The following rules govern participation in the Junior Innovators Challenge 2026. All students, schools, supervisors, and accompanying persons are expected to read, understand, and comply with these rules in full.

Eligibility

To participate in the Junior Innovators Challenge 2026, the following conditions must be met:

• The student must be enrolled in a government or private UAE school at the time of registration.
• The student must be in one of the eligible grade levels: KG 1–KG 2, Grades 1–2, or Grades 3–4.
• Both UAE national and non-UAE national students may participate, subject to official Ministry of Education rules (4 out of 5 students are National Students for the public schools).
• A student may not be registered more than once in the same edition of the competition.
• Students must have signed parent or guardian consent before final registration is submitted.
• Nominations must be submitted by the school supervisor through the approved platform. Students may not self-register.

Nomination

All nominations are submitted by the school supervisor through the approved platform. The following rules apply:

• Each school may nominate up to five (5) students per category, with a maximum of fifteen (15) students in total across all eligible categories (4 out of 5 students are National Students for the public schools).
• The school must assign a coordinator or supervisor to manage students nominations, school and students registration, nominated student video preparation and submissions, and required documentation.
• The school is responsible for confirming each student’s eligibility before submission.
• A signed parent or guardian consent form must be uploaded through the platform for each nominated student before the nomination is finalised.
• The selected competition category must match the student’s grade level. Mismatched submissions will not be accepted.
• Duplicate registrations using the same Emirates ID will be flagged and rejected.
• The supervisor must accept the declaration of accuracy before the final submission is made.
• One school may register only once and submit student nominations across multiple categories if the school includes the relevant grade levels.
• The supervisor is responsible for uploading the student video and the parent/guardian consent form for each student during registration.

Video Submission

All video submissions must comply with the following technical and content requirements. Non-compliant submissions will be rejected.

Technical Requirements

• Duration: minimum 30 seconds and maximum 120 seconds (2 min).
• Format: MP4 or MOV, horizontal orientation, 16:9 aspect ratio.
• Maximum file size: 1 GB. Only a single video file is accepted; segmented uploads are not permitted.
• Video and audio quality must be clear. The student must be fully visible throughout the recording.

Content

• The student must appear in their official school uniform.
• The video must include: the student’s full name, grade, school name, and emirate; a brief personal introduction; and a short explanation of an innovative idea.
• Professional editing, voice-over replacement, artificial effects, adult-generated subtitles, or any enhancement that may affect fairness of assessment are not permitted.
• Videos may be presented in Arabic or English. The language chosen will not affect the score.
• Each nominated student must have a complete registration record and a submitted consent form before the video submission is accepted.

On-Site Challenge Rules

The following rules apply to all students participating in the on-site challenge stage at the NSTI Festival:

• Only students who have been officially shortlisted and notified may participate in the finals.
• Each category competes on a separate day. Category A on Day 1, Category B on Day 2, and Category C on Day 3.
• Students must be accompanied by an authorised school supervisor. Arrival and access rules for parents and accompanying persons will be confirmed before the event.
• Students must arrive on time and follow all check-in and orientation procedures as directed by the organising team.
• Only the winning students will be invited to the awards ceremony.
• Students may only use materials provided or explicitly approved by the organisers during challenge activities.
• No hazardous materials, sharp objects, chemicals, or unapproved tools may be brought to the venue by students.
• Performance is evaluated by judges using a defined rubric. Judge decisions are final.
• Students depart after their competition day. Only winners or selected participants may be invited back for the awards ceremony.
• No overnight accommodation is planned. Each category’s participation is contained within a single competition day.

Code of Conduct

All participants, schools, supervisors, and accompanying persons are expected to uphold high standards of respect, integrity, and safety throughout the competition.

For Students

• Respect judges, organisers, volunteers, and all other participants at all times.
• Follow all instructions given during registration, briefing, and challenge activities.
• Work honestly and participate using their own abilities. Cheating, copying, or misrepresentation of work is not permitted.
• Cooperate positively during group challenges and accept results with sportsmanship.

For Schools and Supervisors

• Nominate eligible students fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the official rules.
• Ensure all registration information, documents, and consent forms are accurate and complete before submission.
• Support video recording without over-coaching, scripting, or replacing the student’s own voice and ideas.
• Ensure required video content are considered.
• Ensure for each registered student uploading the video and the signed parent/guardian consent form.
• Ensure students arrive on time, follow competition instructions, and are prepared for each stage of the challenge.
• Ensure that each participating student from the school is accompanied by the parent/guardian or the school supervisor to the competition site.

Disqualification Criteria

A participant or submission may be disqualified or rejected for any of the following reasons:

• The student does not meet the eligibility criteria, including grade level, school enrolment, or nationality requirements.
• The registration record is incomplete, inaccurate, or contains a duplicate Emirates ID.
• The parent or guardian consent form is missing or has not been submitted before the nomination deadline.
• The video submission does not comply with technical requirements — including duration, format, file size, orientation, or upload method.
• The student is not clearly visible in the video, or audio and image quality are insufficient for evaluation.
• The student does not appear in official school uniform in the video.
• The video includes prohibited enhancements such as professional editing, voice-over replacement, or artificial effects that affect fairness of assessment.
• The submitted content is not age-appropriate, or does not reflect the student’s own communication and ideas.
• Any violation of the Code of Conduct, including dishonesty, disrespectful behaviour, unsafe conduct, or submission of inaccurate information, may result in disqualification at the discretion of the organising committee.

Other Rules

The following additional conditions apply to all participants and schools:

• All competition activities must be age-appropriate and conducted under the supervision of authorised adults at all times.
• Student privacy, dignity, and safeguarding must be respected throughout all stages of the competition.
• Photos, videos, and media captured during the competition are subject to MoE approval requirements. All published materials must include the approved MoE and ATRC logos.
• The organising committee reserves the right to amend competition rules, timelines, formats, or award structures at any time. Any changes will be communicated through official channels.
• By submitting a nomination, the school supervisor confirms that all information provided is accurate, that consent has been obtained, and that the school accepts the rules and conditions of participation.
• All final decisions regarding eligibility, shortlisting, awards, and any disputes rest with the organising committee and the Ministry of Education. These decisions are final and binding.