AAU Drives Innovation in Digital Defense through CTF Competition
As part of the AAU CyberX Day 2026 event hosted by Al Ain University at its Abu Dhabi Campus, and held under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council, the university organized the AAU CyberX CTF Competition to enhance students’ cybersecurity skills through practical technical challenges and innovation-driven competition.
Supervised by Dr. Suhib Melhem and Kenan Hassan, the competition was one of the central highlights of the event. Hosted by CyberElites, the challenge brought together 36 participants across 14 teams from six universities. Students demonstrated their technical expertise across several cybersecurity domains including Artificial Intelligence, PWN, Cryptography, Web Security, Reverse Engineering, OSINT, and miscellaneous challenges.
Competing for a total prize pool of AED 6,000, the undergraduate teams engaged in rigorous real-world simulations designed to test their analytical thinking and prepare them for the complex demands of the global cybersecurity industry.
The event also featured a Capstone Project Showcase, supervised by Dr. Heba Saleous, where 22 student groups presented their innovative research and technical solutions to an audience of academic peers and industry professionals. This showcase reflects Al Ain University’s commitment to hands-on learning, ensuring students remain at the forefront of emerging technologies and evolving industry needs.
By fostering active participation in these practical demonstrations and technical exhibits, the university continues to equip its graduates with the creative, technical, and collaborative skills essential for excellence in the rapidly growing field of digital defense.
