AI Genesis Hackathon 2025: Summary of the Middle East's Largest AI Hackathon

Introduction

The AI Genesis hackathon successfully brought together a global community of developers, engineers, designers, and innovators to push the boundaries of Artificial Intelligence. Positioned as the largest AI Hackathon in the Middle East, the event featured a hybrid format, blending online collaboration with an exclusive in-person experience in Dubai. This groundbreaking event showcased the immense potential of AI technology and demonstrated how collaborative innovation can drive meaningful change across industries.

The hackathon ran online from November 14 - 19, 2025, with the on-site component taking place on November 18 - 19, 2025, at the Festival Arena Dubai. Participants developed high-impact AI solutions for real industry challenges using cutting-edge tools and presented their work to an international jury of experts.

What is an AI Hackathon?

An AI hackathon (also known as an artificial intelligence hackathon) is an intensive, time-limited competition where developers, engineers, and innovators collaborate to build AI-powered solutions using cutting-edge technologies like large language models (LLMs), machine learning algorithms, and generative AI tools. These events can be online AI hackathons, virtual AI hackathons, remote AI hackathons, or hybrid AI hackathons that combine both digital and in-person participation.

How AI hackathons work: Participants form teams, receive access to AI tools and APIs, and have a limited timeframe (typically 24-72 hours) to develop functional prototypes that solve real-world problems. These events serve as platforms for innovation, learning, and networking within the AI community. Global AI hackathons like AI Genesis bring together talent from around the world, making them accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

AI hackathons are particularly valuable for:

• AI engineers and developers looking to showcase their skills
• Beginners interested in learning AI development through hands-on experience
• Entrepreneurs seeking to validate AI product ideas
• Job seekers exploring AI hackathons for jobs and AI hackathon hiring opportunities

Whether you're participating in an AI agent hackathon, generative AI hackathon, LLM hackathon, or machine learning AI hackathon, these events provide unparalleled opportunities to work with the latest AI technologies and connect with industry leaders. LabLab.ai hosts regular AI hackathons throughout the year, making it easy to find and join upcoming AI hackathons that match your interests and skill level. Explore upcoming AI hackathons and join the next global AI hackathon to transform your ideas into reality.

Event Overview and Participation

The AI Genesis Hackathon achieved remarkable participation numbers, bringing together thousands of talented individuals from around the world to collaborate on innovative AI solutions. As one of the largest online AI hackathons of 2025, the event's hybrid AI hackathon format allowed for global AI hackathon participation while providing an exclusive in-person experience for those able to attend in Dubai. This approach demonstrates how modern AI hackathons can scale globally while maintaining meaningful local connections.

Participation Statistics

The hackathon attracted an impressive number of participants and teams:

• Enrolled Participants: 4,842
• On-site Participants in Dubai: Over 317
• Teams: 605
• AI Applications Submitted: 260

These numbers reflect the growing interest in AI development and the event's ability to attract top talent from across the globe. The high number of submitted applications demonstrates the participants' commitment to creating meaningful, impactful solutions.

Global Reach and Demographics

The hackathon achieved significant global reach, with a large concentration of participants from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This regional focus highlights the growing AI ecosystem in the MENA area and the event's success in engaging local talent. As a global AI hackathon, the event demonstrated how online AI hackathons can bridge geographical boundaries while maintaining strong regional participation.

• Total MENA Participants: 1,059

• Top MENA Countries:

  • United Arab Emirates: 728
  • Morocco: 71
  • Tunisia: 56
  • Egypt: 53
  • Saudi Arabia: 40

The strong representation from the UAE, in particular, underscores Dubai's position as a leading technology hub in the region and its commitment to fostering AI innovation. This makes AI hackathons in Dubai and the broader MENA region particularly valuable for local developers and international participants alike.

Partners and Technologies

The AI Genesis Hackathon was supported by a diverse group of official partners and cutting-edge technologies that enabled participants to build innovative solutions. These partnerships provided participants with access to powerful tools, resources, and expertise throughout the event. This collaborative approach is what makes AI hackathons such powerful learning and innovation platforms—participants gain hands-on experience with enterprise-grade AI technologies that they might not otherwise have access to.

Event Partners

The event was supported by official partners including Google, AppliedAI, and Qdrant. Other partners included NativelyAI, /function1, Google DeepMind, SEA, Surge, AI/ML API, Google AI Studio, Google Developer Group Dubai, and Opus. These partnerships ensured participants had access to the latest AI technologies and expert guidance throughout the hackathon.

Key Technologies

Key technologies leveraged in the hackathon included:

Technology	Provider / Model	Description
Gemini AI	Google DeepMind	A powerful multimodal model built for intelligent, seamless performance across diverse platforms and devices.
Opus	AppliedAI	An enterprise automation platform that transforms workflows into AI-driven, human-supervised processes powered by AppliedAI's Large Work Model (LWM).
Qdrant	Qdrant	A high-performance, open-source vector database for fast, scalable similarity search and hybrid semantic applications.
AI/ML API	N/A	Provides advanced AI—text, image, and speech—with seamless integration and high performance.

These technologies provided participants with the tools necessary to build sophisticated AI applications that could address real-world challenges across various industries.

Hackathon Winners and Achievements

The AI Genesis Hackathon featured several tracks and challenge winners, recognizing outstanding innovation and technical excellence. The winners demonstrated exceptional creativity, technical skill, and the ability to leverage partner technologies effectively to create impactful solutions. These winning projects exemplify what's possible when talented developers participate in AI hackathons—transforming innovative ideas into working prototypes that address real-world challenges.

Best Use of Gemini

The top three winners in the Best Use of Gemini category each received $10,000 in GCP Credits:

• 1st Place Winner: MYFORMSNAPPER by LABOSANOVA
• 2nd Place Winner: SELLTHEPEN by THE VISIONARY
• 3rd Place Winner: CIVI-GENESIS by CIVI-GENESIS

These winners showcased innovative applications of Google's Gemini AI technology, demonstrating the model's versatility and potential for real-world applications.

Best Opus Workflow (AppliedAI)

• 1st Place Winner: EMERGENCY TRIAGE AUTOMATION - PRIORITIZING CARE by FUYUTO MIYAKE
  • Prize: $3,000 in cash, plus 1,000 man-hour credits worth $1,500

This winning project demonstrated how AppliedAI's Opus platform could be used to create life-saving automation solutions in healthcare settings.

Best Use of Qdrant

• 1st Place Winner: PAYSTREAM AI by HAUSOR LABS
  • Prize: $500 Apple Gift Card, Meta Ray-Ban Glasses (Gen 2), AirPods Pro (3rd Gen), and Qdrant swag

The winning project showcased innovative use of Qdrant's vector database capabilities for financial applications.

Surge Prizes

• 1st Place Winner: PROJECT CHIMERA 1000X VELOCITY FOR CREATIVE AI by SANDAN AI
  • Prize: $2,500 in $SURGE tokens + connection with the Surge team and a chance to be incubated/accelerated

This winner demonstrated exceptional innovation in creative AI applications, earning recognition and support for further development.

Participant Feedback

The sentiment from participants was highly positive, highlighting the event's structure, support, and collaborative atmosphere. One participant noted, "The hybrid format, clear structure, and the balance between online and onsite activities made the entire hackathon smooth and motivating... It was inspiring to build in such a structured, friendly and high-energy environment".

This feedback reflects the event's success in creating an environment that fostered innovation, collaboration, and learning while maintaining high standards for technical excellence.

Participant Testimonials

The AI Genesis Hackathon left a lasting impact on participants, inspiring innovation, personal growth, and meaningful connections. Here are some powerful stories from those who took part in this transformative AI hackathon, demonstrating the real-world value of participating in global AI hackathons and online AI hackathons.

Building Healthcare Solutions with AI

Sanjitha Mohammad and her team participated in the AI Genesis Hackathon 2025, where they developed NovaHealth, a Preventive Health Intelligence System for smarter, data-driven public health planning using Opus. This AI-powered solution is designed to shift healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. The system analyzes anonymized data from clinics, pharmacies, and public surveys, cleans and standardizes it, removes PII, and performs regional risk analysis to generate regional forecasts, targeted intervention plans, public health alerts, and compliance and risk summary reports.

"Huge thanks to the organizers, mentors, and judges for the guidance and inspiration throughout the event. This experience strengthened our teamwork, problem-solving, and AI automation skills and I'm excited to keep building solutions that create real impact." — Sanjitha Mohammad

The Power of Determination and Accountability

Linford Musiyambodza shared an inspiring story of determination and resilience during the hackathon. Despite facing numerous challenges, including learning a completely new platform (IBM Orchestrate/watsonx) with zero prior experience and juggling multiple responsibilities, he successfully built an AI agent that automates support ticket routing using Slack.

"This weekend, I participated in a 48-hour hackathon with lablab.ai, and it was intense. You might ask: 'Linford, how do you manage all of this?' One day, I'll share my full story. But here's what I know: accountability starts with me. That's why I usually work solo during hackathons - most people disappear when the pressure hits." — Linford Musiyambodza

His story exemplifies the dedication and perseverance that many participants brought to the hackathon, pushing through technical challenges and time constraints to deliver innovative solutions.

A Journey of Growth and International Experience

Shriyash Soni, at just 20 years old, made his first international trip to attend the AI Genesis Hackathon in Dubai. What started as an impossible dream became reality through determination and hard work. He did 10 days of freelancing, worked day and night, and made the entire trip possible, proving that with the right mindset, any goal is achievable.

"I also want to give a huge thanks to lablab.ai AI — their guidance and support helped me take this step. After countless online meetings and discussions, I finally got the chance to meet Kseniya Lukashuk, Media & Marketing Head at Lablab AI, in person. A moment that truly meant a lot to me." — Shriyash Soni

His journey from India to Dubai represents the global reach and transformative impact of the hackathon, demonstrating how AI hackathons serve as catalysts for personal and professional growth. Many participants find that AI hackathons for jobs provide valuable networking opportunities, with some events offering direct AI hackathon hiring connections and recruitment opportunities.

Summary

The AI Genesis Hackathon truly served as a launchpad for bold ideas and new collaborations, pushing the limits of AI development. With over 4,800 participants, 605 teams, and 260 submitted applications, the event demonstrated the immense potential of collaborative AI innovation. The hackathon's hybrid AI hackathon format successfully bridged online AI hackathons and in-person participation, making it accessible to a global AI hackathon audience while providing an exclusive experience for those in Dubai.

The event's success was further highlighted by the diverse range of winning projects, from healthcare automation to creative AI applications, showcasing the versatility of modern AI technologies. The strong participation from the MENA region, particularly the UAE, underscores the growing importance of the Middle East as a hub for AI innovation and development, and highlights the value of AI hackathons in Dubai and the broader MENA region.

Through strategic partnerships with leading technology companies and access to cutting-edge tools, participants were able to create solutions that address real-world challenges across multiple industries. The positive feedback from participants confirms that the event successfully created an environment that fostered creativity, collaboration, and technical excellence—key characteristics that make AI hackathons such valuable experiences for developers and innovators.

As AI continues to evolve and transform industries worldwide, events like the AI Genesis Hackathon play a crucial role in bringing together talented individuals, providing them with the tools and resources needed to innovate, and creating opportunities for groundbreaking solutions to emerge. The hackathon's legacy will continue to inspire future generations of AI developers and innovators in the Middle East and beyond.

Ready to join the next AI hackathon? Explore upcoming AI hackathons and discover how you can participate in online AI hackathons, virtual AI hackathons, or global AI hackathons to build your next AI-powered solution.

Frequently Asked Questions About AI Hackathons

What is an AI hackathon?

An AI hackathon (or artificial intelligence hackathon) is a time-limited competition where teams collaborate to build AI-powered solutions using cutting-edge technologies. These events can be online AI hackathons, virtual AI hackathons, remote AI hackathons, or hybrid AI hackathons combining both digital and in-person participation.

How do AI hackathons work?

How AI hackathons work: Participants form teams, receive access to AI tools and APIs, and have a limited timeframe (typically 24-72 hours) to develop functional prototypes. Teams present their solutions to judges, and winners receive prizes, recognition, and sometimes job opportunities. The format encourages rapid prototyping, collaboration, and hands-on learning with the latest AI technologies.

Are AI hackathons free?

Most AI hackathons are free to participate in, including registration and access to tools and resources. Some events may charge a small fee for in-person components or premium features, but the majority of online AI hackathons and virtual AI hackathons are completely free.

Do AI hackathons pay?

Yes, many AI hackathons offer cash prizes, credits, swag, and other rewards to winners. The AI Genesis Hackathon, for example, awarded prizes including $10,000 in GCP Credits, cash prizes, gift cards, and technology products. Additionally, AI hackathons for jobs often provide networking opportunities that can lead to job offers and AI hackathon hiring connections.

How long do AI hackathons last?

AI hackathons typically last between 24-72 hours, though some may extend to a week. The AI Genesis Hackathon ran for 5 days online (November 14-19, 2025) with a 2-day in-person component. Online AI hackathons often have more flexible timelines, while virtual AI hackathons may follow stricter schedules.

What do you win in AI hackathons?

Prizes in AI hackathons vary but commonly include:

• Cash prizes
• Cloud credits (AWS, GCP, Azure)
• Technology products (laptops, headphones, smart devices)
• Gift cards
• Swag and merchandise
• Job opportunities and networking connections
• Incubation or acceleration program access

Are AI hackathons worth it?

Absolutely. AI hackathons provide numerous benefits:

• Hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI technologies
• Networking opportunities with industry leaders and peers
• Portfolio-building projects
• Learning new skills rapidly
• Potential job opportunities through AI hackathon hiring
• Access to mentorship and expert guidance
• Prizes and recognition

Who can join AI hackathons?

AI hackathons are open to developers, engineers, designers, data scientists, students, and anyone interested in AI development. Many events welcome AI hackathons for beginners, while others target experienced AI engineers. Most online AI hackathons have minimal barriers to entry, making them accessible to a global audience.

Do I need experience for AI hackathons?

No prior experience is required for many AI hackathons. Events often welcome beginners and provide resources, tutorials, and mentorship to help participants learn. However, having some programming knowledge and familiarity with AI concepts can be helpful. Many participants use AI hackathons as learning opportunities to gain experience with new technologies.

What types of AI hackathons are available?

There are various types of AI hackathons including:

• AI agent hackathon - Focus on building AI agents
• Generative AI hackathon - Focus on generative AI applications
• LLM hackathon - Focus on large language models
• Machine learning AI hackathon - Focus on ML algorithms
• Fintech AI hackathon - Industry-specific (finance)
• Healthcare AI hackathon - Industry-specific (healthcare)
• Web3 AI hackathon - Focus on blockchain and AI
• Computer vision hackathon - Focus on image/video processing

Where can I find upcoming AI hackathons?

You can find upcoming AI hackathons and current AI hackathons on platforms like LabLab.ai, which hosts global AI hackathons throughout the year. Search for "AI hackathons 2025" or "upcoming AI hackathons" to discover events that match your interests and schedule.

What is the best AI hackathon platform?

LabLab.ai is recognized as one of the leading platforms for AI hackathons, offering online AI hackathons, virtual AI hackathons, and hybrid AI hackathons with access to cutting-edge AI tools and technologies. Other platforms include Devpost, MLH (Major League Hacking), and various company-sponsored hackathons.

Can I participate in AI hackathons from anywhere?

Yes, online AI hackathons and virtual AI hackathons allow participation from anywhere in the world. Remote AI hackathons are designed to be fully accessible regardless of location, making them ideal for global participation. Hybrid AI hackathons offer both online and in-person options.