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DESIGN. BUILD. FLY.

United Arab Emirates – National Drone Innovation Challenge | Al Ain, Abu Dhabi

Take flight with innovation! Join the UAE’s national academic challenge where university students transform bold ideas into real flying machines. Design, build, and fly a functional drone under competitive, real-world conditions.

Design, Build, Fly is a flagship event organized by Eco Adventure Tourism in collaboration with United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). This event empowers engineering students from across the UAE to apply classroom knowledge in building advanced UAV prototypes, judged on innovation, performance, and design.

The 2025 edition will be hosted in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi in December 2025. Join a hands-on journey where creativity meets technology in an exciting aerospace challenge.

RC Aircraft
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About the Competition

Design, Build, Fly – UAEU is a national annual competition organized by Eco Adventure Tourism in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). The initiative is tailored for engineering students from universities across the UAE, offering them a real-world opportunity to design, build, and test unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) according to specific mission challenges and evaluation criteria announced each year.

Held in Al Ain in December 2025, the competition provides a stimulating educational environment that blends academic knowledge with practical experience. It encourages innovation, teamwork, and applied technical skills through hands-on engagement in aerospace design and development.

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About the competition
About the competition

What Makes This Competition Unique?

  • Applied Engineering Experience: Participants transform theoretical knowledge into real UAV prototypes, tackling challenges that reflect real-world aerospace missions.
  • Comprehensive Project Cycle: Students go through the full lifecycle — from design and CAD modeling, to fabrication, testing, and mission execution.
  • Innovation-Driven Challenges: Each edition introduces new technical and performance benchmarks that require creative problem-solving and original thinking.
  • Academic and Industry Mentorship: Expert guidance from university faculty and national institutions helps teams align their projects with industry standards.
  • National Collaboration Platform: The competition bridges universities and aviation-related organizations, fostering meaningful partnerships in R&D and talent development.
  • Live Flight Demonstrations: Final aircraft are flown and evaluated at Al Ain Aeroclub in front of expert judges, giving teams real visibility and impact.
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DESIGN

Design phase

Teams draft aircraft using CAD or hand sketches, focusing on structure and systems.

BUILD

Build phase

Construction begins using selected materials before evaluation and flight testing.

FLY

Fly phase

Aircrafts are judged live in Al Ain on stability, precision, and mission delivery.

Ready to Build and Fly?

Whether new to RC or a pro pilot, you’re invited to join this national challenge.

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