From left, contestants Niila Kauppi, 13, Nitesh Siva,12, Kirill Michenko, 12, and Zohair Imad Ahmed, 10, show off their Rubik's Cube skills at the Raha Open 2023. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
The Raha Open 2023, a speedcubing competition, is held at the Raha International School, Khalifa City campus in Abu Dhabi
Contestant Armax Zander Guevara Laurel, 13, a pupil at British Modern International School in Qatar
Marshals at the competition use a laptop to guide them on how to scramble the competitors cubes
Gabriel Mansour, 8, a pupil at American School Dubai, during the speed competition
Speed Stacks is a mat used for speeding competitions and has a G5 timer that accurately measures the start and stop times for competitors
Zohair Imad Ahmed, 10, a pupil at Safa Community School in Dubai, during the speed-cubing competition
Cubers practising on the sidelines before attempting to solve a Rubik's Cube as fast as they can
Pupils from different schools around the UAE taking part in the Raha Open 2023
Aidan Dobrowski, 9, a student at American School Dubai, proudly displays his solved Rubik's Cube
Niila Kauppi, 13, at the cube submission table, where his cube is randomised and then given back for him to solve
The table where competitors pick up their scrambled cube
A competitor lubricates his cube before he competes
Remi Thiemens, 14, a pupil at Gems Winchester School in Fujairah
Krill Michenko's parents supporting their son in the competition
The Raha Open 2023 cubing competition attracts pupils from all over the UAE
Nitesh Siva, 12, a pupil at Woodlem Park School in Ajman, after his speedcubing attempt
Aidan Dobrowski and Nico Dyet wait their turn to compete
