Higher Colleges of Technology Celebrates 130 Winners of HCT Skills 2026 Competition
The second edition of the prestigious skills competition drew over 800 students competing across 39 disciplines, reflecting a 60 per cent surge in participation and demonstrating the UAE's commitment to developing national talent.
The Higher Colleges of Technology has honoured 130 exceptional students who triumphed in the second edition of HCT Skills 2026, a premier competition that brought together more than 800 participants competing across 39 applied and specialised skills spanning seven academic disciplines.
Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chancellor of HCT, commended the students’ outstanding performance and competencies, emphasising how the competition underscores the significance of investing in young Emirati talent and fostering an educational environment aligned with future economic requirements. He highlighted that the evolving nature of employment and labour-market demands necessitates educational approaches that synthesise theoretical knowledge with practical application, equipping students to navigate professional challenges with confidence and proficiency.
The competition, staged across HCT campuses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, demonstrated remarkable growth, expanding from over 500 participants in 2025 to more than 800 this year—a 60 per cent increase. The range of skills evaluated similarly grew from 37 to 39 disciplines.
Faisal Alayyan, President and Chief Executive of HCT, described the competition as integral to enriching the student experience through practical opportunities to evaluate and strengthen their capabilities. The results, he noted, provide valuable metrics for assessing learning outcomes and ensuring academic programmes remain responsive to labour-market expectations.
The seven academic fields encompassed engineering technology and science, computer information science, business, health sciences, applied media, education and general academic requirements. Specific competitions ranged from cybersecurity and application development to robotics, advanced manufacturing, aircraft and drone maintenance, digital design, marketing, health sciences, communication and artificial intelligence.
Evaluation was conducted by recognised experts and judges from HCT and partner institutions, applying assessment criteria endorsed by Emirates Skills and WorldSkills, with rigorous consideration given to the practical requirements inherent to each discipline.
The closing ceremony celebrated the 130 winning students, with Alayyan presenting certificates before HCT leadership, faculty, partners, sponsors and competitors. HCT also acknowledged seven supporting organisations from the industrial, technology and education sectors: Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, EDGE Group, McGraw Hill, Grapheast, Tekvion Technology, Vertix Holding and TecBrix.
Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, stressed that developing advanced sectors requires preparing national talent capable of leading them. Sana AlDaoumi, Chief People and Organisation Effectiveness Officer at EDGE Group, reinforced that nurturing Emirati talent supports the UAE’s vision for a diversified, knowledge-based economy propelled by innovation, technology and education.
Source: WAM