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The UAE Codes Day, celebrated on 29th October, commemorates the launch of the region's first electronic government by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2001. This year, several national initiatives were unveiled to inspire society to learn coding fundamentals. The event also honoured school students who excelled in the UAE Codes Hackathon, which saw participation from over 2,500 students nationwide.
Omar Sultan Al Olama highlighted that UAE Codes Day has evolved from a national celebration into a global platform. He noted that this transformation underscores the UAE's leadership in supporting coders and nurturing digital minds. Al Olama stated, "Since the UAE launched the 100,000 Coders initiative in 2020, the UAE have surpassed 450,000 coders by 2025."
The event featured more than 270 government, private, and academic institutions across the UAE. Notable attendees included Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence; Dr. Omar Habtour Al Darei; Khalid Al Shehhi from the Ministry of Education; Anthony Nakache from Google Middle East; Amr Kamel from Microsoft UAE; and other senior officials and student teams competing in the hackathon.
Al Olama announced several initiatives aligned with UAE Codes Day. Among them is a national challenge to design a commemorative coin using generative AI. This initiative invites society to creatively celebrate the UAE’s journey of ambition and innovation. Additionally, he introduced "AI for all of the UAE Community," developed with Google to empower people with AI knowledge and skills by 2026.
The "Teachers’ Track," part of the One Million AI Talents initiative announced by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, focuses on equipping educators with AI skills. This track aims to support education sector development and prepare teachers for digital transformation in schools.
A new partnership was also announced with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and major tech companies specialising in AI. This collaboration aims to train over 5,000 Authority employees on AI technologies to enhance institutional performance and innovation.
The hackathon was held across multiple locations including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Fujairah. In Cycle 1, winners included Al Tawila School for "Letter Challenge" and Shamma bint Mohammed School for "Shamma’s Heroes." Cycle 2 saw victories for Al Asala School's "Salama Tells the Story of the Union" among others.
In Sharjah's primary category, Ahmed bin Majid School won for "Pioneers of Arabic," while Adhen School excelled with its "Smart Arabic Language Challenge." In Fujairah, Juwayriya bint Al Harith School topped with "Vision of the Tech World" in the primary category.
The event showcased various innovative projects in coding and digital transformation. Brainy n Bright presented its AI Robotics programme featuring AI-powered robots. VR Academy offered immersive experiences blending AI and virtual reality technologies.
Pele Verse introduced "Al Mandoos," an educational product combining traditional card games with augmented reality technology. Alto Studio displayed its work in smart app design while AfterWorks highlighted its AI-driven games inspired by Emirati culture.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) approved recognising 29th October as International Day of Coding in November 2023. This acknowledgment affirms the UAE’s leadership in programming and technology globally.
Emirates Airline celebrated by displaying the event’s logo at Dubai International Airport screens while Emaar showcased it on Dubai Mall’s digital displays. These efforts highlight how deeply embedded coding has become within national identity.
