Emirates Young Scientist Competition 2026
Emirates Young Scientist Competition 2026
The competition invites UAE students from Grade 5 to Grade 12 to present their scientific projects across 4 categories with finals at NSTI Festival
Challenge step by step
This timeline outlines the three main stages of EYSC 2026. Each stage is structured to support scientific development and ensure a fair, transparent, and rigorous competition process.
Application Phase
The Application Phase will run from 21 May and will close on 14 July 2026 at 23:59 (GMT+4).
Application Phase opens with online registration and project proposal submission through the ATRC challenge platform. Your supervising teacher registers the team and submits the project proposal on your behalf.
If you are a student, please get your supervisor to submit your proposal on your team’s behalf.
Outcome: Up to 500 projects are selected to progress to Progress Submission & Finalist Selection.
Submission Deadline: 14 July 2026 at 23:59 (GMT+4)
All submissions must be completed and submitted through the platform before the deadline.
Progress Submission
The Progress Submission will take place from 15 July – 1 October 2026.
Teams that qualify from the Application Phase (up to 500 projects) submit progress documentation demonstrating actual project development, evidence of experimentation, analysis of findings, and clarity of presentation. This includes a written progress report, a project poster, and a short video.
Outcome: The top 100 projects are selected as EYSC finalists for the NSTI Festival. A reserve list of up to 20 backup projects is also maintained.
Submission Deadline: 1 October 2026 at 23:59 (GMT+4)
Participants to proceed to On-site Display and Judging will be notified by 23 October 2026.
On-site Display and Judging
On-site Display and Judging will take place in the November 2026. The specific days of the festival will be shared at a later time.
The top 100 finalist projects are displayed and judged at the NSTI Festival in a science fair format, evaluated by professional judges over multiple days. Students must be present at their display stands during assigned judging and visitor engagement periods.
Festival Schedule
| Day | Main Focus | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival & Setup | Finalists arrive, register, receive materials, set up display stands, and attend the briefing and orientation session. |
| Day 2 | Opening & Judging Round 1 | All projects begin judging. Students must be present at their stands. Attendance at the opening ceremony may be required. |
| Day 3 | Conference & Judging Round 2 | Second evaluation round, public engagement, and attendance at relevant NSTI conference sessions. |
| Day 4 | Judging Round 3 | Third evaluation round and continued project display. |
| Day 5 | Awards Ceremony & Closeout | Finalists attend the official EYSC Awards Ceremony. Project dismantling and departure procedures are completed. |