Video: Emirati students all set to represent UAE at global Robotic Olympics

Dubai - The third edition of the global event will witness participation from 1,500 youth from over 191 countries.

An all Emirati team of three boys and two girls, between the age of 14 and 16, will represent UAE for the '2019 First Global DXB Challenge' set to take place from October 24-27. To be held for the first time in the region, the third edition of this global event will witness participation from 1,500 youth from over 191 countries.

Omar bin Sultan Al Ulama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and Deputy Managing Director of Dubai Future Foundation and Khalfan Belhoul, the chief executive officer, Dubai Future Foundation announced details of the challenge to the media on Tuesday, October 15 at the Dubai Future Foundation headquarters.

The Minister also provided profiles of the students participating from the UAE. In response to a question from Khaleej Times, the Minister said, "The team representing UAE comprises of five students. Three boys and two girls from the Rashid School in Hatta and Dibba School in Fujairah. We are delighted with the team as they are ambitious, have many ideas, and they represent what the UAE stands for."

The team has also won multiple robotics competition in the past in China, and other countries as well.

Al Ulama added, "The young girls are very knowledgeable, and although they come from different schools, they work in a very cohesive manner. The students represent UAE's ambition going forward in the STEM field, and we are excited to see them compete with the best students from across the globe."

UAE students receive support from Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has also tweeted a picture of himself with the team that will represent UAE in the global competition.

He said, "Delighted to have met with members of the UAE team participating in the '2019 @FirstGlobalDxb Challenge' in robotics and AI, which will kick off in Dubai from October 24, with more than 1,500 youth from 191 countries competing for the world championship title."

What is the FIRST Global Robotics Challenge?

First Global Challenge, a not-for-profit organisation from the United States, invites nations from across the world to send their teams to the competition themed on the most significant challenges facing our planet.

This year, the theme is 'ocean opportunities' and focuses on ocean pollution that negatively impacts marine life and global populations. It seeks to educate participating teams on the importance of acting to preserve our oceans and also throws up a challenge to the young and budding scientists to build robots to clean up the sea of pollutants.

Mohammed Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Managing Director of Dubai Future Foundation, announced at the World Government Summit in February that Dubai would host the FIRST Global Robotics Challenge in October 2019.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

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