UAE Defence Hosts Tech Challenges to Build Emirati Talent

News Desk - 19/01/2026

ADNEC Group, in collaboration with EDGE and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the United Arab Emirates, announced that they will host coding and cybersecurity challenges at UMEX and SimTEX in Abu Dhabi. The initiative is aimed at developing Emirati talent and strengthening technical skills in programming and cybersecurity.

The challenges will take place at the UAE MoD stand from 20 to 22 January at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. They were revealed as part of ongoing efforts by the MoD and EDGE to provide platforms that support Emirati talent and encourage participation in advanced technology fields.

For the coding challenge, UAE nationals can register directly at the MoD stand. Participants will take part in fast-paced coding sessions designed to test programming skills across different experience levels. Meanwhile, a competitive cybersecurity challenge will run in parallel, offering realistic scenarios that reflect real-world cyber threats.

The cybersecurity challenge will include capture-the-flag competitions, cyber-attack and defence simulations, ethical hacking, penetration testing, and vulnerability analysis. According to organisers, the initiative is designed to enhance practical skills while improving national security readiness.

The challenges were reported to support the UAE’s knowledge-based economy by building capabilities among Emirati coders, programmers, cybersecurity specialists, and engineers. They are also aligned with the UAE government’s Principles of the 50, which emphasise human capital and highly skilled national capabilities as drivers of future growth.

In addition, the initiative reflects the growing partnership between EDGE and the MoD. This collaboration focuses on accelerating the development of the UAE defence industry through sustained investment in skilled national talent.

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