The eighth edition of RoboCup Asia-Pacific (RCAP 2025) commenced in Abu Dhabi with the attendance of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the opening ceremony, organized by Khalifa University of Science and Technology. This marks the first time the prestigious robotics competition is being hosted in the MENA region, running under the theme Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for a Sustainable Future as part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week.
The event features substantial international participation with more than 170 teams and over 700 participants, including significant contingents from Singapore with 22 teams comprising 61 students and 55 officials, Egypt with 18 teams, Russia with 18 teams, China with 10 teams, and the UAE fielding 12 teams of 44 students. During the ceremony, His Highness toured competition areas and reviewed cutting-edge robotics projects showcased by student teams participating in both main and sub-challenges.
His Highness emphasized that investing in artificial intelligence, robotics technologies and autonomous intelligent systems serves as a fundamental pillar in future development, noting that nurturing young talent and promoting research and development strengthens Abu Dhabi's position as both a global platform for supporting innovation ecosystems and a destination for attracting future industrial sectors. This aligns with the emirate's vision of building a knowledge-based economy driven by advanced science and technology.
As a project-oriented educational initiative, RoboCupJunior sponsors local, regional and international robotic events for young students and features Soccer, OnStage and Rescue leagues. RCAP 2025 includes eight main competitions and 15 sub-challenges covering these three league categories. The RoboCup Soccer component specifically includes four challenges covering Standard Platform, Humanoid, Simulation 2D and RoboCupJunior leagues, providing comprehensive testing grounds for emerging robotics technologies.
His Excellency Professor Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University, stated that hosting RCAP 2025 represents a major milestone for the university, the UAE and regional robotics ecosystem, highlighting Abu Dhabi's role as a regional center for advanced robotics and AI research. This aligns with Abu Dhabi's vision to become a leader in technology and innovation and the UAE Vision 2031, showcasing how AI and robotics can transform industries. The event is expected to generate increased interest in STEM-related subject areas while creating fresh talent suitable for future leadership positions.
Alya Al Hosani, Executive Director of Community Affairs at Mubadala Investment Company, expressed pride in supporting RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 as a distinguished platform that underscores the UAE's leadership in innovation and technology. Mubadala's commitment to advancing youth engagement in STEM education and fostering innovation in fields such as robotics reflects dedication to nurturing the next generation of talent that will continue advancing the UAE as a knowledge-based economy.
Dr Hamad Karaki, General Chairman of RCAP 2025, noted that the number of participating teams and diversity of competitions strongly reflect Abu Dhabi's ability to attract top-tier technology experts to compete through the latest AI technologies. RCAP 2025 aims to strengthen and nurture the UAE's robotics ecosystem following initiatives to create an AI-powered government, including 100 percent digitization of processes and deployment of more than 200 AI solutions. These efforts have positioned the UAE as a global magnet for top technology leaders participating in RCAP 2025, with long-term implications for economic diversification and technological sovereignty.
