The European Union Delegation to the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, organized a unique hackathon event under the theme “Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability” on October 6, 2025. The event brought together 27 teams of undergraduate and master’s students from leading universities across the UAE to develop innovative AI-based solutions addressing some of the world’s most urgent environmental and social challenges.

The event was hosted at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, where teams competed to design project proposals aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, covering various aspects including climate action, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities, responsible consumption and production, and clean water and sanitation. Participating teams used advanced AI techniques such as predictive modeling, computer vision, and optimization algorithms to create practical solutions with potential real-world impact.

In line with the EU’s commitment to empowering women in technology and leadership, each competing team was led by a female student, highlighting the priority given to women’s empowerment by both the European Union and the UAE.