Dubai, UAE, 11th May 2025, In a major stride towards fortifying the digital resilience of the nation, the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC), in collaboration with leading technology consultancy TechFirm, successfully launched the inaugural edition of the School of Cyber Defense (CTF) Competition. This groundbreaking event has quickly gained national attention as a critical initiative for identifying and nurturing the UAE’s next generation of cybersecurity leaders.
The competition, organized with precision and vision by TechFirm, attracted an overwhelming response from top universities across the Emirates. Over 300 applications were received for this premier event, reflecting the growing interest and recognition of cybersecurity as a vital field in today’s digital age. From this pool, 130 of the most promising students were selected to participate in the qualification rounds held between May 6 and May 8, 2025.
The School of Cyber Defense CTF aimed to spark early interest in cybersecurity careers by challenging students with real-world cyberattack and defense scenarios in a safe and controlled environment. Teams competed in categories such as cryptography, web security, reverse engineering, and digital forensics.
During the qualification stage, students engaged in a series of high-stakes cybersecurity challenges that tested their technical abilities, problem-solving skills, and real-time responsiveness. After an intense three-day session, the top 50 scorers emerged, advancing to the finals held on May 8.
These finalists were grouped into 10 Incident Response Teams, each tasked with solving complex and realistic cyber-attack scenarios. Designed to simulate real-world cybersecurity threats, the final round tested the participants on various fronts including network defense, threat analysis, system vulnerabilities, and incident response protocols. The dynamic environment demanded not only deep technical knowledge but also quick thinking, teamwork, and the ability to stay composed under pressure.
An advanced scoring platform meticulously tracked each team’s actions, ensuring a transparent and accurate evaluation process. The high-level performance of all teams highlighted the exceptional talent present among UAE university students, with the top three teams securing notable accolades:
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1st Place: ScriptKiddies (Al Ain University)
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2nd Place: Rage Quitters (University of Dubai)
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3rd Place: Hungry Sharks (Abu Dhabi University)
The winning teams were awarded prizes from a total prize pool exceeding AED 130,000, a testament to the importance placed on cultivating cybersecurity expertise within the region.
The competition’s success was further bolstered by the support of leading industry partners, including Spire Solutions, Huawei, HPE Networking, HONOR, Circularo, Great List, and RAS Infotech. These organizations not only provided sponsorship but also shared their technical insights, mentorship, and infrastructure support, reaffirming their commitment to empowering young talents and strengthening the region’s cybersecurity framework.
All competition platforms and environments were powered by cutting-edge servers based on AMD EPYC™ processors, offering participants high-performance computing with advanced security capabilities. This infrastructure enabled a seamless and realistic simulation experience, contributing significantly to the event’s credibility and impact.
The School of Cyber Defense (CTF) competition represents a pivotal milestone in the UAE’s journey toward building a robust and secure digital future. By creating a high-profile platform for students to demonstrate their abilities and collaborate with industry leaders, the event has laid the foundation for a sustained national effort to advance cybersecurity education and awareness.
For more details about the competition or to explore upcoming opportunities, please contact:
+971 52 270 7567
gctf2025@techfirm.ae
https://techfirm.ae/ctf/
