In this Friday, Oct. 25, 2019 photo, a team from Korea, on the right, competes with UAE Falcons during the First Global Challenge, a robotics and artificial intelligence competition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Seeking to bolster its image as a forward-looking metropolis, Dubai hosted the largest-ever international robotics contest this week, challenging young people from 190 countries to find solutions to global ocean pollution. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
The Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Dubai has hosted the largest-ever international robotics contest this week, challenging young people from 190 countries to find solutions to global ocean pollution.
The contest is part of the city-state's effort to bolster its image as a forward-looking metropolis.
Event organizers say their selection of Dubai as host reflects a vote of confidence that this oil-rich Emirati sheikhdom can be a global hub for innovation.
They also expressed hope that bringing together tomorrow's scientists and engineers will help develop technologies to solve the world's most pressing issues, particularly those related to the environment.
Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST Global Challenge, said the Mideast is a region where "adults have not learned how to play nice with each other" and it was up to young people to fix humanity's self-inflicted wounds.
In this Friday, Oct. 25, 2019 photo, a team from Cameroon, on the right, compete with Luxembourg during the First Global Challenge, a robotics and artificial intelligence competition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Seeking to bolster its image as a forward-looking metropolis, Dubai hosted the largest-ever international robotics contest this week, challenging young people from 190 countries to find solutions to global ocean pollution. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
The Associated Press
In this Friday, Oct. 25, 2019 photo, different team members carry their robots during the First Global Challenge, a robotics and artificial intelligence competition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Seeking to bolster its image as a forward-looking metropolis, Dubai hosted the largest-ever international robotics contest this week, challenging young people from 190 countries to find solutions to global ocean pollution. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
The Associated Press