DUBAI, 24th August, 2026 (WAM) -- The Dubai Electronic Security Centre (DESC) has launched the second edition of the School of Cyber Defence Competition, culminating in a live final at GISEC Global 2026 on 18th September at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai.
Open to university students across the UAE, the competition provides participants with an opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to a realistic cyber incident, develop practical and defensible solutions, and present their approach before an expert judging panel.
The top five teams will advance to the live final, where they will compete for the top three positions and a total prize pool of AED20,000.
Building on the success of its first edition, this year’s competition places a stronger focus on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and emerging technologies, enabling students to move beyond theory into practical application while demonstrating their technical, analytical and problem-solving capabilities through scenarios inspired by real-world cyber challenges.
The competition is open to university students aged 17 and above across the UAE, particularly those studying computer science, engineering, information security and related disciplines. No previous competition experience is required.
Each team may include up to five students, and universities may register more than one team.
Registration closes on 1st September 2026. To register: https://scd.techfirm.ae/
Following the close of registration, teams will undergo an initial screening, followed by the case-study submission phase from 2nd to 7th September. The top five finalist teams will be announced on 10th September and will receive dedicated mentorship from cybersecurity professionals and industry partners from 11th to 17th September, in preparation for the live final on 18th September.