TLDR: 42 Abu Dhabi, a tuition-free coding academy, has joined forces with AiRev to launch an exclusive AI hackathon for its students. This strategic partnership aims to empower the next generation of AI developers by providing hands-on experience in building AI agents to solve real-world challenges. The initiative, formalized during a signing ceremony, underscores a commitment to nurturing national digital talent and accelerating innovation in the UAE’s technology sector. The winning team, Cloud Intelligence, developed AI agents for monitoring oil and gas infrastructure.
42 Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital’s innovative and tuition-free coding academy, has officially announced a strategic partnership with AiRev, a move designed to foster the development of future artificial intelligence experts. The collaboration was cemented during a signing ceremony held at the academy’s campus, with Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Acting CEO of 42 Abu Dhabi, and Muhammed Khalid, CEO of AiRev, formalizing the agreement.
This alliance marks the beginning of a significant effort to cultivate national digital talent and drive innovation across various critical sectors within the UAE. A key component of this partnership is the launch of an exclusive AI hackathon, specifically tailored for 42 Abu Dhabi’s students. Participants in the program were tasked with forming teams to develop 42 fully functional AI agents, utilizing AiRev’s cutting-edge OnDemand platform.
The AI agents created during the hackathon are designed to tackle real-world challenges across diverse industries, encouraging students to apply their technical expertise to impactful, forward-looking solutions. This initiative provides learners with invaluable hands-on experience with advanced AI tools, direct mentorship from the AiRev team, and the opportunity to build deployable AI solutions that mirror industry demands.
Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “This collaboration with AiRev reinforces our commitment to delivering future-focused, experiential learning that goes beyond the classroom. By integrating real-world AI development challenges into our students’ journey, we are equipping them with the creativity, problem-solving ability, and technical agility required to lead the next wave of digital transformation in the UAE and beyond.”
The hackathon culminated in a final showcase where top-performing teams were recognized. The overall winning team, ‘Cloud Intelligence,’ distinguished themselves by building AI agents capable of monitoring engine status and pumps at oil and gas companies. These agents demonstrated the advanced ability to communicate via natural language text or even phone calls. The winning team comprised Mohamed Ali Al Mehairbi, Asma Alawlaqi, and Agegnew Mersha.
In addition to cash prizes, outstanding participants were offered internship opportunities with AiRev, providing crucial career-building exposure and a platform to further develop their expertise within the AI industry. This program is envisioned as more than just a competition; it is a strategic launchpad aimed at accelerating the growth of local AI talent and contributing significantly to the broader innovation ecosystem of the UAE.
Muhammed Khalid, Founder & CEO of AiRev, commented on the broader implications of the partnership: “As we move toward a world shaped by automation and intelligent systems, it’s becoming increasingly important to equip talent with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a post-labour economy. This partnership between AiRev and 42 Abu Dhabi offers students exactly that—real-world experience with advanced AI tools and agent-based systems. It’s a thoughtful, future-facing initiative that gives young people a practical foundation in technologies that will define the next chapter of work.”
Also Read:
- Murf AI Successfully Concludes Pioneering 30-Day Challenge for AI Voice Agent Development
- UAE Unveils K2 Think: A Compact AI Model Setting New Reasoning Benchmarks
This partnership further solidifies 42 Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a national hub for coding and AI education. Through its distinctive peer-to-peer, gamified learning model and unwavering commitment to innovation, the academy continues to deliver transformative learning experiences, preparing its students to excel in dynamic, technology-driven environments.
