UAE students win silver at Robotics Olympics in South Korea
Dubai: A team of 14 students from the UAE has won silver in the Winning Alliance finals at the FIRST Global Challenge (FGC) 2026 in Incheon, South Korea, competing against student teams representing 187 countries. Popularly known as the “Robotics Olympics,” the annual competition brings together young people from around the world to address global challenges through science, technology,…
A team of 14 students from the United Arab Emirates has recently secured a silver medal in the Winning Alliance finals at the FIRST Global Challenge 2026, an international robotics competition held in Incheon, South Korea. The event, often referred to as the “Robotics Olympics,” gathers young participants from 187 countries to address global challenges using science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The competition not only allows students to hone their technical skills such as robotics design and problem-solving, but also enables them to collaborate with peers from diverse nations. The UAE team's accomplishment adds to their previous successes in the international competition; they previously won silver in the FIRST Global Grand Challenge Award in 2024 and bronze in the International Enthusiasm Award in Athens, Greece, in 2025.
The UAE team's gold in the New Technology Experience category, awarded for their STASH project that utilizes sodium alginate hydrogels to preserve biological material without conventional refrigeration, in Panama City, further highlights their dedication to innovation. Bansan Thomas George, national organizer of FGC UAE and founder and CEO of Unique World Robotics, emphasized that the team's medals reflect years of hard work and learning.
“These medals reflect years of dedication and learning. Seeing our students develop into confident innovators and problem-solvers is our greatest achievement,” he stated. The UAE delegation comprised students from several schools across the country, including GEMS Modern Academy, GEMS Founders School Dubai, Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, Dubai College, DPS Dubai, GEMS Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi, and Raffles World Academy.
Team captain Shreya Binoy Nair highlighted the importance of teamwork and learning from fellow competitors. “We overcame challenges together, learned from talented students worldwide, and built friendships across borders. Winning silver for the UAE is a moment we will always cherish,” she remarked. Coaches Ali Mohamed Sheikh Ali Abdurahman, Manoj Thannikal Joseph, and head coach Mohammed Mukhtar Latif guided the team through their journey, praising the students' resilience and commitment.
The UAE team's achievement was celebrated in a gathering in Dubai attended by students, coaches, mentors, and parents.
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Also reported by 1 other outlet
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