Young innovators tackle real challenges with AI at Sharjah’s landmark competition

At Al Majaz Amphitheatre, school and university students across the region are developing artificial intelligence solutions to address public health, environmental and food security challenges, with winners to be celebrated this week.

The amphitheatre in Sharjah has become a laboratory of ideas this week, where young minds are harnessing technology to imagine solutions to some of society’s most pressing needs. The Best Innovators Competition in Smart Communication, held as part of the 13th Sharjah Government Communication Award, brings together the AI Skills Challenge and the University Challenge, two distinct initiatives united by a common purpose: to give emerging innovators space to develop their thinking and test their ideas in the real world.

Alya Al Suwaidi, Director of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, frames the effort with clarity: “Advancing government communication goes beyond adopting modern technologies. It requires using them to understand community needs and deliver more efficient and effective solutions.” Through these competitions, young people across school and university levels are being given exactly that opportunity. As we reported in our coverage of the broader award programme, the Sharjah Government Communication Award reaches new heights with global recognition, celebrating over 430 entries from 31 countries.

The AI Skills Challenge, which began on 28th October in collaboration with the Rubu’ Qarn Centre for Science and Technology, drew from an intensive 16-day training programme held from August. Fourteen practical sessions guided school and university students in developing AI-powered responses to challenges spanning five crucial areas: public health, education, environmental transformation, the green economy and food security.

Five finalist projects emerged from eight submissions. “Shaheen” presents an autonomous drone equipped with artificial intelligence to detect toxic gases, monitor temperatures and locate individuals in distress, fundamentally changing how rescue teams approach hazardous situations. “Rasd” monitors drainage infrastructure and predicts flood risks with early warning precision. On the education side, “Shurooq” consolidates notifications, opportunities and achievement records into a unified AI-powered platform for children. “Sprout” addresses food waste through predictive analysis of fresh produce in retail environments, while “Nabta” connects government bodies directly with farmers, transforming plant images into actionable agricultural data.

The University Challenge, now in its fifth edition, gathers 21 projects from 17 universities across the region and beyond. Nine international universities participate alongside eight Emirati institutions, including United Arab Emirates University, Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, Khalifa University of Science and Technology and others. This cross-border participation reflects a growing momentum in innovation across the Gulf and beyond, with institutions from Kuwait, Morocco, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea, Myanmar, Azerbaijan, India and Senegal all represented.

A specialised judging panel will assess entries on their application of modern technology, quality of planning and execution, anticipated outcomes and potential community benefit. Winners across both challenges will be honoured at a ceremony on Monday, 2nd November.

Jassem Albloushi, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators, speaks to the deeper philosophy behind the initiative: “At Rubu’ Qarn, we are committed to providing a supportive environment and meaningful opportunities for young people to discover and develop their potential. The AISC encourages them to use technology responsibly to serve their communities and create a positive impact.”

What it means for Abu Dhabi

This programme represents a significant investment in the talent pipeline across the entire Emirates. By creating structured pathways for young innovators to develop solutions to authentic community challenges, the competitions strengthen the region’s technological capacity and nurture a generation equipped to lead innovation in the years ahead. The participation of Emirati universities alongside global institutions underscores Abu Dhabi’s commitment to being part of a broader ecosystem of creative problem-solving.

Beyond competition, these initiatives model how technology can serve governance and community wellbeing. The projects developed here, from flood prediction to healthcare support to food security, address challenges that matter directly to residents. As we reported in our earlier feature on the Global Water Hackathon at Khalifa University, similar competitions are advancing innovative solutions for critical issues, demonstrating the value of structured innovation programmes in driving meaningful progress across the region.

Source: WAM, SGCA launches Best Innovators Competition in Smart Communication