InnovAIte 2025 Hackathon Crowns ‘Machine Mindset’ as Winner in UAE’s Largest Student-Led AI Challenge

The National Program for Coders, in collaboration with Emirates NBD and strategic partners, has successfully concluded the second edition of InnovAIte, the UAE’s largest student-led national AI hackathon. The event, held under the theme ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing,’ saw Team ‘Machine Mindset’ from GEMS Wellington Academy—Silicon Oasis emerge as the grand winner with their AI-powered emotion detection system, which leverages DeepFace and face recognition technology.

The three-day event, held at the University of Birmingham, Dubai, featured 289 students from 44 schools and 34 nationalities, showcasing their AI-driven innovations aimed at tackling mental and financial wellbeing challenges.

Winning Teams and Special Awards

• 🏆 Champion: Machine Mindset – An AI emotion detection system.

• 🥈 Runner-ups: ‘Data Minors’ and ‘ModernAItes’ from GEMS Modern Academy.

• 👩‍💻 Best Female-Majority Team: ‘STEMPALS’ from Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills.

• 🇦🇪 Best Emirati-Majority Team: ‘Desert Innovators’ from American Academy for Girls.

UAE’s Vision for AI-Driven Innovation

Dr. Abdulrahman Al Mahmoud, Director at the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, emphasized:

“Strategic partnerships within the UAE’s AI ecosystem reflect our vision to leverage AI for global progress. By uniting key players, we are fostering transformative innovations that empower industries and communities.”

Dr. Al Mahmoud further highlighted that such collaborations fuel AI advancements, shaping a resilient and sustainable future.

Corporate and Industry Support for AI Talent

Emirates NBD, a key sponsor, underscored its commitment to nurturing AI talent.
Miguel Rio-Tinto, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at Emirates NBD, stated:

“We are incredibly impressed by the ingenuity and dedication of these students. Their solutions demonstrate the transformative power of AI in tackling real-world challenges.”

He added that Emirates NBD’s involvement in InnovAIte 2025 provided the bank with early access to top AI talent, reinforcing its commitment to digital innovation.

Expert-Led Judging and Workshops

The grand finale featured presentations, workshops, and panel discussions, evaluated by a panel of 25 expert judges from Emirates NBD, University of Birmingham, EDGE Group, Hale Education Group, and AI industry specialists. Projects were assessed based on innovation, feasibility, impact, and presentation.

With AI-driven solutions at the forefront of global development, InnovAIte 2025 solidifies the UAE’s role as a hub for AI innovation while empowering the next generation of AI leaders.