Abu Dhabi:Exploit3rs Cybersecurity Academy successfully concluded the final of the ADNOC AI Hackathon, held alongside ADIPEC 2026 at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The event brought together 22 cybersecurity professionals from UAE government entities for an advanced technical competition focusing on energy-sector security and critical infrastructure defense.
According to Wam, the hackathon was hosted by ADNOC in partnership with the UAE Cyber Security Council under the CyberAware program. The competition was developed and delivered by Exploit3rs Cybersecurity Academy, encompassing the entire process from online qualification rounds to the final competition. Over 400 cybersecurity professionals registered for the initiative, which aimed to enhance practical skills in addressing AI-driven cyber threats, securing energy infrastructure, and responding to complex digital security challenges.
The final took place on November 4, with Saif Alzaabi claiming first place, Theyab Alzaabi securing second, and Rowdah Alhosani taking third. Winners were honored during an awards ceremony at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi on November 5. For the final, Exploit3rs engineered HELIOS, a virtual energy infrastructure environment designed to replicate real-world energy networks, allowing participants to assess security weaknesses in a controlled setting.
Each finalist was provided with a dedicated, isolated copy of the simulated network. The final consisted of a four-hour individual competition with ten interconnected technical challenges. Participants applied a range of cybersecurity skills, with the top three finalists each completing nine of the ten challenges, reflecting the competition's complexity.
Juma Alshamsi, Founder and CEO of Exploit3rs Cybersecurity Academy, emphasized the importance of the competition in training UAE's government cyber defenders. The competition was managed through Exploit3rs' proprietary platform, Hacking Dungeon, which handled registrations, conducted qualification rounds, and developed practical challenges. The event underscored the significance of practical training and simulation-based learning in strengthening cybersecurity capabilities.
Exploit3rs expressed gratitude to the UAE Cyber Security Council and the CyberE71 program for supporting the competition and efforts to enhance the UAE's government cybersecurity workforce.