Abu Dhabi Launches 2nd A2RL STEM Challenge for Students

Abu Dhabi is set to ignite young minds once again with the second edition of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) STEM Competition, organised by the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) under its Smart and Autonomous Systems Council. The nationwide challenge, part of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week, aims to turn classroom learning into hands-on innovation in robotics, AI, and autonomous systems.

This year’s competition brings together 140 students from across the UAE—including 72 from high schools and 68 from universities—representing all seven emirates, from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to the northern regions of Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah. The broad participation marks a new milestone for ATRC, reflecting the UAE’s commitment to inclusive and future-ready STEM education.

Participants will use 1/18th-scale AWS DeepRacer autonomous cars, giving them real-world exposure to programming, machine learning, and AI-driven problem-solving. Teams of five to seven students from leading schools and universities will compete in two leagues—high school and university—testing their skills in designing, coding, and optimising self-driving models.

Among the schools taking part are Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, Sabis International Schools, ADNOC Schools, and Applied Technology High School, while university contenders include Khalifa University, NYU Abu Dhabi, UAE University, American University of Sharjah, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, and Ajman University, among others.

In October, students will undergo online training in Cloud Foundations, Python, and machine learning before heading to Abu Dhabi in early November for hands-on workshops. The grand finale is scheduled for 15 November 2025 at ATRC Headquarters on Yas Island, where teams will battle it out in time trials, object avoidance runs, and head-to-bot races.

Launched in 2024, A2RL’s STEM initiative has quickly become a beacon for youth innovation. Last year’s inaugural edition saw participation from ten institutions, with Heriot-Watt University emerging as the winner. Building on that success, this year’s challenge expands its reach and ambition—empowering the next generation of engineers, coders, and innovators to drive the UAE’s journey into the autonomous future.