An initiative by
UAE Space AgencyUAE Space Agency
Space42Space42
UAE Space Agency · Space42

From Light
to Insight

Join the first regional hackathon dedicated to transforming orbital data into climate, urban, and environmental solutions - using the Space42 gIQ Platform.

Register your teamExplore challenges
Arab 813 Online Hackathon & Incubation Program
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Organised by

UAE Space AgencyUAE Space Agency
Space42Space42

Program partners & data providers

EnMAPEnMAP
PlanetPlanet
Arab Youth CentreArab Youth Centre
NSSTCNSSTC
About

Why the 813 Hackathon exists

The launch of the Arab Hyperspectral Satellite 813 marks a major milestone in regional Earth observation capabilities. With advanced hyperspectral sensing, the satellite provides unprecedented spectral detail enabling fine-grained analysis of land, water, atmosphere, and ecosystems across the Arab world.

To fully unlock the value of this mission, UAESA and Space42 organise a regional online hackathon and incubation program - designed to transform raw satellite data into impactful, scalable, and policy-relevant solutions.

Participants work alongside leading experts, gain access to the Space42 gIQ Platform, and develop solutions that address real challenges across the Arab region. Top teams progress into a structured incubation journey with the potential to evolve their projects into startups or pilot deployments.

This is not a weekend hackathon - it's a launchpad for real space-powered innovation.

Join the program
205
Spectral bands for deep environmental analysis
20m
Hyperspectral resolution
5m
Panchromatic imagery (2.75m super-resolution)
gIQ
Space42 geospatial platform - data access, analytics & deployment

Supported datasets: EnMAP, Planet VHR, and open-source EO archives.

Who is it for

Built for Arab world innovators

We are looking for multidisciplinary teams capable of bridging the gap between data science and environmental policy. Cross-country and cross-discipline teams are strongly encouraged.

Researchers

Environmental scientists and Earth observation specialists

Data Scientists

ML and AI engineers working with geospatial and hyperspectral data

Engineers

Software, systems, and remote sensing engineers

Students

University students committed to a multi-month program

Environmental Experts

Domain specialists in climate, water, ecosystems, and GeoAI

Entrepreneurs

Startups and innovators with ambition to build deployable space solutions

👥 3–5 members per team
🌍 Cross-country teams allowed
🖥️ Fully online program
👤 Solo applicants may be matched
📅 Multi-month commitment required
🆓 Free to participate
Challenges

Five challenge themes powered by satellite data

Teams choose one challenge and build a data-driven, AI-powered PoC solution using real hyperspectral satellite imagery.

01 / 05

Precision Agriculture & Crop Intelligence

Leverage hyperspectral and multispectral satellite data to monitor crop health, optimize irrigation, and detect pest or disease stress across Arab agricultural zones.

Agriculture
02 / 05

Climate-induced Disasters

Early detection and impact assessment of climate-driven extreme events - floods, droughts, dust storms, wildfires - using satellite time series and AI.

Climate
03 / 05

Ecosystem Health, Biodiversity & Blue Carbon

Assess terrestrial and coastal ecosystem vitality - including mangrove extent, blue carbon stocks, coastal vegetation degradation, and biodiversity corridors - using multi-source satellite data.

Ecosystems
04 / 05

Water Quality & Inland/Coastal Water Intelligence

Monitor water clarity, algal blooms, turbidity, and pollution plumes in inland and coastal water bodies using satellite remote sensing.

Water
05 / 05

Urban Expansion, Land Use Change & Heat Risk

Quantify urban growth, map land-use transitions, and assess urban heat island intensity and heat risk for cities across the Arab world.

Urban
Program Structure

Four phases, one launchpad

A fully online, multi-month journey from proposal to MVP - with structured mentoring at every step.

01
Registration & Selection
May → July

Teams apply with a problem statement and project idea. Up to 20 teams selected by UAESA and regional stakeholders.

02
PoC Development
September → October (10 weeks)

2-day kickoff, 10 weekly expert lectures, 3 one-on-one mentor sessions. Build your Proof of Concept using the gIQ Platform.

03
Final PoC Presentations
Early November

18 teams present live. 20–25 min per team with Q&A. 7 winning teams (max 2 per country) advance to incubation.

04
Incubation Phase
November → February 2027 (10 weeks)

Transform your PoC into an MVP. Advanced hyperspectral analytics, business coaching, and up to 5 deep-dive mentor sessions. Graduation ceremony in Feb 2027.

20
Teams initially selected
18
Advance to PoC phase
7
Progress to incubation
5
Finalist teams - full incubation support
Evaluation

How projects are judged

Submissions are reviewed by a panel of Judges and Executive Judges across five criteria.

01
🌍

Impact

Scale and significance of the problem addressed, and breadth of the audience that benefits.

02
💡

Creativity

Originality of the approach - a novel concept or a meaningful leap on an existing solution.

03
🔬

Validity

Scientific and technical soundness, with potential to perform in real-world conditions.

04
🎯

Relevance

Fit to the chosen theme, completeness, feasibility, and overall usability.

05
🎤

Presentation

Clarity of the storytelling and the quality of the visual delivery.

Key Dates

Program schedule

All phases - mentoring, workshops, reviews, presentations, and final awards - are conducted fully online.

Mid-May 2026
Program Launch
Official announcement & applications open
22 June
Application Deadline
Submit before 22 June - a full solution is not required
Early July
Teams Selected
Up to 20 teams notified · platform & data access provided
July–August
Summer Break
Preparation period before program kickoff
September
Kickoff & Orientation
2-day online kickoff · 10 weekly expert lectures begin
26 October
PoC Submission
Code, notebooks, demos & use-case description due
Early Nov
Final Presentations
18 teams present · 7 selected for incubation
Nov–Jan 2027
Incubation Phase
PoC → MVP · final submission 25 January 2027
Feb 2027
Graduation & Awards
Ceremony alongside Arab Group meetings or GITEX
Why Participate

What you gain

🛰️

Real satellite data

Work with live hyperspectral and VHR imagery from EnMAP and Planet - not synthetic datasets.

🧠

Expert mentoring

Learn from leading Earth observation and AI experts, including mentors from across the 22 Arab countries.

🌍

Regional visibility

Gain exposure with space agencies, industry leaders, and policymakers across the Arab world.

🚀

Deployment potential

Build solutions designed for real pilots, partnerships, or startup acceleration.

🤝

Innovation network

Join a regional collaboration network of Arab innovators, scientists, and entrepreneurs.

💡

Incubation & funding paths

Unlock pathways to incubation support, pilot opportunities, and investor discussions.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is this a typical weekend hackathon?
No. The program runs from May to February and includes a proposal phase, a 10-week PoC phase, competitive incubation selection, and a 10-week incubation phase leading to MVP-level solutions.
Who can apply?
Students, researchers, engineers, data scientists, and entrepreneurs from the UAE or any Arab country who are interested in Earth observation, GeoAI, sustainability, or space applications.
Can I apply as an individual?
Yes. Individuals may apply solo and may be matched into teams if selected by the organizers.
What is the maximum team size?
Teams consist of 3 to 5 members. Cross-country and multidisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged. Teams are fixed after the PoC kickoff.
What data will participants use?
Participants receive access to EnMAP, Planet VHR imagery, and the Space42 gIQ Platform for analytics and deployment.
Is hyperspectral data mandatory?
No. Using hyperspectral data is strongly encouraged - it provides bonus points during selection - but teams may also work with very high-resolution EO data.
What tools are allowed?
Open-source tools (Python, Jupyter, Colab), custom code, and approved analytics tools. All data usage must be properly acknowledged.
Are there prizes or awards?
Yes. Winning teams receive recognition at a formal ceremony, continued mentorship, visibility with partners, and opportunities for pilots, partnerships, or investment discussions.
Is there a participation fee?
No. Participation in the program is entirely free of charge.
Who owns the intellectual property?
Teams retain full ownership of their solutions. Organizers may request permission to showcase outputs for non-commercial promotional purposes.

Ready to apply?
Deadline: 22 June.

Up to 20 teams selected. Fully online. Free to participate.

Register your team

Select your theme and track - a full solution is not required at registration.