First published: 12-Jun-2026 12:56:01

• The program is one of the most prominent initiatives of the "Injaz UAE" Foundation, and one of the largest applied learning platforms for youth in the country.
• This year's edition saw the participation of 595 male and female high school students in 68 teams from 23 schools, in addition to 213 university students in 31 teams from 9 universities.

Dubai, UAE – INJAZ UAE, the leading non-profit organization empowering youth and fostering entrepreneurship, announced that the “Bukit Pal” project team from the University of Wollongong in Dubai and the “Hydroguard” project team from the American School of Creative Science (ASCS) won its 2026 National Company Program competition. Over the course of a year, the 17th edition of the competition saw the participation of more than 800 students from schools and universities across the UAE. The two winning teams were selected from among 99 student companies in recognition of their ability to transform innovative ideas into commercially viable solutions that address real-world challenges.

During the event, which was held at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City Hotel, His Excellency Faisal bin Juma Belhoul, Chairman of the Board of Directors of INJAZ UAE, accompanied Sheikha Alia bint Butti Maktoum Rashid Al Maktoum, Her Excellency Aisha Miran, Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, and a group of government officials, business leaders, educators, partners, experts, and representatives of leading public and private sector institutions, on an introductory tour in which the students talked about their innovative projects that were able to qualify for the finals.

In this context, His Excellency Faisal bin Juma Belhoul, Chairman of the Board of Directors of INJAZ UAE, expressed his appreciation for the ongoing support of the partners, mentors, and members of the judging panel. He stated, "The company's program reflects our unwavering commitment to empowering youth and building a knowledge-based economy, in line with the visionary leadership and the 'We Are the UAE 2031' vision. The achievements of our students underscore the importance of collaboration between the education system, the private sector, and government entities."

The program is one of the flagship initiatives of INJAZ UAE and one of the largest applied learning platforms for youth in the country. This year's edition saw the participation of 595 high school students in 68 teams from 23 schools, along with 213 university students in 31 teams from 9 universities. Participants gained hands-on experience in developing, launching, and managing their projects as established businesses. After months of mentorship, planning, and performance evaluation across several competitive stages, the most outstanding teams qualified for the finals to present their projects to a distinguished judging panel.

Razan Bashiti, CEO of INJAZ UAE, said: “The company’s program reflects the impact of applied learning in developing young people’s skills. Over the course of a year, students developed their projects, tested their ideas, created solutions to real-world challenges, and built the confidence, resilience, and leadership skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly evolving economy. We are proud of our youth and look forward to what this generation of innovators and entrepreneurs will offer to the future of the UAE.”

The winning university-level team from the University of Wollongong in Dubai developed PocketPal, a fintech platform for young people that combines financial literacy with real-world money management tools under parental supervision. The project features a dual-user interface for both parents and children, along with gamified learning elements, helping young people develop a sense of financial responsibility through hands-on experience. This innovation aligns with the growing trends in financial literacy and youth empowerment.

The winning high school team from the American School of Creative Science (ASCS) developed HydroGuard, an AI-powered drowning detection system. HydroGuard monitors swimmers in real time, detects danger signs, and sends immediate alerts. It also tracks water conditions, making it an affordable and accessible technological solution for enhancing safety in swimming pools and aquatic environments, reflecting the growing innovation in AI-powered safety technologies.

In addition to the two national championship titles, "Injaz UAE" honored a range of outstanding student achievements through a series of partner-supported awards, which celebrated excellence in the areas of innovation, sustainability, financial planning and business plan development, as follows:

• CEO of the Year Award - High School Level: Hamad Qais for the IDNTT project, from Dubai National School Al Barsha
• CEO of the Year Award - University Level: Layan Al-Khaldi from the "Tawfeeri" project, American University of Sharjah
• Product of the Year Award - High School Level: FitID project, from Dubai National School Al Twar
• Product of the Year Award - University Level: NAFEES Project, from the American University of Sharjah
• The University Sustainability Champions Award, presented in partnership with Nestlé, was won by the EcoStep project from Ajman University.
• The award for Best Financial Plan for University Pathways, presented in partnership with Mashreq Bank, was won by the PocketPal project from the University of Wollongong in Dubai.
• The Best Business Plan Award for the University Track, presented in partnership with MetLife, was won by the Falcon project from the American University in Sharjah.
• The award for the best sustainable business concept for the secondary school track, presented in partnership with FedEx, was won by the Mrowa project from Zayed Educational Complex – Al Barsha.
• The Technology Award for the High School Track, presented in partnership with Honeywell, was won by the TIBB Medical Project, developed by students from Al Falahia School, the American School of Creative Science, Applied Technology Schools, Al Qalaa School, Future International School, Al Resala International School of Science, Al Zawraa High School, and Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys.
• The Best Business Plan Award for the High School Track, presented in partnership with Visa, was won by the Nemabite project from Hamdan Bin Rashid School.
• The Best Financial Plan Award for the High School Track, presented in partnership with HSBC, was won by the "Sila" project developed by students from Al Malih School, Al Shawamekh School, Mudhahab Girls School, Al Tuwain Boys School, Al Risala International School of Science, Diyar Private Academy, Applied Technology Schools - Fujairah, Zayed II School, Applied Technology Schools, and Future International School.

The two winning teams will represent the UAE in the regional INJAZ Al-Arab Company Program competition, scheduled to be held in Cairo, Egypt, in November 2026, where they will compete alongside an elite group of winning student projects from across the region, showcasing the UAE’s innovation, creativity, and emerging young talent — further enhancing the country’s growing presence in youth entrepreneurship at the regional level .

The National Company Program, INJAZ UAE ’s flagship initiative, bridges the gap between education and the job market through a practical experience that includes creating real-world projects, career mentorship, and applied learning. Participants develop practical skills in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, leadership, and innovative problem-solving, enabling them to achieve success and supporting the UAE’s long-term priorities for developing and empowering its human capital .

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