News DeskDubai, UAE – A team of students from the UAE’s leading universities was crowned winner of the 2025 Creative Student Hackathon, a 24-hour event showcasing the creative potential of the country’s talent hosted by Dubai Lynx and Dubai Media City, a cornerstone of the region’s media landscape.
Held in Strategic Partnership for the third year with Dubai Media City, one of TECOM Group PJSC’s 10 business districts, the creative hackathon was hosted at Dubai Knowledge Park’s Conference Centre on 22-23 January 2025.
The competition was open to bachelor’s/undergraduate students aged 18-25 years at universities affiliated with Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai International Academic City. This year’s winning team included Ashwati Raturi (SAE University); Ariya Parkar (Murdoch University Dubai); Aastha Kurup (Murdoch University Dubai); Nami Arujo (Middlesex University Dubai); and Rahaf Obeidat (Heriot-Watt University Dubai).
“Shaping the future of creativity starts with empowering today’s students,” said Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Media City at TECOM Group. “The Creative Student Hackathon is a vital opportunity to build industry connections that nurture talent, supporting the long-term visions of Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’ and Dubai Creative Economy Strategy. Dubai Media City’s partnership with Dubai Lynx demonstrates the hackathon’s role as a crucial platform for providing real-world experience, and we commend the winners and participants of this year’s competition.”
As part of the 2025 Creative Student Hackathon, students were challenged to develop an integrated real-world marketing plan for Dubai Knowledge Park, the region’s leading hub for lifelong learning. The jury included Ben Griffiths, Executive Creative Director at them again; Rana Sadek, Creative Director at Impact BBDO Dubai; and Charles Awad, Chief Customer Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Holding.
“The Creative Student Hackathon provides an invaluable opportunity for students to showcase their creativity and talent,” said Kamille Marchant, Director – Dubai Lynx. “By immersing themselves in a real-world challenge and collaborating with peers, the hackathon’s participants gain practical skills that position them for long-term success. Our Strategic Partnership with Dubai Media City bridges the gap between education and industry, enriching the talent pipeline for the global creative community.”
Participants in the Creative Student Hackathon 2024 were tasked with delivering a real-world business strategy to activate The Good Store, TECOM Group’s award-winning initiative to enable seamless donations during Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr through Emirates Red Crescent’s platform. Students from SAE Institute Dubai, Middlesex University, Amity University Dubai, and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai (MAHE Dubai) formed the winning team.
Dubai Lynx is the Middle East and North Africa region’s leading platform for creative excellence and effectiveness.
