In brief
On Nov. 3 the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office and Emirates NBD ran the UAE Codes 2026 hackathon, gathering 100 Emirati professionals to develop AI solutions for banking. Teams built apps like Project Ready, Career Lab and Mashoura, each winning top prizes. Director Dr. Abdelrahman Al Mahmoud said the event aligns with the UAE’s 2031 AI strategy and is key to strengthening national skills.
On November 3, 2026, the UAE Artificial Intelligence Office and Emirates NBD organised the UAE Codes 2026 hackathon in Dubai, inviting 100 Emirati employees from banks across the region to work together over two days.
Participants formed cross‑functional teams that explored real‑world banking challenges using AI and coding. They built practical solutions, sharpening their problem‑solving skills and learning new technologies.
The hackathon’s top‑winning projects were Project Ready, an AI‑powered platform that personalises learning and career development; Career Lab, an AI tool that lets users practise real‑world professional scenarios; and Mashoura, an AI assistant that helps employees navigate difficult workplace conversations.
All three wins highlighted the UAE’s commitment to its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, which calls for a technology‑powered economy and a society ready for rapid digital transformation.
Dr. Abdelrahman Al Mahmoud, Director at the UAE AI Office, said the event reflects the UAE leadership’s forward‑looking vision to build a society equipped with future skills and establish coding as a core language of the digital age.
He added that investing in Emirati talent and advancing national capabilities in AI and emerging technologies remains a strategic priority on the UAE’s journey toward the future.
