The participation of HCT in GITEX Global 2025, the world's largest technology event, was marked by the presence of H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chancellor of HCT. His Excellency’s visit focused on advancing and championing the projects and innovations presented by students and faculty at this global forum.

During the tour, H.E. Dr. Al Falasi explored the applied technological innovations designed and displayed by HTC students and academics. Student teams provided him with in-depth demonstrations of their projects in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Educational Technology (EdTech), and Space and Maritime Sustainability solutions. These projects, which are the product of applied education, reflected the readiness of young national talent to contribute to the UAE's future digital economy.

His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, stated: “HCT’s participation in GITEX Global highlights the importance of applied education in driving a sustainable, knowledge-based economy and advancing the UAE’s strategic goals, including the UAE AI Strategy 2031 and ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision.”

His Excellency Dr. Al Falasi added: “The innovations of our Emirati students and faculty members showcase the results of empowering youth and investing in knowledge to achieve national excellence in AI, advanced technologies and future sciences. HCT remains committed to nurturing creative national talent to support the UAE’s digital and sustainable future.”

Through its pavilion, located in Hall 19 – Stand A20, HCT aims to showcase its pivotal role as the largest applied higher education institution in the UAE and its commitment to graduating specialized Emirati national talent who contribute directly to realizing the UAE's vision for transformation toward a knowledge and AI-based economy.

Commenting on HCT’s participation, Dr. Faisal Al Ayyan, President and CEO of HCT, stated: “Our participation in GITEX Global is practical proof that HCT is not merely an educational institution; it is a national laboratory for applied innovation. We are working to translate the National AI Strategy into reality by equipping students with the skills to build and develop solutions that shape the future of security, space, and education.” Dr Al Ayyan added, “We are committed to preparing an Emirati generation qualified with applied technological expertise that ensures the UAE's readiness for the next phase of the digital economy.”

The Colleges’ pavilion features a selection of nine innovative projects, ranging from deep-tech innovations to smart educational solutions. Highlights of the projects on display include:

Applied Innovation Projects (Deep-Tech):

• Bugloud: The first Bug Bounty platform of its kind in the Middle East is evolving into an AI-powered cybersecurity ecosystem. Moving beyond traditional bug reporting, it integrates advanced AI tools to deliver comprehensive vulnerability detection across domains, IP addresses, and file hashes enabling faster and more precise threat identification. The team behind the platform was recognized by the Cybersecurity Council as the most innovative solution.
• Oil Skimmer: This remote-controlled oil skimming boat was developed as a student graduation project to efficiently collect oil spill while promoting maritime sustainability. The project earned top recognition at the National Science, Technology, and and Innovation Festival (NSTI) organized by the Ministry of Education — a testament to the power of applied education in advancing eco-friendly technologies tailored for marine sustainability and oil pollution mitigation.
• HCT-SAT1 CubeSat: This educational satellite project is being implemented in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). The project aims to deepen the scientific and applied knowledge of Emirati engineering and space students by developing a small satellite, contributing to building national talent in this fast-developing sector.
• RoboGuard (Firefighter Assistant Robot): In the field of public safety, the Firefighter Assistant Robot stands out as an advanced fire aid designed to operate in hazardous environments where human safety is at risk. Equipped with sensors and cameras for independent flame and heat source detection, the robot creates real-time 3D risk maps and identifies trapped individuals via thermal imaging, allowing for remote control and direct feedback to rescue teams.

Educational Technology (EdTech) Solutions:

• Holographic Display Box: Among the featured innovations is the Interactive Holographic Box - a display unit presenting an AI-powered 3D avatar capable of real-time voice interaction. Trained to answer questions about HCT, the virtual persona engages visitors with an intelligent and immersive information experience throughout the event, offering comprehensive responses to their inquiries.
• Potential Students at Risk Dashboard: This is a predictive tool that uses AI and machine learning algorithms to move from reactive support to early detection of students at risk of low academic performance. The dashboard predicts low performance for new students from day one and identifies potential causes, allowing faculty members to provide personalized and timely interventions.
• HCT Workforce Observatory Dashboard: An instant professional insights and employment analytics platform is the UAE’s first integrated education-to-employment benchmarking dashboard (Version 2.0). This platform connects educational outcomes directly with national labor market needs, enabling data-driven strategic decision-making. It also offers real-time employment analytics and supports job seekers with actionable insights.
• HCT PAL (Personal Assistant Learning): This is a hybrid software program exclusive to HCT that provides integrated, personalized support to students, faculty, and staff, with the potential to expand to serve prospective students. It offers instant academic guidance in both Arabic and English langauges, in addition to assisting faculty members in simplifying administrative tasks and generating analytical questions.
• Campus 360 Predictive Dashboards: A unified system based on AI to link educational and operational data from Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Campus 360 reimagines how data, people, and processes are interconnected within HCT, providing leadership with a real-time view of strategic trends, supporting personalised learning paths, and enhancing data-driven decision-making across all academic and administrative operations.

The participating students expressed their gratitude for the attention and support their projects receive from the leadership. Mohammed Tareq Al Awadhi, from the Bugloud Cybersecurity Platform project team, said: “It is a great honor to participate in this global event and present our project to distinguished officials. The unwavering support from HCT leadership has been the driving force behind our determination to turn our technical ideas into real-world solutions that benefit society and contribute to the UAE’s digital economy.” Maryam Abdullah Al Hammadi, from the Oil Skimmer Model project team, added: Our participation in GITEX reflects the opportunities and support HCT provides to connect our applied studies with national priorities, particularly in maritime sustainability. We are grateful to our leadership for empowering us to showcase our innovations alongside international companies at this global forum — a testament to their confidence in the potential of Emirati youth.”

HCT’s participation in GITEX Global this year reaffirms its role as a strategic partner in advancing the National Digital Transformation Agenda. By fully aligning with the UAE AI Strategy 2031, HCT continues to strengthen its position as a leading applied educational institution driving the sustainable growth of the nation’s digital economy.