The UAE is celebrating a landmark achievement after its national robotics team clinched the coveted Gold Medal at the 2025 First Global Challenge, an event often hailed as the Olympics of Robotics. The competition, held in Panama City from October 28 to November 1, brought together young innovators from 193 countries, making Team UAE’s victory even more remarkable.

In a special ceremony held in Dubai on Saturday, the team was honoured for their outstanding performance, showcasing the UAE’s growing strength in STEM education, youth innovation, and global scientific excellence.

The eight-member team –  Riya Mehra (Dubai College), Aarya Parekh (Delhi Private School Sharjah), Aarush Pancholi (GEMS Modern Academy), Aditya Anand (New Millennium School Al Khail), Krithin Satya (Dubai College), Simran Mehra (Dubai College), Sreya Binoy Nair (GEMS Modern Academy), and Aryan Goyal (DIA Emirates Hill) — spent more than 300 hours preparing for the global challenge.

Their training was powered by Unique World Robotics, Team UAE’s official training partner, which supported the students through mechanical design, programming, and strategic problem-solving to compete on the world stage.

“This victory is a testament to the extraordinary dedication and ingenuity of our young innovators,” said coach Muhammed Mukhtar. 

“They have made the nation proud and shown that UAE students can compete at the highest global level.”

A groundbreaking project with global potential

The winning project, STASH, is an innovative bio preservation system that protects endangered plant species, including the UAE’s iconic Ghaf tree, without the need for electricity or freezing. Instead, it uses sodium alginate hydrogels to encase living cells in small, portable beads that remain viable for up to five days.

The system is paired with a 3D-printed field kit and AI-powered viability analysis, creating a low-cost, eco-friendly solution that can be deployed anywhere in the world, especially in remote regions.

The project impressed a distinguished panel of judges that included experts from MIT and scientists from Lam Research, who commended the team for its creativity, sustainability, and global applicability.

Team Captain Aarush Pancholi reflected on the accomplishment: “Winning Gold was the result of countless hours of collaboration and experimentation. We’re proud not just of the medal, but of building something that can make a real difference for biodiversity and communities worldwide.”

A milestone for the UAE’s innovation journey

National Organiser Bansan Thomas George praised the team’s achievement, noting that Team UAE’s success reflects the country’s long-standing commitment to STEM education and youth empowerment.

“Their work on STASH demonstrates not only technical brilliance but also a vision for sustainable solutions that benefit the world,” he said.

With this victory, Team UAE continues to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers, reinforcing the nation’s strategy of investing in future-ready talent.