ZainTECH and Rochester Institute of Technology (Dubai) announce Data Challenge 2025, in collaboration with Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)
ZainTECH, the integrated digital solutions provider of Zain Group, today announced details of this year’s ZainTECH Data Challenge, which is set to take place 1 February, in partnership with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Dubai, and will focus on solutions to optimize the challenges public transport networks face. The Challenge will also include the consideration of enhancements to commuter experiences within the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
The ZainTECH Data Challenge is an annual hackathon hosted by RIT Dubai and ZainTECH, and each year 60 undergraduate students are invited from across the UAE to participate in solving Machine Learning (ML) problems. The top five teams are invited to present their methodology and results to a panel of judges for a final score and the chance to win prizes including paid internships.
Participating university students are given an opportunity to leverage data-driven insights to revolutionize urban transportation in the real world, which provides a platform for students to develop innovative solutions that can optimize public transport networks and enhance commuter comfort and safety.
Collaboration between students from multiple disciplines is fostered, allowing them to develop innovative solutions for public transport, while bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application. ZainTECH and RIT Dubai value the active participation and contribution made by RTA to this year’s Challenge, allowing participants to receive a sense of real-world transportation challenges that need to be addressed and overcome.
Commenting on the latest installment of the ZainTECH Data Challenge, Andrew Hanna, CEO of ZainTECH said, “This initiative addresses a number of our corporate social responsibility goals, including supporting young people and education, as well as developing solutions to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals. This year, we are focusing efforts on reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency, with public transportation optimization being one of the strategies used. We wish all this year’s Challenge participants the very best and look forward to listening and judging the short-listed solutions, which we are sure will be of the highest standard.”
Dr. Yousef Al Assaf, President of RIT Dubai commented, “It is a great pleasure to host the Data Challenge for the second year in a row! This year witnesses an integration between three different sectors: the private sector (represented by ZainTECH), the educational sector (represented by RIT Dubai) and the governmental public sector (represented by RTA). Our partnership sets an exemplar of an interactive ecosystem that would help in solving real life challenges for entities and creating opportunities for talents. This year’s challenge focuses on creating solutions in the areas of mobility challenges and efficiency and invites students from different UAE universities to showcase their skills. This collaboration is a station in the long journey of bridging the gap between academia and the industry.”
Hessa Al Suwaidi, Director of Information Technology at RTA, commented, “Data is the new fuel, and at RTA, we leverage real-world data to enhance operational efficiency but also to ensure the highest standards of security. By analyzing user preferences and continuously optimizing processes, we ensure a seamless and reliable experience for all.
As one of Dubai's largest government entities and a recognized leader in technology adoption, RTA is a data-driven organization committed to fostering innovation. We actively encourage and empower students to develop their skills by working with real-world data, exploring advanced technologies, and crafting effective solutions for tomorrow's challenges.”
This year’s Challenge highlights the positive collaboration that can be achieved between private sector organizations and government entities, in this particular case with RTA. It also highlights our continued collaboration with RIT to foster and develop the talent of youth across the UAE in the Data Science field.