The American University in Dubai (AUD)’s Team Phoenix has won the Sustainable AI Excellence Award at the “AI for Sustainability” Hackathon, organized by the Delegation of the European Union to the UAE in partnership with Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, as part of the EU Green Diplomacy Weeks.
The award recognized Team Phoenix for developing the most practical and impactful AI-driven solution, reflecting AUD’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and responsible technology.
The hackathon brought together 27 teams representing 15 universities across the UAE, challenging students to develop AI solutions addressing urgent global issues aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Teams tackled challenges such as climate action, sustainable energy, clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities, and responsible consumption. Participants applied advanced AI techniques including predictive modeling, computer vision, and optimization algorithms to design practical solutions.
Throughout the competition, students also received mentorship from leading AI and sustainability experts and had opportunities to network with EU diplomats, industry leaders, and researchers from Thales, M42, and other partners. The event reinforced the role of young talent in creating a sustainable and inclusive future.
Team Phoenix: AI for Greener Cities
AUD’s Team Phoenix includes Shania Viana Sequeira, Georges Samaha, and Mohamed Gaaboub, all Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering students who developed EcoRoute, an AI-powered system that identifies and promotes sustainable walking routes in urban areas.
Shania led the model development and backend integration, optimizing multiple machine learning algorithms for environmental predictions, and Georges managed geospatial data processing and system logic, integrating satellite-derived environmental indicators into the route optimization layer, while Mohamed focused on design and visualization, creating an interactive map interface for users to explore sustainable routes in real time.
“The hackathon was inspiring and transformative, pushing us to think critically, collaborate effectively, and apply our technical knowledge to solve real sustainability challenges. We overcame challenges integrating multiple datasets under time pressure and strengthened our technical, communication, and leadership skills. Most importantly, we learned the value of innovation through collaboration and translating research into practical applications.”
Team Phoenix
“I couldn’t be prouder of our students. It's incredible to see those who arrived with a passion for learning now achieving at the highest level. Their creativity and teamwork embody the innovative and sustainable spirit we champion at AUD. Seeing them apply cutting-edge AI to design solutions for a better future is a direct result of AUD's commitment to providing a forward-thinking education and the resources to turn ideas into action.”
Aicha Beya Far, Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering
Team Green 5: Driving AI-Powered Recycling
Another AUD team, Team Green 5, also excelled in Track B – Next Future and Vision, presenting SIFR: Smart Integrated Future Recycling. The team included Maya Al-Khzaee, Hamzah Alanati, Abderahman Belemine, Ahmad Abushawish (Computer Engineering), and Vikram Varkoor (Electrical Engineering) who developed solar-powered smart bins with AI models to automatically sort waste, supported by a mobile app that encourages public participation.
If implemented at just 15% capacity, SIFR could save 288 million kWh of energy and prevent 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, supporting the UAE’s sustainability goals.
Both Team Phoenix and Team Green 5’s remarkable creativity, dedication, and innovation, underscoring AUD’s commitment to fostering technological excellence and sustainability among students.
