KAUST hosted the JUNCTIONxKAUST hackathon, bringing together developers and entrepreneurs to design technologies for food, water, and energy solutions to be implemented in NEOM. The winning team, eFarmers, will attend the global Junction hackathon in Helsinki. Participants addressed challenges related to producing food in the desert, creating fresh water at sea, and harnessing renewable energy. Why it matters: The event highlights Saudi Arabia's focus on fostering local talent and innovation to address critical challenges in sustainable development and technology within the context of NEOM.
The 9th edition of the UAE Hackathon, themed 'Making Impact', has been officially launched for 2026. This initiative aims to stimulate innovation and encourage participants to develop technological solutions for critical national challenges. It serves as a key platform for fostering local talent and advancing the UAE's digital transformation agenda. Why it matters: This ongoing hackathon series highlights the UAE's strategic commitment to building a robust innovation ecosystem and leveraging technology to address societal needs.
The Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) recently concluded a Generative AI Hackathon, bringing together participants to innovate with generative artificial intelligence technologies. The event aimed to foster local talent and drive advancements in the field within Qatar. Participants developed various solutions and prototypes using generative AI models and tools. Why it matters: This hackathon signifies Qatar's commitment to cultivating a strong AI ecosystem and developing skilled professionals in cutting-edge AI domains like generative AI.
KAUST hosted Saudi Arabia's first National Hackathon of Energy, in partnership with the Saudi Electricity Company's Innovation Energy Incubator. Innovators collaborated to find technical solutions for the Kingdom's energy challenges. Three projects were honored: AI-HUB for cybersecurity, a smart circuit breaker, and 'Amn Al-Kafa’at,' a fire extinguisher system. Why it matters: This hackathon highlights the growing focus on using AI and technology to address energy challenges in Saudi Arabia, with KAUST playing a central role in fostering innovation.
MBZUAI is hosting the K2 Think Hackathon, challenging participants to develop applications using the K2 Think reasoning model developed with G42. The hackathon involves a global idea call followed by a 48-hour build challenge in Abu Dhabi for the top 10 teams. The winning feature will be integrated into the K2 Think application. Why it matters: This hackathon provides a valuable opportunity to test and shape a cutting-edge AI model, potentially leading to innovative applications in various sectors like finance and education within the UAE and beyond.