IOS Design Challenge 2025–2026

The Year of Community:

Hand in Hand

iOS Design Challenge is a national initiative that empowers UAE national students aged 13–18 to become future tech innovators by solving real-world problems through app design and development.
This initiative encourages students to apply design thinking, cultivate STEAM skills, and build functioning iOS apps that address key challenges faced by UAE communities.

Registration is closed
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IOS Design Challenge 2026–2027

The Year of Family: Growing in Unity

Join Designing Stronger Families. Designing for Connection - Inspired by Family.

Every great app begins with a human story — and in 2026–2027, that story is about
family. As the UAE dedicates this year to strengthening family bonds, passing on
values, and building confident and capable generations, we’re proud to align our
design challenge with this national vision. The Year of Family is a national invitation
to rediscover the relationships at the heart of our lives — between parents and children,
grandparents and grandchildren, siblings and extended family. The challenge
is to translate that vision into apps that:

  • Nurture closeness and strengthen family bonds
  • Preserve and celebrate Emirati values, traditions, and identity
  • Support families in navigating modern challenges with confidence
  • Connect generations through shared stories and experiences

From everyday routines to family celebrations, your design ideas need to reflect a core belief:
technology can be a catalyst for connection within the family.

Built for People. Designed with Purpose.

As young people living in the UAE, we challenge you to create an app
prototype that:

Welcome families and foster shared experiences

Enable connection across generations and cultures

Encourage civic pride and community participation

The iOS Design Challenge 2025–2026 is more than a competition — it’s a
movement. We’re reimagining platforms for unity, empathy, and shared purpose in the UAE.

Hand in Hand:

We unite

We contribute

We grow

Timeline

September 2026 - February 2027

October 2025
October 2025 -
February 2026
January 2026
March 2026
April 2026
Registration
Opens
Design
Development
Feedback
Sessions
Sandooq lwatan website amendments 2 [Recovered]-09
Submission
Deadline
Winners
Announced

Building your team

Your team should comprise of a mix of a maximum of four individuals who can collaborate well together, and have a diverse mix of skills. In the ever-evolving world of technology and design, the ability to adapt and transfer skills across different domains is more valuable than ever. Whether you’re coding a new app, designing an interface, or managing a project, having a diverse set of skills that can be applied in various con-texts is crucial. These transferable skills not only make you a versatile team member but also prepare you for the dynamic nature of the tech industry where roles and technologies are constantly changing.

Each team should have members who are able to provide: coding skills, management skills, marketing skills, and UX, UI designing skills.

  • Top teams will be invited to:
  • Attend the Award Ceremony
  • Join the Swift Accelerator Program with 180 hours of coding instruction
  • Macbook Air computers will be provided for the Swift Accelerator Program
  • Students who pass the Swift certification keep the Macbook Air
  • Design and Coding Resources
  • Apple Pro-Level Certification
  • Potentially publish their apps in the App Store

The Swift Accelerator Programme will commence in February 2027. New ideas
may be generated under Swift Accelerator not related to iOS Design. Mentoring
sessions will be held during the 2026/2027 academic year (usually on Saturdays).
Students should think carefully about their commitment if they are final year
students. Students will be expected to pass the Apple examination – on the first
attempt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s New This Year?

This year’s challenge introduces several updates:
– No Training – Students and teachers will access self-paced training materials via the LMS.
– Eligible Participants: Only UAE National students aged 13-18 years.

Who can participate?

This challenge is open to all UAE National students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in private and government high schools in the UAE.

I am a student, how can I register?

Talk with one of your teachers and form your team. Your teacher will register first then will add your team to the competition.

What do I get at the end?

All participants who submit all tasks and team leaders will get certificates. Winning students will attend a prestigious award ceremony and get the opportunity to continue with advanced training in Swift coding.

Can participants from last year participate again this year?

Yes, but you need to submit a new app prototype.

Can past winners participate again this year?

Yes, you can participate but is not eligilbe to win again. The app prototype also needs to be new.

Can I be a winner in more than one competition sponsored by Sandooq Al Watan in the same year?

No, you can only be a winner in one Sandooq Al Watan competition in the same year.