The UAE's student hackathon & inter-school coding competition
Code Battle: the UAE's student hackathon
An inter-school coding competition and hackathon for Grades 1–12 by iCodejr. Teams build a project in 2 hours and pitch it to industry judges.
5+
Seasons
1,000+
Students Trained
100+
Schools Engaged
500+
Projects Built
What is Code Battle?
Code Battle is the UAE’s leading student hackathon and inter-school coding competition, created and run by iCodejr in Dubai since 2021. Teams from Grades 1 to 12 get a theme on the day, build a project in two hours with block or text-based coding, then present it to industry judges. It inspires creativity, teamwork, real-world problem-solving and next-generation tech skills.
Want a hackathon for your own school, company or event? See Hackathon as a Service.
Algorithm Challenges
Open to Grades 1–12
Block or text-based coding
Team-based challenge
Themes revealed on event day
Judged by industry experts
Hackathon divisions by grade
Compete in the division that matches your grade level
Cadet Division
Grades 1–4
Block-based coding challenges.
Captain Division
Grades 5–8
Block or text-based coding.
Colonel Division
Grades 9–12
Advanced programming & innovation challenges.
How the hackathon works
1
Schools Register Teams
Register your school and assemble your teams
2
Attend Onsite Event
Students arrive at the venue ready to compete
3
Themes Revealed Live
Competition themes announced at the start
4
Build in 2 Hours
Teams code their projects under time pressure
5
Present & Q&A
2–3 minute pitch to industry judges, followed by Q&A
6
Awards Ceremony
Winners announced and celebrated
Past Code Battle competitions
A journey of growth and innovation
Season 2
2022
- 2 chapters: Dubai & Sharjah
- 37 teams in Sharjah
- 11+ schools in Sharjah
Hall of Fame
Celebrating our champions from past years
- 2025
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
Team Alpha
Dubai College
2025
Colonel
Robokatz
Delhi Private School, Ajman
2025
Captain
Team Codezilla
GEMS Millennium School, Sharjah
2025
Cadet
Logic Legends
Gems Winchester School Dubai
2024
Colonel
GFS Tech Titans
GEMS Founders School
2024
Captain
Tech Titans
GEMS Modern Academy Dubai
2024
Cadet
Gem Group
Al Mawakeb School Al Garhoud
2023
Colonel
Decorous
The Indian International School, DSO
2023
Captain
Collision Coders
Winchester School, Jebel Ali
2023
Cadet
Delhi Private School
Sharjah · Sharjah chapter winner
2022
Colonel
Leaders Private School
Sharjah · Sharjah chapter winner
2022
Captain
GEMS Millennium School
Sharjah · Sharjah chapter winner
2022
Cadet
Schools That Battle With Us
100+ schools have participated in Code Battle across seasons
Trusted by UAE’s Leading Schools
Judging Criteria
How projects are evaluated by our industry judges
Scoring Parameters (2025)
Additional Considerations
AI usage evaluation
Recycled code disclosure
Grade-level leniency
Photo & Video Gallery
Relive the moments from Code Battle 2025
Media & Press Coverage
Code Battle in the news
iCodejr’s Code Battle 2025 celebrates UAE’s brightest young coders in its 5th edition
Read the article →Khaleej Times · 2024iCodejr’s Code Battle 2024 celebrates the UAE’s brightest young coders in its 3rd edition
Read the article →Khaleej Times · 2023iCodejr announces winners for prestigious UAE National Code Battle Championship
Read the article →Sponsors & Partners
Thank you to our amazing sponsors who made Code Battle 2025 possible
Title Sponsors
iCodejr
Venue Sponsors
DTEC
UAE Innovates
42 Abu Dhabi
UAE Innovates
Category Sponsors
UniHawk (Gr 9-12)
Noon
Color Land Toys
BITS Pilani
Skill Hub
Blix
Why Code Battle Matters
Building tomorrow’s innovators today
Real-World STEM Skills
Builds practical coding and technical abilities
Creativity & Logic
Encourages creative problem-solving approaches
Teamwork
Promotes collaboration and communication
Industry Exposure
Connect with judges from leading companies
School Engagement
Strengthens STEM programs across UAE schools
Future Innovators
Inspires the next generation of tech leaders
What teachers say about Code Battle
Teachers who brought their students to the Code Battle Sharjah & Northern Emirates chapter in 2022.
Code Battle by iCodeJr is a valuable initiative that gives young learners an opportunity to develop their coding and problem-solving skills in a fun and inspiring environment. I would highly recommend experiences like this for students who are interested in technology and innovation.
Code Battle was much more than a coding competition. It encouraged students to communicate, collaborate, share ideas, and work together towards a common goal — skills that will benefit them far beyond the classroom.
Code Battle is a great initiative for developing the skills students will need for the future. It encourages logical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and confidence with technology in a very engaging format.
Participating in Code Battle was a memorable experience for our students. It gave them the chance to challenge themselves, learn from others, and experience the excitement of building something through code.
Code Battle was a fantastic opportunity for students to put their coding skills into practice in an exciting and challenging environment. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm, creativity, and determination throughout the hackathon.
Code Battle encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones and take on new challenges. Watching them troubleshoot, improve their ideas, and keep going when things didn’t work immediately was a valuable learning experience.
Ready for the Next Battle?
Join Code Battle 2026!











