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ATLAB announces winners of ‘FIRST LEGO League,’ recognising UAE’s young innovators in robotics

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FIRST LEGO League

The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) 2024-25 season, hosted by ATLAB, a subsidiary of the Centena Group, in collaboration with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and LEGO Education, announced the national winners from across the UAE during the grand finale of the ‘CHALLENGE’ category on February 9, 2025. The awards recognised young innovators from 42 participating teams for their exceptional creativity, problem-solving skills and teamwork in robotics and STEM. 

The Champion’s Winner Award was presented to Team ‘ACE’ from Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, with Team ‘PELAGIC PIONEERS’ from DPS (Delhi Private School) – Sharjah as first runner-up and Team ‘METAL MECH’ from Gems International School – Al Khail as the second runner-up.

In the Robot Performance category, Team ‘SEATROTTERS’ from Gems Millenium School – Sharjah emerged as winners, followed by Team ‘ACE’ from Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences first runner-up and Team ‘MARINE X’ from Gems Millenium School Sharjah as the second runner-up.

The winners for Robot Design were Team ‘AQUA RAPTORZ’ from DPS – Sharjah, with Team ‘SEATROTTERS’ from Gems Millenium School – Sharjah as first runner-up and Team ‘CODEBREAKERS 2.0’ from Emerging Stars Institute as second runner-up.

The Innovation Project award went to Team ‘MAWJ MYSTERY MASTERS (M CUBE)’ from DPS – Sharjah, with Team ‘HYDRATECH’ from Mayoor Pvt School as first runner-up and Team ‘NMS HYDROBOTS’ from Gems New Millennium School – Al Khail as second runner-up.

Finally, the Core Values award was won by Team ‘AIS_TECHTITANS’ from Abu Dhabi International Pvt School, while Team ‘ABYSSAL EXPLORERS’ from Abu Dhabi Indian School secured first runner-up position and ‘DIAEH TEAM 2’ from Dubai International Academy – Emirates Hill secured the second runner-up position.

This year, the competition included the Motivate Award, which was presented to Team ‘REEF RANGERS’ from Diyar Private Academy Early Years and Girl’s Campus Dibba, Fujairah in recognition of their exceptional team spirit, enthusiasm, and commitment to the core values of the FIRST LEGO League.

Charbel Najjar, the coach of Team ACE from Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences said: “The competition provided us with a dynamic platform to exhibit our innovative concepts and gain valuable experience in the realms of problem-solving, teamwork, and STEM-related skills. We aim to carry this experience forward and continue to participate in similar competitions.”

The winners in the CHALLENGE category were assessed on the basis of their robot design, performance, innovation projects and core values. Team ACE that received the Champion’s Winner Award are qualified for the international-level competition, which is held in the USA at the World Festival – Houston, Texas. Apart from this, selected teams will compete in the international competitions across the world; AIS_TECHTITANS from Abu Dhabi International Pvt School in Greece, SEATROTTERS from Gems Millenium School – Sharjah in South Africa, AQUA RAPTORZ from DPS – Sharjah and METAL MECH from Gems International School- Al Khail  in Australia and PELAGIC PIONEERS from DPS – Sharjah in USA.

Nilesh Korgaonkar, CEO of ATLAB said: “The exceptional projects created by these innovators may not be directly implemented, but they might inspire real-world solutions at an international level or adopted by organisations or countries associated with FIRST. This competition is a platform for students to showcase their creativity, gain valuable experience and contribute to solving real-world problems. We are immensely proud of all the participants and winners who seized this opportunity. To ensure high-quality evaluation, we meticulously selected judges with expertise in STEM education and robotics.”

The teams were judged by esteemed professionals from different backgrounds, representing institutions, universities and schools across the UAE from both governmental and private organisations. This year’s grand finale was further enriched by the presence of special guest Rasna Hussain, a CCDI Teacher and Trainer at the UAE’s Ministry of Education, whose expertise spans Robotics, STEM Training, artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning.

In line with the UAE’s vision to foster a knowledge-based economy and empower future generations, initiatives like the FIRST LEGO League play a vital role in nurturing young innovators. By providing a platform to showcase creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, ATLAB reaffirms its commitment to supporting the nation’s aspirations for innovation and excellence in STEM fields.

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PNY Restructures Middle East and Africa Operations to Support Growth of its Consumer and Professional Solutions

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PNY Technologies today announced a strategic restructuring of its operations in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region to support continued growth across its consumer and professional product lines.

As part of this transformation, PNY is creating two dedicated business divisions:

Head of Sales Professional Solutions – MEA, PNY Technologies Europe & MEA
a portrait of Talus Arukalil
Talus Arukalil, Regional Manager – MEA & India, PNY Technologies Middle East FZE
  • * The Channel Division, led by Talus Arukalil, will focus on strengthening distribution channels for NVIDIA graphics products (NVIDIA GeForce and NVIDIA RTX Pro) and retail storage solutions, including SSDs, DRAM, flash cards, and USB drives.
  • * The Compute Division, managed by Muhannad Hammad, will drive business development around AI infrastructure and professional services, aligning with the increasing demand for advanced NVIDIA-powered computing solutions across the region.

This reorganization follows the recent opening of a new regional office in Saudi Arabia, reinforcing PNY’s long-term commitment to the Middle East and Africa.

To further enhance regional coverage and ensure the best local support for its customers, PNY had recently assigned dedicated Key Account Managers to specific areas:

  • Gader Muhsen for North Africa,
  • Saqer Alanazi for Saudi Arabia,
  • Kagiso Diteko for East and Southern Africa

PNY is also pleased to welcome Ahmed Gamal as Business Development Manager – AI Solutions, based in Dubai, UAE. His appointment reflects PNY’s dedication to delivering tailored AI solutions and supporting strategic partners across the region.

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ASBIS and iiyama sign distribution agreement for the MENA Region

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IIYAMA ASBIS

ASBIS Group, a leading Value Add Distributor, developer, and provider of ICT, IoT products, solutions, and services to the markets of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), has announced a strategic distribution agreement with iiyama, a leading manufacturer of professional and commercial display solutions. This partnership, formalized at a signing ceremony, aims to enhance the availability of high-quality display technology in the Middle East and North Africa.

Under the terms of the agreement, ASBIS will distribute iiyama’s comprehensive range of products, including high-performance desktop monitors, gaming displays, advanced touchscreens, and large-format screens. This collaboration is set to boost access to cutting-edge visual technologies across critical sectors such as education, retail, corporate environments, hospitality, and healthcare.

“We are excited to welcome iiyama into our network of world-leading vendors,” stated Hesham Tantawi, Vice President of ASBIS Middle East. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional technology solutions to our partners and clients across the region. iiyama’s advances in display technology are well-aligned with our strategic objectives for market growth and digital transformation “

The collaboration will prioritize mutual growth through joint marketing efforts, dedicated channel support, and go-to-market strategies that address the unique needs of the MENA market. This alliance is expected to foster innovation, elevate customer experiences, and enhance the competitive positioning of both ASBIS and iiyama.

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Syncrow Revolutionises Smart Building Management with New IoT Platform SyncOS

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Smart Building Management

Syncrow, a provider of scalable and innovative automation solutions powered by the Internet of Things (IoT), has launched SyncOS, a cloud-based IoT platform set to redefine smart building management across the GCC region.

SyncOS’ flexibility and scalability provide a more effective way for businesses and organisations to manage multiple buildings, floors, or rooms through the web or a mobile app. With this launch, Syncrow is expanding its lineup of comprehensive IoT and automation solutions that enhance efficiency, comfort, sustainability, and wellness across various sectors.

Featuring an intuitive dashboard, SyncOS gives property and facility managers all the information they need at a glance. This allows for easy monitoring and control of all connected devices, including lighting, water, HVAC, and security systems, across residential, commercial, and mixed-use environments.

Syncrow App

Leveraging the power of IoT and smart sensors, SyncOS offers predictive maintenance capabilities by monitoring device health and sending out early warnings to reduce downtime and prevent costly failures.

SyncOS’ advanced technology enables a smooth transition from traditional wired systems. With Syncrow’s wireless-first approach, the platform transforms existing buildings into smart environments – delivering cost-efficiency, peak system performance, and minimal operational disruption.

To ensure effortless onboarding and rapid adoption of new smart devices, SyncOS supports over 60 device types, with more added on a regular basis. This wide compatibility allows businesses and partners to integrate their existing apps and ecosystems using open APIs and white label options.

Syncrow App Devices Management 03

One of Syncrow’s key focus areas with the launch of SyncOS is wellness. The company is committed to advancing people’s wellbeing by creating technologies that respond to increasingly stringent occupant health standards. The IoT platform is capable of automating key environmental factors, including thermal comfort, air quality, water purity and more.

The launch of SyncOS contributes to various government initiatives, such as the UAE’s Green Agenda – 2030 and Saudi Vision 2030. Both programmes emphasise the use of advanced technologies to promote energy efficiency and sustainable development.

With roots in the UAE and active operations in Saudi Arabia, Syncrow has critical hands-on knowledge and experience with building codes, technical standards, and project workflows in the region. The company has successfully delivered projects for leading brands across the GCC, demonstrating its capability to meet regional demands with precision and reliability.

Syncrow App Workflow Automation 04

Commenting on the launch, Syncrow Co-Founder and CEO, Talal Debs, says: “We developed SyncOS to combine the capabilities of legacy building management systems with modern controls, data, IoT automation, and cloud connectivity. Our platform enables businesses to benefit from real-time actionable insights with detailed device-level information to drive smarter decisions.”

“People today are more conscious than ever about their health and overall well-being, whether at home, at work, or while traveling,” Talal added. “At Syncrow, we’ve designed our solutions to prioritise these evolving needs by focusing on air quality and environmental wellness. By doing so, we’re not only improving people’s lifestyles but also enabling businesses to deliver healthier, more responsive environments for their customers.”

Following the launch of SyncOS, Syncrow will continue developing various smart automation solutions that are centred on the needs of the GCC markets and deliver long-term scalability and resilience in the fast-transforming region.

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