The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), in collaboration with 42 Abu Dhabi, concluded the AgentEra AI Hackathon in Abu Dhabi. Held over three days, the event brought together talented students and innovators to develop cutting-edge technology solutions aimed at enhancing government service efficiency and accelerating digital transformation across the energy, infrastructure, and housing sectors.
The initiative reflects the Ministry’s commitment to advancing the UAE Government’s vision of accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence across government operations. It also supports the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the announcement made by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform 50% of UAE government sectors, services, and operations into Agentic AI-driven models within the next two years. This ambitious vision aims to enhance government efficiency, strengthen the UAE’s global leadership in innovation and digital transformation, and position the country as the world’s first government operating at this scale through autonomous AI systems.
His Excellency Eng Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, emphasized that the hackathon reflects the Ministry’s commitment to empowering national talent, fostering a culture of innovation, and leveraging artificial intelligence to advance government performance. He noted that participating teams presented promising, practical solutions for key government sectors.
He said: “Artificial intelligence has become a key driver for enhancing government services and improving institutional efficiency. The Ministry is committed to investing in national talent and building strategic partnerships with leading academic institutions to enable young innovators to develop solutions that help shape the future. The innovative projects showcased during the hackathon, from real-time housing arrears rescheduling solutions and strategic intelligence platforms supporting international affairs to intelligent digital customer engagement agents, demonstrate the ability of the UAE’s youth and residents to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s digital transformation journey.”
He added: “We will continue leveraging advanced technologies and innovation to build a more agile, proactive, and sustainable government ecosystem, aligned with the UAE Government’s goal of transforming 50% of its services and operations into Agentic AI models within two years. This will further enhance the future readiness of the energy, infrastructure, and housing sectors.”
Fatima Al Foulathi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of 42 Abu Dhabi, said: “The AgentEra AI Hackathon showcased the tremendous potential of young talent in the UAE. Participants successfully developed innovative solutions to address real-world challenges in housing, government services, and strategic intelligence, highlighting the role of artificial intelligence in advancing government innovation.”
She added: “We are proud of our partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure on this pioneering initiative, which reinforces the importance of investing in digital capabilities as a cornerstone for building a smarter and more efficient government while empowering a generation capable of leading digital transformation and developing solutions with lasting impact.”
At the conclusion of the hackathon, His Excellency Eng Fahad Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services Sector at MoEI, honored the winning teams. Team “Dash” secured first place, followed by Team “Lunar Lab” in second place and Team “Rushswap” in third place, in recognition of their outstanding projects and their effective application of Agentic AI technologies to enhance government service efficiency and accelerate digital transformation.
His Excellency Eng Al Hammadi stated: “The hackathon builds on the ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and 42 Abu Dhabi in advancing digital capabilities, developing future-ready technical skills, and promoting innovation and artificial intelligence. These efforts contribute to preparing a generation of talent capable of leading digital transformation and creating sustainable solutions for vital sectors in the UAE.”
The closing ceremony featured presentations from the finalist teams before the announcement of the winners and the recognition of the most innovative and impactful solutions.