and solutions that deliver sustainable impact.
For more information, please visit:
https://hackathon.ae/
