From Robocup To Robotic Research Labs, Abu Dhabi’s Autonomous Revolution Is Already Youth-Led
Other cities may be competing on software and sensors. Abu Dhabi is going a step further by investing in talent that will build the future of autonomous mobility.
The global conversation around autonomous mobility often centers on advanced algorithms, billion-dirham investments, and futuristic fleets. In Abu Dhabi, there’s another force steering this revolution: youth.
Across universities, competitions and research labs, young innovators are already shaping how autonomous systems are built, tested, and trusted, with many of the most ambitious projects emerging from Abu Dhabi’s own Khalifa University, which is organizing RoboCup Asia-Pacific (RCAP) from 10–15 November 2025 at ADNEC, with the support of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC). The event, which expects more than 500 students, will form part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (ADAW), held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs, and Chairman of the SASC.
Khalifa University’s own KURA (Khalifa University Robotics Athletes) team recently ranked among the world’s top four at the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games 2025 in Beijing, showcasing the UAE’s growing strength in humanoid robotics and youth-led innovation. The same team will now represent the University at RCAP 2025, building on their success to compete in the kid-league football category and further inspire students to pursue advanced research in robotics and AI. Last year, KURA took the global stage at the RoboCup 2024 Challenge in the Netherlands, the world’s premier robotics and AI competition. Whether designing autonomous rescue robots or robot football teams capable of real-time decision-making, these students were modelling the same perception, coordination, and autonomy challenges faced by driverless vehicles and logistics systems.
The commitment of Khalifa University to host the upcoming RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 in Abu Dhabi marks a major milestone for youth engagement in autonomous systems. The event will bring together nearly 1,900 participants across 34 competitions and 15 sub-leagues in categories ranging from RoboCup Soccer and RoboCup Rescue to RoboCup Industrial and RoboCup @Home, providing UAE youth unprecedented access to global expertise, cutting-edge challenges and collaborative innovation.
Participation reflects strong international engagement, with delegations from Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Russia. The UAE will field three teams made up of 18 students, proudly representing the nation in the RoboCupJunior leagues. In total, RCAP 2025 is expected to host more than 150 teams, making it one of the largest robotics gatherings ever held in the region. The competition will also include the first-ever 5v5 humanoid soccer matches in a RoboCup regional event, a milestone moment for robotics enthusiasts worldwide.
What’s more, the competition’s four themes of sustainability, transforming industries, energy-efficient robotics and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven sustainable models align closely with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy and Vision 2031. It emphasizes the development of energy-efficient AI systems, green robotics, and climate-adaptive technologies, offering youth the chance not only to build robots, but to contribute to the future of their country.
For Khalifa University students and researchers, the event represents both a homecoming and a global platform. Through the University’s Strategic Program for Autonomous Robotics Challenge (SPARC), student teams and volunteers will coordinate research showcases, interactive demonstrations, and youth engagement activities. At the KU-Center for Autonomous Robotic Systems (KU-CARS) and the Advanced Research and Innovation Center (ARIC), students and researchers are building drones that can navigate disaster zones, marine robots capable of autonomous offshore inspections, and land-based platforms that could one day support logistics or public transport services.
This isn’t theoretical research. Many projects are already being field-tested through government and industry partnerships. For young engineers, this means their first breakthroughs aren’t confined to classrooms; instead, they are deployed in ports, factories, and city streets across the UAE. Youth engagement in Abu Dhabi’s autonomous mobility ecosystem is also being strengthened through a growing network of innovation incubators and accelerators that translate ideas into viable ventures. Programs such as RoboCupJunior and the Hackathon by Khalifa University Enterprises Company (KUEC) are inspiring school and university students across the UAE to explore AI, coding, and robotics careers.
These initiatives complement broader efforts by Hub71, based in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), which now includes mobility and logistics among its core sectors, giving young founders access to seed-stage funding, corporate partnerships, and mentorship as they develop AI-driven transport and logistics solutions. In Masdar City, Krypto Labs provides resources in a collaborative environment through its accelerator and co-working programs, enabling emerging innovators to refine prototypes, test early concepts, and connect with global investors.
Other cities may be competing on software and sensors. Abu Dhabi is going a step further by investing in talent that will build the future of autonomous mobility. By embedding youth into competition, research, commercialization and governance, the UAE ensures that its autonomous systems are not imports, but inventions rooted in national talent.
The future of autonomy in Abu Dhabi isn’t just about young people using tomorrow’s technology—they will be the creators and innovators defining it today.
About The Author
Dr. Hamad Karki is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the UAE’s Khalifa University, specializing in autonomous field robotics, vehicle and drone design, and advanced control systems. He holds bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in Mechatronics and Systems Engineering from Tokyo University of Technology. Since joining Khalifa University in 2008, Dr. Karki has led research, teaching and senior design mentorship in robotics and autonomy.
All images courtesy Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week.
