Set sail with an idea,
land with something that leaves a mark.
The first free, fully remote Arab AI hackathon: it opens with two free qualifying weeks, then turns your skills into a real project.
Official reveal · nine minutes past nine in the evening, Mecca time.
In partnership with
Al-ARAB UNIVERSITY
Al-Awael Modern University
Al-Mahra University
Al-Rasheed Smart University
Al-Razi University
Al-Reyada University
Al-Saeed University
Al-Saeeda University
Al-Thalaya School for Technology and Applied Sciences
Future University
Hadhramout University Center for Student Training
Seiyun University
University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar - Pakistan
University of Modern Sciences
University of Palestine
University of Science and Technology, Aden
General Union of Shabwa Students
General Union of Yemeni Students
Programmers' Union
Qatarat Al-Ghaith Foundation for Charitable Development
Union of Yemeni Students in Indonesia
Yemen IT & Telecommunication Union
Yemeni Developers Community
Yemeni Students Union in Bangalore, India
Yemeni Students Union in Iraq
Yemeni Students Union in Turkiye - Istanbul Branch
Yemeni Students Union in Visakhapatnam - Andhra Pradesh, India
The gap is not in ideas,
but in the distance between an idea and a solution that works.
The Arab learning path usually ends at a skill: a workshop, a course, a certificate. What is missing is the challenge, the team and the deadline. SHIRAA, an initiative by EMC · Educational Mastar Central, gives you all three: free, remote, and open to anyone who builds. Every background is welcome: medicine, law, education, media and design, not only tech.
Six tracks. Where does your idea begin?
Education & Learning
How can technology and AI make learning better, easier and more interactive?
Health & Wellbeing
From awareness to care: which health problem can technology help solve?
Arabic-Language AI
AI speaks many languages. How do we make it understand the Arab user better?
Work & Digital Economy
Work is changing and so are the opportunities. Build a solution that improves work or services.
Society & Social Impact
Technology is most valuable when it creates impact that reaches people.
Open Challenge
An idea outside the lanes? The space is yours: propose an innovative fix to a real problem.
The participant journey: seven stops
Registration
Solo or as a team of 2–5
Qualifying
Two free weeks
The challenge
Pick your track
Build
Ten mentored days
Submission
Prototype and pitch
The final
Before the jury
Incubation
Eight weeks
Prizes, and what lies beyond them
Ten winning places, not three.
A total of $5,000 is distributed across the top ten in descending order.
- Rank 11st place$1,200
- Rank 22nd place$900
- Rank 33rd place$700
- Rank 44th place$500
- Rank 55th place$400
- Rank 66th place$350
- Rank 77th place$300
- Rank 88th place$250
- Rank 99th place$220
- Rank 1010th place$180
Our founding academic partners
Universities that believe their students deserve an Arab platform, and the door is still open.
جامعة العرب
Al-ARAB UNIVERSITY
جامعة الأوائل الحديثة
Al-Awael Modern University
جامعة المهرة
Al-Mahra University
جامعة الرشيد الذكية
Al-Rasheed Smart University
جامعة الرازي
Al-Razi University
جامعة الريادة
Al-Reyada University
جامعة السعيد
Al-Saeed University
جامعة السعيدة
Al-Saeeda University
مدرسة الثلايا للتكنولوجيا والعلوم التطبيقية
Al-Thalaya School for Technology and Applied Sciences
جامعة المستقبل
Future University
مركز جامعة حضرموت لتدريب الطلاب
Hadhramout University Center for Student Training
جامعة سيئون
Seiyun University
جامعة الهندسة والتكنولوجيا بيشاور - باكستان
University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar - Pakistan
جامعة العلوم الحديثة
University of Modern Sciences
جامعة فلسطين
University of Palestine
جامعة العلوم والتكنولوجيا · عدن
University of Science and Technology, AdenCommunity & supporting partners
Unions, syndicates and foundations that carry the call to their students and members, and open the way to SHIRAA.
الاتحاد العام لطلاب شبوه
General Union of Shabwa Students
الاتحاد العام لطلاب اليمن
General Union of Yemeni Students
اتحاد المبرمجين
Programmers' Union
مؤسسة قطرات الغيث الخيرية التنموية
Qatarat Al-Ghaith Foundation for Charitable Development
اتحاد الطلاب اليمنيين في اندونيسيا
Union of Yemeni Students in Indonesia
نقابة تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات اليمنية
Yemen IT & Telecommunication Union
المجتمع اليمني للمطورين
Yemeni Developers Community
اتحاد الطلاب اليمنيين · بنجلور · الهند
Yemeni Students Union in Bangalore, India
اتحاد الطلاب اليمنيين في العراق
Yemeni Students Union in Iraq
اتحاد الطلاب اليمنيين في تركيا - فرع إسطنبول
Yemeni Students Union in Turkiye - Istanbul Branch
اتحاد طلاب اليمن في فيساخاباتنام - أندرا براديش - الهند
Yemeni Students Union in Visakhapatnam - Andhra Pradesh, IndiaYour university or organisation next?
Partnership carries no financial commitment and no organisational burden. Companies, government bodies, technology, media and talent partners are all welcome.
Registration is open
One minute, and most of it is taps. No CV, no attachments, no fee.
- Completely free
- Fully remote
- Beginners welcome
Not ready yet? Join the waiting list.
What happens after you register?
Frequently asked questions
Is participation really free?
Yes, entirely free: registration, the qualifying phase, the tools and the certificate. No fees at any stage.
Do I need prior AI experience?
No. Two free qualifying weeks precede the challenge, starting from the basics and open to every registrant. Every background is welcome: medicine, law, education, media and design, not only tech.
I'm on my own with no team. Can I still register?
Yes. Register individually and you'll be placed in the team-formation space, where we help you join a team that needs your skills.
Do I need to travel or attend somewhere?
No. The initiative runs fully remotely, from registration to the final pitch.
Which language is used?
Arabic is the language of training and communication; projects and pitches may be submitted in Arabic or English.
What do I need to take part?
A computer, an internet connection, and commitment to the schedule. That is the only real requirement.