Students take part in cyber security contest

The UAE Cyber Quest Schools Competition brings together 79 pupils and six teachers from six schools in the capital and Al Ain.

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ABU DHABI // Dozens of students are taking part in a competition that aims to raise awareness of cyber security.

The UAE Cyber Quest Schools competition brings together 79 pupils and six teachers from six schools in the capital and Al Ain.

Under the theme of “Learn Today, Defend Tomorrow”, the two-day event began on Tuesday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The event has been organised by the National Electronic Security Authority, or Nesa, and is the first of what will become an annual competition.

“UAE Cyber Quest is the first national competition of its kind in the Emirates and everyone involved from the students themselves to the programme coordinators and teachers are looking forward to the final event with great promise,” said Dr Zayed Al Otaiba, executive director of talent development at Nesa.

The schools have been involved in a five-month-long educational programme prior to the competition.

Contestants will compete in a number of computer networking and information security related challenges, including exercises that require students to gain access to information by infiltrating secured networks.

“Ensuring the safety of the UAE’s critical digital infrastructure is a matter of national security – so too is fostering the development of the next generation of Emiratis who will protect it,” said Mr Al Otaiba.

Organisers hope the programme will help students to decide on potential higher education subjects and improve their future career prospects.

The Abu Dhabi Schools taking part are Al Hosn School, Al Samha School and Hamdan bin Mohammed School.

Al Dahma School, Al Maqam School and Zayed Al Awaal School, from Al Ain, also took part.

In future, organisers plan to expand to include schools from across the country.

nhanif@thenational.ae

This article was amended at 12pm, May 28 to correct that the schools had been involved in a five-month-long education programme prior to the competition, rather than one.