Dubai, UAE, 28March 2025: The second edition of InnovAIte, UAE’s largest student-led National AI Hackathon, organised by AryavOdhrani, Nirvaan Thawani, Dasuni Gunasekara and Alizeh Alihas successfully concluded its second edition with Team ‘Machine Mindset’ from GEMS Wellington Academy –SiliconOasis being declared the winner.
The event was held in collaboration with the National Program of Coders, and supported by sponsors such asEmirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa,and Türkiye (MENAT) region, as well as EDGE Group, Hale Education Group and the University of Birmingham, Dubai.
The three-day event culminated with a grand finale on 16 March 2025 at the University of Birmingham and was attended by students, teachers, parents and partners.The event’s theme for this year, ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing’ aligned with the Nation’s strategic vision to harness artificial intelligence for societal advancement.
The winning team,‘Machine Mindset’, presentedan AI-powered emotion detection system that analyses students’ emotions in real-time using DeepFace and face recognition. Runner-up teams at the event included ‘Data Minors’ and ‘ModernAItes’, both from GEMS Modern Academy. ‘STEMPALS’ from Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills were adjudged the Best Female-majority team, and ‘Desert Innovators’from the American Academy for Girls were declared Best Emirati-majority team.
A resounding success, the event showcased the incredible talent and innovative spirit of 289 young AI enthusiasts across 34 Nationalities and 44 registered schools, with participants working tirelesslyto develop creative solutions addressing critical aspects of mental and financialwellbeing.
Dr. Abdulrahman Al Mahmoud, Director at the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office, said:“Strategic partnerships within the UAE’s AI ecosystem reflect the UAE’s vision and commitment to leveraging AI for the benefit of humanity. These collaborations bring together diverse sectors to create innovative solutions that address global challenges. By uniting key players, the UAE is driving transformative change that empowers both industries and communities.”
Dr. Al Mahmoud further added,“Partnerships have the power to fuel impactful AI innovations, shaping a resilient, sustainable future for all. Through this unified approach, the UAE is paving the way for a future where AI drives progress and serves humanity at its core.”
Headded: “Emirates NBD is proud to have supported this initiative and to play a role in nurturingthe next generation of AI leaders. The event served as a platform to connect and engage with top digital talent, presenting us early access toAI experts who have the potential to drive and contribute to the bank’s long-term success.”
Student presentations, workshops, and speaking sessions were held at the grand finale, whereapanel of 25 esteemed judges, including experts from Emirates NBD, the University of Birmingham, EDGE Group, and Hale Education Group, as well as subject experts in various sectors evaluated the projects based on innovation, feasibility, impact and presentation.
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About Emirates NBD
Emirates NBD (DFM: Emirates NBD) is a leading banking group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye) region with a presence in 13 countries, serving over 9 million active customers. As at 31st December 2024, total assets were AED 997 billion, (equivalent to approx. USD 271 billion). The Group has operations in the UAE, Egypt, India, Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Russia and Bahrain and representative offices in China and Indonesia with a total of 848 branches and 4,601 ATMs / SDMs. Emirates NBD is the leading financial services brand in the UAE with a Brand value of USD 3.87 billion.
Emirates NBD Group serves its customers (individuals, businesses, governments, and institutions) and helps them realise their financial objectives through a range of banking products and services including retail banking, corporate and institutional banking, Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management, global markets and treasury, and brokerage operations. The Group is a key participant in the global digital banking industry with 97% of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. The Group also operates Liv, the lifestyle digital bank by Emirates NBD, with close to half a million users, it continues to be the fastest-growing bank in the region.
Emirates NBD contributes to the construction of a sustainable future as an active participant and supporter of the UAE’s main development and sustainability initiatives, including financial wellness and the inclusion of people of determination. Emirates NBD is committed to supporting the UAE’s Year of Sustainability as Principal Banking Partner of COP28 and an early supporter to the Dubai Can sustainability initiative, a city-wide initiative aimed to reduce use of single-use plastic bottled water.
For further information on Emirates NBD, please contact:
Ibrahim Sowaidan
Senior Vice President
Head – Group Corporate Affairs
Emirates NBD
Telephone: +971 4 609 4113 / +971 50 6538937
e-mail: [email protected]
Burson
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 971-4-4507600;
Email: [email protected]