“The Future of Roads & Mobility” is the theme of the new season under the slogan “The Smarter Road”, with team registration open until 24 October
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 16 October 2026: Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences has launched the sixth season of the Future Science Challenge, following growth of more than 600% in participation since the competition was launched five years ago. The new season is being held under the theme “The Future of Roads & Mobility” and the slogan “The Smarter Road”, targeting gifted and talented Arab students aged 10 to 17, with team registration remaining open until 24 October 2026.
The sixth season focuses on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors and smart systems to develop practical solutions that can make roads and mobility systems safer, smarter and more efficient. Participating teams are encouraged to identify a real-world problem or an opportunity for improvement and design a practical technology-based solution in areas including vehicle and pedestrian movement, traffic and parking management, road safety, emergency response, infrastructure, services and connected systems.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, said: “As we open a new season of this scientific competition, we reflect on the journey of the Challenge since its launch. What stands out is not only the growth in participation, which has exceeded 600%, but also your growing passion for science and technology and the increasing confidence that you can contribute to shaping the future. While this growth reflects organisational success, it also carries a deeper message: investing in the minds of Arab students generates a strong response, and partnerships around education and innovation can grow when supported by a clear vision and determination.”
His Excellency noted that the rapid transformation of knowledge has redefined the role of education, placing greater emphasis on developing students’ ability to think, analyse and build solutions. He also highlighted the opportunities created by AI and IoT for students to move beyond using technology to innovating with it and applying it in ways that serve their communities.
Commenting on the theme of the sixth season, H.E. Al Qatami said: “The theme of the sixth season of the Future Science Challenge — roads and mobility — connects to a broader question of how we build the cities and communities in which we want to live with greater efficiency, safety and sustainability.”
In a message to participating students, H.E. Al Qatami said: “While this Challenge gives you an opportunity to compete, we also hope it gives you an even greater
opportunity to collaborate, because the future of science and technology will not be shaped by isolated minds, but by teams that know how to bring together knowledge, skills, experience and diverse perspectives.”
His Excellency added: “We therefore believe that the greatest thing we can offer you is not ready-made answers, but the confidence in your own ability to search for answers and create them.”
For his part, H.E. Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, explained that the Future Science Challenge is an online competitive platform designed to develop the skills of gifted and talented Arab students in science, technology and innovation through multidisciplinary applied learning, while encouraging them to use scientific and technological knowledge to address real-world problems and develop innovative solutions.
Dr. Al Suwaidi said: “The competition continues to attract growing interest, with participation increasing by 600%. We now have more than 150 student teams representing a wide range of schools and educational institutions across Arab countries.”
He added that the new season includes a training programme to support participating teams and supervisors in developing their projects. Three training webinars will be held on 7 November, 21 November and 19 December 2026, while
final project submissions will be accepted from 18 February to 17 March 2027, leading up to the closing ceremony and announcement of the winners on 29 April 2027.
Dr. Al Suwaidi also praised the role of sponsors, partners, teachers, supervisors and parents in supporting students, encouraging their participation and helping them continue to develop their capabilities. He stressed that the value of the Challenge extends beyond competition to the opportunities it provides for learning, experimentation, collaboration and the acquisition of new skills and experiences.
Through its sixth season, the Future Science Challenge continues to support gifted and talented Arab students by providing applied learning opportunities that bring together science, technology, innovation and teamwork, enabling them to strengthen their skills and transform ideas into solutions with the potential for further development and practical application.