UAE Triumphs With Gold At 2025 FIRST Global Challenge Robotics Competition

Team UAE celebrated a significant achievement on Saturday after winning the Gold Medal at the 2025 FIRST Global Challenge in Panama City. The event, held from October 28 to November 1, saw participation from teams representing 193 countries. This victory highlights the UAE's dedication to fostering scientific talent and innovation among its youth.

The competition is often likened to the Olympics of Robotics, bringing together young minds to tackle global issues through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Team UAE, consisting of eight members, showcased exceptional creativity and technical skills throughout the event.

The team included 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). These students dedicated over 300 hours to prepare rigorously for the challenge.

Unique World Robotics served as the official training partner for Team UAE. They provided guidance on technical, strategic, and design aspects crucial for the competition. The team's hard work paid off with their innovative project STASH.

Project: STASH

The winning project, STASH, is a biopreservation system aimed at protecting endangered species like the Ghaf tree without freezing or electricity. It uses sodium alginate hydrogels to encapsulate living cells in portable beads that remain viable for 3–5 days. This allows safe transport even to remote areas.

STASH integrates AI-based cell viability analysis and includes a 3D-printed field kit. It offers an eco-friendly method for preserving life globally. The project was evaluated by experts including MIT professors and Lam Research scientists who acknowledged its innovation.

Aarush Pancholi, Team Captain, expressed pride in their achievement: "Winning Gold was the result of countless hours of collaboration, experimentation, and teamwork. We are proud not just of the medal but of creating a solution that can truly make a difference for biodiversity and communities worldwide."

Bansan Thomas George, National Organiser of FIRST Global Challenge UAE, commended the team's success: "Team UAE's victory reflects the nation's long-standing commitment to STEM education and youth innovation. Their work on STASH demonstrates not only technical brilliance but also a vision for sustainable solutions that can benefit the world."

Coach Muhammed Mukhtar praised his team: "This victory is a testament to the extraordinary dedication and ingenuity of our young innovators. They have made the nation proud and shown that UAE students can compete at the highest level on the global stage."

The FIRST Global Challenge is an annual robotics competition organized by the International First Committee Association. It aims to promote STEM education and careers among youth. Founded by Dean Kamen in 2016 as an extension of FIRST, it shares similar goals.