Staff
Unique hands-on learning experience for teen innovators to be staged across GCC by A Learning Lab
Dubai, Sept 22, 2025: A Learning Lab, the regional teen career exploration platform, has announced the launch of a new transformational youth development programme aimed at high school students in the GCC. The Innovation and Leadership Bootcamp by Stanford mentors will be staged in locations across the region this October, to equip students aged 13 to 18 with the tools, mindset and mentorship needed to tackle real-world challenges through technology, teamwork and innovation.
Staged across the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia from October 11 to 29, 2025, the immersive, four-day bootcamp is designed to bring together curious, motivated students for an intensive learning journey that blends cutting-edge technology, cross-disciplinary problem solving and world-class mentorship. Guided by expert mentors affiliated with Stanford University, participants will work in teams to explore the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across critical disciplines such as healthcare, law, ethics, governance and decision science.
The bootcamp is structured as a dynamic, hands-on experience that begins with workshops, mentor talks and team formation. From day one, participants will dive into collaborative activities that emphasise critical thinking, design thinking and ethical innovation, centred around AI projects. With support from Stanford mentors, students learn to frame real-world challenges, define problem statements, plan data strategies and develop initial prototypes in an environment that encourages experimentation and iteration.
As the programme progresses, students will be challenged to apply their technical creativity to build the core of their solution and bring their ideas to life. Participants will learn about backend development, API design, baseline modelling and prototype validation. By building user-friendly systems that are thoughtfully designed, tested and refined, participants will contribute to the development of meaningful solutions to real-world problems.
The culmination of the programme will see students showcase their projects in a demo fair, presenting to a panel of judges and receiving valuable feedback on both technical and conceptual aspects of their work. The event concludes with an awards ceremony, reflection from mentors and a celebration of the dedication and creativity demonstrated during the programme. Each participant will also receive a Certificate of Completion from the AI Innovation and Leadership Bootcamp, signed by a Stanford Mentor, recognising their achievement and growth over the four days.
Speaking about the programme, Aneeqa Larab, Deputy Head of A Learning Lab says, “What sets this bootcamp apart is the depth of technical learning combined with an emphasis on leadership, ethics and collaboration, guided by mentors from a world-renowned academic institution. Students will leave with more than just a working project; they will gain experience in professional communication, pitching ideas, working in diverse teams and thinking critically about the impact of AI in society. It is also a unique networking opportunity, allowing students to build lasting connections with peers and mentors alike.”
The Innovation and Leadership Bootcamp is scheduled to run in Dubai from October 11 to 14, 2025, and in Abu Dahbi from October 16 to 19, 2025. It will also be staged in Bahrain from October 16 to 19, 2025, in Qatar from October 26 to 29, 2025, and in Riyadh from October 26 to 29, 2025. Sessions take place from 9am to 5pm daily, offering students a full, immersive experience in a professional and inspiring environment.
