Global Indian International School (GIIS) Dubai transformed into a vibrant hub of technology, creativity and future-ready learning as it hosted the Qutuhal InnovateX 2.0 – Grand Tech Innovation Show & Awards 2026.

Bringing together young innovators from 20 schools across the UAE and 30 schools from the Global Schools Group (GSG) network, the event represented a major celebration of student-led innovation. More than 500 individual participants from Grades 1 to 12 took part in the wider innovation journey, developing and presenting solutions across Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics and App Development, with projects addressing real-world challenges and emerging opportunities.

The Grand Tech Innovation Show attracted approximately 450 attendees onsite, including students, parents, educators, school leaders, university professors, technology professionals and guests from the UAE and India. The event provided students with a platform not merely to display technology, but to demonstrate how curiosity, research, computational thinking and innovation can be transformed into meaningful solutions.

From Curiosity to Real-World Innovation

At the heart of Qutuhal InnovateX 2.0 was a simple yet powerful idea: nurturing the journey from curiosity to real-life problem-solving and innovation.

Students across different age groups presented working prototypes, AI-powered solutions, robotic systems, applications and data-driven projects. From young learners taking their first steps into robotics to senior students exploring sophisticated applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, the projects reflected the evolving nature of technology education in schools.

Data Science, AI and App Development emerged as core pillars of the innovation journey, enabling students to move beyond textbook learning and engage with authentic problems. Participants researched challenges, analysed information and data, designed possible solutions, developed prototypes, tested their ideas and presented their outcomes before expert judging panels.

Robotics added a strong hands-on engineering dimension to the showcase, with students demonstrating how sensors, electronics, programming, automation and intelligent systems can be combined to address practical challenges.

A special highlight of the event was the presentation of Grade 12 AI Capstone Projects, where senior students demonstrated solutions developed as part of their academic AI learning journey. The students applied concepts including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, data analysis and application development to identify real-life problems and develop technology-based solutions. Presenting these projects before university professors and industry experts provided the students with valuable exposure to professional-level evaluation, questioning and feedback.

The diversity of projects highlighted an important shift in technology education: students are increasingly moving from being consumers of technology to creators and responsible problem-solvers using technology.

Distinguished Panel of Academicians and Technology Leaders

A major highlight of the Grand Tech Innovation Show was the opportunity for students to present their work before an eminent panel drawn from universities, Artificial Intelligence, industry, innovation and technology.

The event was graced and judged by Dr. Anwar Hamim, a prominent Emirati professor in innovation and technology and a leadership coach, along with Prof. Amir Zeid, Dean, Thumbay College of Management and AI.

The distinguished judging and expert panel also included Mr. Rajeev Dutt, Managing Director, Swiss GRC; Prof. Suyash Shukla, Prof. Venkatesan Vellaiyan, Prof. Prasad Chaugule, Prof. Karthikeya Kakaraparty and Prof. Jagadish Nayak from BITS Pilani Dubai's AI and Machine Learning faculty; and Prof. Sonu Thomas from the Faculty of Aeronautics, BITS Pilani Dubai.

Adding further industry expertise were Mr. Sai Krishna Nimmagadda, AI Agentic Robotics Specialist associated with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence; Mr. Salim Sada, Founder of RAHZA FZE; Mr. Murtaza Sinnarwala, Google Education Solution Manager; and Mr. Vikram Rajani, Senior Manager at AIQ.

The interaction with experts was a particularly valuable component of the event. Students were challenged to explain the problem they were solving, justify their design choices, demonstrate their prototypes and respond to questions. This transformed judging into an authentic learning experience and encouraged students to think critically about the practicality, scalability and potential impact of their innovations.

Leadership Supporting a Culture of Innovation

The event was graced by Mr. Amol Vaidya, Deputy COO, Global Schools Group Middle East; Ms. Anita Singh, Principal, GIIS Dubai; Ms. Anjum Ali, Headmistress, GIIS Dubai; Ms. Indu Isaac, Academic Supervisor – Middle School; and Ms. Sangeeta Solanki, Deputy Academic Supervisor – Grades 9 to 12.

Reflecting on the vision behind Qutuhal, Mr. Amol Vaidya, Deputy COO, GSG Middle East, highlighted the importance of providing students with platforms where curiosity can progress into meaningful innovation. He noted that the purpose of initiatives such as Qutuhal is to encourage young people to question, explore, experiment and develop solutions, while building the confidence and future-ready skills required in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Ms. Anita Singh, Principal, GIIS Dubai, emphasised that innovation becomes truly meaningful when students are able to connect classroom learning with real-world challenges. She highlighted the importance of creating opportunities where students can experiment, collaborate, learn from failure and confidently present their ideas before experts. She also appreciated the participation of schools from across the UAE and the wider GSG community, noting that such platforms create a powerful collaborative ecosystem for young innovators.

The event was led by Mr. Siju Philip, Head of GCIE Dubai, and the GCIE team, with extensive support from teachers, staff members and student volunteers.

Commenting on the learning journey behind InnovateX 2.0, Mr. Siju Philip highlighted that the focus extended well beyond the final showcase. Students progressed through a structured innovation journey involving problem identification, research, data exploration, ideation, prototyping, testing, refinement and presentation.

He emphasised that the larger goal was to enable students to understand that technologies such as AI, Data Science, Robotics and Apps are not merely subjects to learn, but powerful tools that can be applied responsibly to solve real-life problems. Qutuhal InnovateX therefore provided a platform where technology learning, creativity and problem-solving could converge into tangible student outcomes.

Parents Celebrate the Transformation

Parents attending the event expressed appreciation for the opportunity provided to students to present their work before university professors and industry professionals.

One parent reflected, “What impressed us most was that the students were not simply demonstrating a project. They had identified a problem, researched it, built a solution and confidently explained why their idea could make a difference. That experience is extremely valuable for a young learner.”

Another parent highlighted the confidence developed through the programme: “Watching children present AI, robotics and app-based solutions to experts was inspiring. The feedback they received will stay with them far beyond this competition. It gives students the confidence to believe that their ideas matter.”

Parents also appreciated the diversity of age groups participating in the event, with younger students learning alongside senior students and gaining exposure to increasingly sophisticated applications of technology.

Celebrating the Innovators of Tomorrow

The event culminated in the Qutuhal InnovateX 2.0 Awards Ceremony, recognising outstanding student projects and celebrating the creativity, perseverance and problem-solving demonstrated throughout the innovation journey.

Beyond trophies and recognition, however, the larger achievement of Qutuhal InnovateX 2.0 was the ecosystem it created—connecting schools, students, parents, educators, universities and technology professionals around a shared vision for future-ready education.

With participation extending across the UAE and the wider GSG network, Qutuhal InnovateX 2.0 demonstrated what becomes possible when students are given the tools, mentorship and freedom to investigate meaningful problems and build their own solutions.

As Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Robotics and App Development continue to reshape industries and society, experiences such as Qutuhal InnovateX are helping students develop not only technical skills but also the curiosity, creativity, communication, collaboration and critical-thinking capabilities required for the future.

Qutuhal InnovateX 2.0 – Grand Tech Innovation Show & Awards 2026 ultimately celebrated much more than technology. It celebrated young minds with the curiosity to ask questions, the courage to experiment and the ability to transform ideas into innovations that can make a difference.