The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, in cooperation with Abu Dhabi's 42 Academy, has launched a specialised hackathon focused on agentic artificial intelligence to develop innovative technical solutions that enhance the efficiency of government services and accelerate procedures in the energy, infrastructure, transport, and housing sectors, in support of the United Arab Emirates' drive to build a more agile and proactive digital government.
The hackathon is being organised as part of the ministry's efforts to deploy and enable modern technologies, artificial intelligence, and open innovation within an integrated working ecosystem in collaboration with leading academic institutions in the field. It also aims to develop the government's working model in line with the government's vision, by attracting programmers, developers, entrepreneurs, and young talent, and giving them the opportunity to develop practical solutions that address real challenges in the ministry's sectors, contributing to improving quality of life and the sustainability of infrastructure and vital services in the country.
The hackathon will focus on developing innovative technical projects and prototypes through a competitive environment that brings together technical and knowledge expertise, under the supervision of specialists and experts from both sides. Prizes and incentives will be awarded to winning projects and the most distinctive ideas with the greatest potential for application and adoption at the government level, supporting the development of executable solutions that contribute to accelerating the government's digital transformation and enhancing institutional performance efficiency.
Engineer Fahd Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the ministry, said the agentic AI hackathon represents a practical platform for translating the United Arab Emirates' ambitions to build a government ecosystem based on innovation and advanced technology, by attracting minds and talents capable of developing smart solutions that support the energy, infrastructure, transport, and housing sectors, and contribute to raising the efficiency of government services, enhancing quality of life, and ensuring readiness for the future.
He added that artificial intelligence has become a fundamental pillar in developing more flexible, efficient, and sustainable government working models, and that the ministry, through this hackathon, is keen to empower national talent and young people to contribute to designing innovative solutions that support government decision-making and reinforce the United Arab Emirates' leadership in innovation and digital transformation.
For her part, Fatima Foladi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi's 42 Academy, said the academy believes in empowering a generation of talents capable of developing technical solutions with genuine and sustainable impact, and that this hackathon is a practical model of the project-based learning and multidisciplinary collaboration methodology, giving participants the opportunity to turn ideas into applicable prototypes to address real challenges in the energy, infrastructure, transport, and housing sectors.
She added that through its cooperation with the ministry, the academy continues to support the United Arab Emirates' vision of preparing a generation of programmers and innovators capable of employing and harnessing artificial intelligence technologies to make a positive impact across various sectors and reinforce the UAE's leadership in adopting future-oriented solutions.