Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has announced the winners of the 2026 Aluminium Design and Innovation Challenge, an initiative developed in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Education to inspire innovation and strengthen interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among students.

The challenge forms part of EGA’s Engineer the Future programme, which encourages young people to apply STEM knowledge to real-world industrial and societal challenges. This year’s competition attracted approximately 1,200 students representing 352 teams from 105 schools across the UAE.

Over a four-month period, students in grades 9 to 12 worked on aluminium-based solutions with guidance from EGA engineers, gaining access to technical resources and industry expertise. Following a rigorous evaluation process, 32 teams were shortlisted to present their projects across four categories: architecture, product design, sustainable mobility, and space solutions.

The first-place winners were Al Shwamekh School in architecture, Fatima Al Zahraa Secondary School for Girls in product design, Al Rushed American Private School in space solutions, and Zayed Educational Complex – Al Saf in future mobility.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, praised the students for demonstrating creativity, technical thinking, and ambition, highlighting the importance of STEM education in supporting the UAE’s industrial growth and future competitiveness.

The Ministry of Education also emphasized the value of the challenge as a model for collaboration between education and industry, helping students develop critical thinking, teamwork, innovation, and problem-solving skills.