CUD students beat competitors from 13 UAE universities
Dubai, Oct 15, 2026: Canadian University Dubai (CUD) engineering students have made history by securing the UAE-wide national title at the Dubai TechBots League SumoX 26, completing the competition undefeated against teams from 13 universities across the country.
The winning CUD team, Anthony Ibrahim, Maya Salahi Alasbahi and Hadi Al Mubarak, emerged as the competition’s undefeated national champions, against 46 teams and 131 students from universities across the UAE. Guided by dedicated coaching and mentorship, the students combined technical rigour with composure, strategic judgement and exceptional teamwork to deliver a standout performance from the opening rounds through to the final.
Hosted at Canadian University Dubai and organised by Besomi Academy, with the support of Besomi Group, Arduino and Qualcomm, Dubai TechBots League SumoX 26 brought together engineering talent from across the UAE for a robotics challenge that demanded more than technical knowledge. Teams were asked to design, build and program robots capable of making rapid, intelligent decisions in a competitive arena.
The CUD team’s winning robot was conceived, designed and built as a hands-on engineering project that integrated mechanical design, electronics, intelligent sensing and embedded programming. Weighing three kilograms and powered by four high-torque DC motors, it was engineered for speed, force and responsive movement within the competitive sumo arena.
Its performance was driven by a carefully developed autonomous strategy. Multiple sensors enabled the robot to locate its opponent quickly, while line sensors detected the edge of the ring and ensured it remained in play. At the start of each match, the robot scanned its surroundings, identified the competing robot and responded with fast, targeted movement, translating engineering theory into a decisive real-world result.
The achievement reflects CUD’s commitment to preparing engineers who can turn ideas into practical innovation. Through the School of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology, students are immersed in a future-focused learning environment that connects academic knowledge with experimentation, industry relevance and applied problem-solving.
From robotics and automation to artificial intelligence, sustainable technologies and digital systems, CUD engineering students are encouraged to design, test and refine solutions to the challenges shaping Industry 4.0. Opportunities such as Dubai TechBots League SumoX 26 are central to this approach, enabling students to build technical confidence, collaborate across disciplines and demonstrate their capability on meaningful national platforms.
“This achievement is a proud moment for CUD and a powerful reflection of the talent, commitment and technical ambition of our students,” said Dr Sherif Moussa, Dean of the School of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology at Canadian University Dubai. “Anthony, Maya and Hadi have shown what is possible when academic learning is brought to life through practical challenge, expert mentorship and collaboration. Their undefeated national win demonstrates that our students are not only preparing for the future of engineering but are already contributing to it.”
