West Asia’s Youth to Converge for Premier Underwater Robotics Challenge: SeaPerch West Asia 2026

Dubai UAE 

Sallam Sallam 

WEST ASIA REGION – A major regional initiative to empower young engineers was launched today with the official announcement of the SeaPerch West Asia Challenge 2026. This premier science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) competition, which sees students design and build their own Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROVs), is set to transform the educational landscape for youth across the entire West Asia region.

The announcement comes as key organizers, including Rubu Qarn Science & Technology (Co-Organizer and Strategic Partner), Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship (GIE), and the Robotics and Automation Society UAE (RAS UAE), finalizing arrangements for one of the UAE prominent youth competitions for underwater robotics, hosted in the Emirate of Sharjah, in partnership with Sharjah Maritime Academy [SMA] – Khorfakkan

Competition Details: The Storm Response Challenge

The 2026 SeaPerch Challenge theme is “Storm Response: Technology in Action for Recovery and Relief.” This highly relevant theme tasks participating students (ages 10-16) applying engineering and robotics principles to real-world disaster relief scenarios. Students will utilize uncrewed systems to address challenges related to disaster recovery, infrastructure assessment, and exploration in post-storm environments.

Key Competition Dates & Location:

• Regional Competition: February 07–08, 2026

• Venue: Sharjah Maritime Academy, Khorfakkan, UAE

The competition format demands high-level 21st Century Skills, including critical thinking, collaboration, technical writing, and mechanical design. Teams will be judged on three mandatory milestones: Engineering Design, On-Site Pitching, and Pool Courses.

Regional Reach and Global Opportunity

SeaPerch West Asia is the official regional qualifier for the international event, drawing participants from across the GCC and broader West Asia region. Participating countries include the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan.

For the young innovators, the stakes are high: the winning teams of the regional challenge will earn the extraordinary opportunity to proudly represent their country on the global stage at the Annual International SeaPerch Challenge held in Maryland, USA, on May 30-31, 2026.

The competition has demonstrated consistent growth, attracting over 170 teams over the past five years, underscoring its significant regional influence in promoting project-based learning and fostering the next generation of marine and ocean engineers—the original goal set by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sea Grant (MITSG) College Program, which created the SeaPerch initiative in 2003.

By hosting this prestigious regional competition, Sharjah reaffirms its commitment to cultivating a globally competitive educational landscape and championing STEM leadership throughout West Asia.