RoboCup 2025: Robotics championship kicks off in Abu Dhabi

As part of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week, the Asia-Pacific Robotics Championship “RoboCup 2025” officially kicked off on Wednesday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), hosted by Khalifa University of Science and Technology. The event is a highlight of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week, which is running until Nov 15.

This year’s championship features a wide range of categories, including Robot Soccer, Rescue and Disaster Response, Domestic and Service Robotics, and Smart Automation Systems, alongside educational divisions for schools and universities. For the first time, the competition will showcase “5 vs. 5” humanoid robot soccer matches, marking a major leap in the tournament’s evolution and showcasing advances in robotic intelligence and coordination.

Serving as a real-world testing platform for cutting-edge AI and robotics technologies, the event drives innovation in computer vision, machine learning, motion control, and multi-robot coordination. Hosting RoboCup in the UAE also provides local students and researchers with valuable opportunities for hands-on collaboration with leading international experts.

Past editions of RoboCup have introduced innovations in autonomous mobility, obstacle avoidance, human and object recognition, and reinforcement learning. RoboCup 2025 continues this legacy by enabling engineers and students from around the world to engage through workshops, lectures, and discussion panels, fostering stronger academic and research networks and paving the way for future partnerships.

Among the key challenges facing participating teams are the development of fully autonomous robots capable of operating in unpredictable environments, efficient energy management, and real-time decision-making with coordinated actions across multiple robots. Participants emphasised that future editions of RoboCup aim to expand into agricultural, medical, and aerial robotics, with a strong focus on sustainability, renewable energy, and collaborative robotics for industrial and service applications.

 Dr Hamad Karky, General Chair of the Asia-Pacific Robotics Championship “RoboCup 2025” and Associate Professor of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Khalifa University, stated that RoboCup 2025 serves as a global platform for knowledge exchange and technological advancement.

He noted that AI and robotics technologies are key enablers of “We the UAE 2031” and the National Industrial Strategy, forming the cornerstone of a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy and supporting the UAE’s national goal of 100 per cent digital transformation in government operations.

Dr Karky highlighted the growing importance of robotics in vital and strategic sectors such as healthcare, disaster response, and smart city development. He added that hosting RoboCup aligns with Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a global hub for innovation and advanced technology.

Regarding organisational efforts, Dr Karky explained that Khalifa University led extensive preparations through the Local Organising Committee, under the Strategic Autonomous Robotics Challenge Program, which played a key role in logistics, volunteer coordination, interactive showcases, and student training.

He also noted that the university actively engaged regional and international partners from the academic, industrial, and government sectors to ensure the event’s success. The championship has attracted more than 700 competitors from 22 countries, including 22 teams from Singapore, 19 from Japan, 18 from the Russian Federation, 10 from China, and five teams representing the UAE.