ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
An adventure game centred on the search for a lost poem and an application offering real-time translation between UAE Sign Language and speech were among the winners of the 2026 Youth Innovation Award, held on September 20 in Abu Dhabi.
The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, announced the winners of the award during the fifth edition of the Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries, held at Manarat Al Saadiyat.
Held under the theme Arabic as Infrastructure: Identity, Knowledge and Economic Power in the Digital Age, this year’s Congress brought together policymakers, investors, technology leaders, academics and creators to explore the systems, partnerships and investments needed to strengthen Arabic’s presence in the creative and digital economies.
The Award forms part of the Congress’s commitment to supporting emerging talent. It encourages young creators aged 18 to 29 to develop and present their ideas, strengthening Arabic’s presence across storytelling, film, publishing, design, technology and other creative fields.
Three Main Tracks
The competition features three main tracks that bring together technology, creativity and cultural identity. The Smart Arabic track focuses on educational applications, artificial intelligence, language games and natural language processing solutions that make Arabic easier to learn and strengthen its presence.
The Reimagining Arabic track invites participants to showcase the beauty of the language and tell its stories through contemporary digital approaches.
The Design Inspired by Arab Culture track reinterprets Arabic calligraphy, traditional arts and cultural symbols through modern design, including digital art, fashion, products, visual identities and brands.
In the University Students Category, Manal Khameis Alymmahi, Rouda Albedwawi and Asia Alkaiili won first place for Guardian of the Poem: An Interactive Game on Pre Islamic Literature, an adventure game in which players embark on a journey to collect the fragments of a lost poem.
Moatasem Hassan Saad and Youssef Eleyouta received second place for Wasl, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to connect users’ interests with Arabic literature, thought and knowledge. It enables users to hold voice conversations with virtual characters representing writers, scholars and thinkers.
Hishaam Abdul Razik, Simreen Siraj Shehzadi, Shaymaa Metnani and Christian Sabatini won third place for Faseeh, a smart platform for learning Arabic that transforms the city into an open classroom and trains users through everyday situations and real life tasks to speak Arabic.
In the Emerging Entrepreneurs Category, Mohammed Maher Al Hamami, Yousuf Abdulrahman Al Hareeri and Ali Saleh Rais took first place for Okaz, an interactive audio platform for Arabic poetry.
The platform recognises verses and their authors, allowing users to engage in poetic exchanges and learn through a range of audio features that are also accessible to people with visual impairments.
Sultan Alshehhi received second place for Ramsa, an application that helps bridge communication between the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community and the hearing community.
Through real time translation between UAE Sign Language and speech, alongside interactive lessons, it supports users in learning the language.
Third place went to Jamil Safari for Future that Carry our Arabic Identity, a film that imagines an advanced future shaped by identity and culture, positioning Arabic as a language through which tomorrow can be built.
Expanding Space for Arabic Creativity
On this occasion, Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, said: “Young people are at the heart of Arab creativity and its future.
Congress X Youth is therefore a space that enables the next generation of creators to gain knowledge and skills, build professional networks, and engage directly with industry leaders and experts.
Through this programme, we aim to empower young people to develop their ideas and talents, transforming them into projects and opportunities that can create a sustainable cultural and economic impact.
He continued: “The Youth Innovation Award extends this approach by providing young people with a space to put forward their ideas and experiment with new solutions that strengthen the presence of Arabic across technology, storytelling, design and the creative industries.
Through these initiatives, we are expanding the space for creativity in Arabic and connecting young talent with the knowledge, tools and opportunities that enable them to contribute to a more diverse and innovative Arab creative economy.”
The Award forms part of Congress X Youth, which supports the next generation of creators through learning, collaboration and professional development.
The programme gives university students and young professionals opportunities to develop sector relevant skills, gain practical experience and build relationships with leading creators and entrepreneurs from around the world.
This year’s programme featured a series of specialist sessions, workshops and masterclasses, providing participants with practical learning experiences and introducing them to the latest developments across the creative industries.
In line with the Congress theme, Congress X Youth addresses one of the most significant gaps in the Arab creative economy, talent development.
It connects the next generation of creators, technology specialists and entrepreneurs with the skills, networks and opportunities needed to build sustainable career paths and contribute to the future of the Arab creative economy.