Four digital creatives in the UAE won a combined prize of Dh1 million ($270,000) on Wednesday after outshining competitors in a global championship that tested the limits of artificial intelligence.
They won first place across four categories of the Global Prompt Engineering Championship, including art, video, gaming and coding.
The two-day contest was part of Dubai AI Week, which is taking place until Friday.
Competitors generated videos, games, artwork and coding using advanced AI prompts within 30 minutes.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, presented the winners with their trophies.
Syrian university student Ibrahim Hajjo, 20, won in the video category after impressing judges with his AI-generated videos of "animals in unexpected locations".
“I didn’t expect to get first place because there were some good competitors,” Mr Hajjo told The National. “The challenge was to create videos of animals in places they wouldn’t normally be. I generated a giraffe in the Metro and a penguin in the desert.”
Generative video tools, such as Sora by OpenAI or Runway, are pushing the boundaries of digital storytelling.
They offer possibilities for filmmakers and educators, but have also drawn scrutiny because of deepfakes that can mislead viewers.
Mr Hajjo, who works as a filmmaker for a media company alongside his studies at the Canadian University Dubai, said AI-generated videos look “really realistic”.
“There are some imperfections if you look closely but some are too good to be noticeable,” he said. "I think in a year’s time it’ll improve even more because new versions of models are being released every month."
In the gaming category, Canadian resident Ibrahim Helmy, 28, wowed the judges with his quick thinking and creative game design under pressure.
A cloud solutions architect at Microsoft, Mr Helmy channelled his AI expertise into game development.
“The first round didn’t go smoothly,” he told The National, recalling how the tool he was using went down for maintenance mid-challenge. “But I had nightmares about that exact scenario so I came prepared.”
Despite the rocky start, Mr Helmy created a side-scrolling game called Jumeirah Runner, in which players dodge obstacles while jogging along Dubai’s beachfront.
He then built a second game called The Karak Protocol, where users had to follow random steps to make the perfect cup of karak tea – a spiced milk tea infused with cardamom – a staple in South Asian and Gulf food culture.
“You could be a spoon, a cup or any random kitchen item trying to make tea. It was chaotic but fun,” he said.
Mr Helmy said his share of the prize money will go towards launching one of several side ventures he is planning.
“I plan on going back to the drawing board,” he said. "I have a bunch of different ventures and ideas, but I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to bring them to fruition."
In the coding category, Emirati student Abdul Rahman Almarzooqi, 23, demonstrated speed, accuracy and an expert understanding of machine-learning tools.
He used tools such as ChatGPT and other coding assistants to develop fully functional websites and applications in less than 30 minutes.
“I felt proud of myself because this is a global championship and I represented my country,” said Mr Almarzooqi, who is pursuing a master's degree in machine learning at the Mohammed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi.
The fourth winner, Yahya Kaddoura, took first prize in the art category.
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TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
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Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Syria squad
Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
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Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Bilal Asif, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (vice-capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Gamage
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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Sharlene Teo, Pan Macmillan
11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
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Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
