Under the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, the 'Mental Arithmetic Challenge' initiative has been launched in schools across the emirate of Fujairah, as part of an ambitious vision targeting investment in young minds and enhancing students' cognitive skills, developing their capacity for quick thinking and logical analysis.
The initiative was launched through an integrated programme that began with the qualification of educational staff, student training and the holding of eliminations, culminating in preparations for organising the final competition at the emirate level, contributing to the discovery of talent and honing abilities in the field of mental arithmetic.
The initiative's first phase began with the training of 50 male and female teachers from 18 government and private schools across the emirate of Fujairah, through a specialist programme that equipped them with the skills and scientific methods needed to apply mental arithmetic methodologies within the school environment.
In the second phase, introductory and applied workshops were organised, benefiting 4,853 male and female students in schools during the 2025–2026 academic year, with the aim of spreading a culture of mental arithmetic, developing concentration skills and speed of thinking, and familiarising students with the programme and its mechanisms.
This was followed by the organisation of preliminary eliminations at the school level, during which 800 male and female students were selected in accordance with approved tests and criteria, qualifying them to continue the advanced training stages within the initiative.
Within the fourth phase, 252 male and female students selected from among the participants received specialist training at two levels of the mental arithmetic programme during July 2025, focusing on developing mental arithmetic skills, speed of execution, and precision of performance.
As part of the initiative's sustainability, the fifth phase saw the implementation of refresher programmes and reviews for teachers, in preparation for launching new workshops during the 2026–2027 academic year, reinforcing the programme's continuity and raising the efficiency of its application in schools.
The sixth phase also included the training of 200 male and female students selected from among the participants at two advanced levels of the programme during December 2025, with the aim of developing their cognitive abilities and preparing them for subsequent competitive stages.
The seventh phase saw the holding of three main elimination rounds in which 452 male and female students participated, distributed according to schools and educational districts. The Zayed Educational Complex in Al Bidya hosted the first eliminations on 11 January 2026.
The second eliminations were held at the Zayed Educational Complex in Mohammed bin Zayed City on 17 January 2026, and the eliminations concluded at the Zayed Educational Complex in Dibba Al Fujairah on 18 January 2026, resulting in 200 male and female students qualifying for the final stage.
Dr Ahmed Hamdan Al Zeyoudi, Director of the Office of the Crown Prince of Fujairah, affirmed that the 'Mental Arithmetic Challenge' initiative embodies the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, in developing a qualitative educational system built on nurturing students' skills in thinking, analysis, and creativity, and preparing a generation equipped with the tools of the future.