Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 15, 2025
Abu Dhabi Hosts RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 With 700+ Participants
TLDR
- Khalifa University's RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 offers participants competitive advantage through exposure to cutting-edge AI and robotics technologies for future industry leadership.
- RCAP 2025 features eight main competitions and fifteen sub-challenges across Soccer, OnStage and Rescue leagues with standardized platforms and simulation environments.
- This robotics initiative promotes sustainable development by nurturing young talent and building a knowledge-based economy that benefits future generations worldwide.
- Over 170 teams from 22 countries showcase innovative robotics projects including humanoid soccer players and rescue robots in Abu Dhabi's first MENA hosting.
Impact - Why it Matters
This event represents a strategic milestone in the UAE's transformation into a global technology hub, directly impacting the region's economic future and educational landscape. The convergence of international robotics talent in Abu Dhabi accelerates the development of local STEM capabilities while positioning the emirate as a serious contender in the rapidly growing AI and robotics industries. For students and professionals, this creates unprecedented opportunities for skill development and career advancement in cutting-edge technologies. The competition's focus on sustainable solutions through robotics addresses pressing global challenges while demonstrating how technological innovation can drive economic diversification beyond traditional oil-based economies. This initiative strengthens the UAE's position in the global technology race and serves as a model for other nations seeking to build knowledge-based economies through strategic investments in emerging technologies.
Summary
His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has inaugurated the groundbreaking 8th edition of RoboCup Asia-Pacific (RCAP 2025), marking the prestigious robotics competition's debut in the MENA region. Organized by Khalifa University of Science and Technology as part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week, the event brings together more than 170 teams and 700 participants from across the globe, including strong contingents from Singapore (22 teams), Egypt (18 teams), Russia (18 teams), China (10 teams), and the host UAE (12 teams). The competition operates under the forward-thinking theme "Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for a Sustainable Future," featuring eight main competitions and 15 sub-challenges across Soccer, OnStage, and Rescue leagues, with RoboCup Soccer specifically including Standard Platform, Humanoid, Simulation 2D, and RoboCupJunior challenges.
During his tour of the competition areas, His Highness Sheikh Zayed emphasized that investing in artificial intelligence, robotics technologies, and autonomous intelligent systems serves as a fundamental pillar for future development. He highlighted how nurturing young talent and promoting research and development strengthens Abu Dhabi's position as both a global platform for supporting the innovation ecosystem and a destination for attracting future industrial sectors. This aligns perfectly with the emirate's vision of building a knowledge-based economy driven by advanced science and technology. Professor Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University, described hosting RCAP 2025 as a major milestone that underscores Abu Dhabi's role as a regional center for advanced robotics and AI research while supporting the UAE Vision 2031 objectives.
The event has garnered significant institutional support, with Mubadala Investment Company's Executive Director Alya Al Hosani expressing pride in supporting what she called a distinguished platform that underscores the UAE's leadership in innovation and technology. Dr. Hamad Karaki, General Chairman of RCAP 2025, noted that the impressive participation numbers and competition diversity reflect Abu Dhabi's ability to attract top-tier technology experts competing through the latest AI technologies. The initiative aims to strengthen and nurture the UAE's robotics ecosystem following government initiatives to create an AI-powered administration, including 100% digitization of processes and deployment of over 200 AI solutions, positioning the UAE as a global magnet for technology leaders participating in this landmark event.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Abu Dhabi Hosts RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 With 700+ Participants
