Dubai will host the 50th World Programming Championship Finals in November

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, Dubai is hosting the 50th session of the International Programming Championship (ICPC), the largest competition in the world in this field, during the period from 15 to 20 November 2026.

The Dubai Chamber for Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, announced hosting the international event for the finals of the 50th session of the global competition, which annually attracts about 12,000 trainers who supervise about 63,000 students representing about 3,500 universities from 93 countries around the world, as part of its pioneering role in supporting innovation and advanced technology.

The announcement came during a press conference held at the Dubai Chambers headquarters, with the participation of Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber for Digital Economy, and Dr. William Boucher, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ICPC Foundation.

Accelerate knowledge transfer
Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Chamber for Digital Economy, stressed that building an integrated digital system supported by future policies that supports innovation and entrepreneurship, and invests in developing highly efficient human capital to enable a new generation of digital leaders capable of formulating technical solutions with a global impact, represents a pivot in the future visions of the UAE and the Emirate of Dubai, and an essential element in its directions to accelerate the transfer of knowledge from the academic level to the applied level.

He said that hosting the finals of the 50th session of the World Programming Championship reflects Dubai’s position as a global center for technology, and an attractive platform for minds and creators in the digital fields from various countries of the world, and constitutes a long-term investment in the knowledge economy that supports accelerating the transfer of knowledge and achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and enhances Dubai’s competitiveness within the system of the most advanced and globally influential digital economies.

A global platform that attracts creative minds and minds
For his part, Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber for the Digital Economy, said: “The Dubai Chamber for the Digital Economy’s partnership with the International Coding Championship (ICPC) comes within the framework of ongoing efforts to develop digital skills and strengthen ties between academic and professional circles. The tournament brings together the best student talents with leading technical partners in the world, providing a platform for cooperation, learning, and charting promising future career paths. Dubai’s hosting of this prominent event reinforces the Chamber’s efforts to develop an innovative future environment that enables the flourishing of talents and ideas.”

Dr. William Boucher, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ICPC Foundation, said: “The 50th edition of the International Programming Championship (ICPC) finals represents a milestone through which we celebrate the history of the tournament and anticipate its future, as it brings together an elite group of distinguished talents alongside its graduates and partners, to contribute to shaping the features of the next stage of global digital development. These competencies play a pivotal role in creating systems and solutions that create a tangible positive impact on their communities.”

He expressed his thanks to Dubai for its positive partnership in attracting these exceptional energies and highlighting globally the importance of investing in empowering competencies capable of building sustainable systems that support prosperity.

8 tournaments… challenges… activities

The tournament, which is held with the support of the competition’s regular sponsors, including Huawei, Get Brains, Google, Open AI, Gene Street, Jump Trading, Citadel, Revolut, Albert Blanc, and others, includes a series of regional competitions that conclude with eight regional championships in which the winners qualify for the finals of the World Programming Championship, as Dubai hosts the elite international university teams of problem-solving experts. Programming to compete in the 2026 World Programming Championship.

The tournament finals are the final leg of its global season, as the best student teams from all over the world compete for the championship title. They participate over the course of five days in practical challenges and various activities, leading to the final competition, which lasts for five hours.

93 countries

More than 130 teams of elite programmers will compete in this stage, from among 63,000 students representing more than 3,350 universities from 93 countries, including universities in the UAE. The teams, each of which includes three participants, will face a series of problems, challenges and complex algorithms to solve the largest number of them in the shortest possible time, within a test that combines programming intelligence, innovation, teamwork and the ability to perform under high pressure.

International Programming Championship (ICPC)

Since its launch in 1970, the International Programming Championship (ICPC) has established itself as one of the most important sources of talent in the global technology sector, with an alumni network that includes more than 500,000 programmers and engineers around the world. The competition’s graduates are considered among the most sought-after talents among technology companies in the world, and many of the finalists hold prestigious positions in global technology companies and leading research institutions.

This event provides an inspiring platform for students in the UAE and the region that motivates them to move towards computer science, and encourages local universities to expand their participation in the national and regional competitions of the championship. At the same time, the event will open broad horizons for communication between companies and building sustainable partnerships between global technology companies, academic institutions and the innovation system in Dubai, in line with the vision of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) to consolidate Dubai’s position among the top three economic cities in the world, and enhance its role as a global center for investment, talent and innovation.