James Dyson Award assembles leading voices in innovation for its 2026 UAE judging panel
James Dyson Award returns to the UAE with a new judging panel and open entries
- This year’s judging panel includes Dr. Fadi Aloul, Anas Abbar and Marwa Saeed Al Mamari, bringing together expertise across engineering, academia, technology and entrepreneurship.
- The James Dyson Award is a globally recognised design competition that celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers.
- The UAE winners will receive a cash prize of £5,000, alongside high-profile recognition for their idea, whilst the global winner will get £30,000.
DUBAI, UAE – 14 July 2026: The James Dyson Award, a global competition that inspires, encourages and celebrates the next generation of design engineers, returns to the UAE for its ninth edition with a new cohort of judges. This year’s panel brings together leaders from engineering, academia, technology and entrepreneurship, each offering a distinct perspective on what makes an idea innovative and impactful.
As the competition opens for entries, the panel reflects the evolving innovation landscape in the region, where ideas are expected to be technically robust, culturally relevant and grounded in real-world application.
The UAE is the only country in the Middle East hosting the James Dyson Award, reinforcing its role as a regional hub for innovation and providing local students with a unique opportunity to compete on a global stage.
Unlike traditional design competitions, the James Dyson Award looks beyond concept alone. It challenges student innovators to develop solutions to real problems, whether everyday frustrations or global issues - and to demonstrate how their ideas could function in the real world. Submissions are judged on effectiveness, design thinking, technical feasibility and potential for commercialisation.
The 2026 UAE judging panel includes:
Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of the College of Engineering at American University of Sharjah (AUS)
Recognised as one of the world’s top 2% scientists by Stanford University and Elsevier, Dr. Aloul offers deep technical expertise in engineering and AI, alongside a strong understanding of how academic research translates into real-world solutions. His perspective ensures entries are evaluated not only on creativity but also on feasibility and scalability.
Anas Abbar, Co-Founder and CEO of 7awi Media Group
Anas is a digital media pioneer, entrepreneur, and holder of 20 U.S. patents. As Co-Founder and Group CEO of 7awi Media Group, he has built platforms that reach millions across the region, giving him a unique perspective on how innovation, technology, and audience insights turn ideas into meaningful, market-ready solutions.
Marwa Saeed Al Mamari, the UAE’s first aerospace engineer
Marwa offers a strong engineering perspective with a focus on precision, performance and real-world applicability. Her background in aerospace strengthens the panel’s ability to assess ideas for technical rigour and functional design.
Also supporting this year’s programme is Dr. Eng. Suaad Al Shamsi, who continues her long-standing association with the James Dyson Award in the UAE as a consultant and ambassador. As the first female Emirati aircraft engineer, one of the country’s most prominent aviation engineers and a passionate advocate for women in STEM, Dr. Al Shamsi plays an important role in championing the award locally, helping to spotlight the next generation of problem-solvers and strengthen awareness of the competition across the UAE’s engineering and innovation community.
UAE entrants compete first at the national level, where the judges select one winner and two runners-up. The winner will receive £5,000, and all three will have the opportunity to join an international shortlist of the top 20 inventions, from which Sir James Dyson himself will choose the global winner, who will be awarded £30,000.
Over the years, entries from the UAE have tackled diverse societal needs, ranging from accessibility and healthcare to environmental protection, reflecting how a new generation of engineers thinks beyond borders and disciplines.
With submissions now open, the task for students is to submit ideas that work, matter and have the potential to go further.
The deadline for entering the award is 15th July. The judges will then engage in thoughtful deliberation to determine the standout inventions, with the announcement of the national winners scheduled for 9th September. To find out more or submit an entry, visit www.jamesdysonaward.org
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