The eighth Water Rocket Competition, put on by Emirates Aviation University (EAU) and Boeing, was a chance for school students in the UAE to show off their engineering skills. The goal of this yearly event is to urge students to use their hands to solve problems, support STEM education, and encourage innovation.

In the race, people had to make and launch rockets out of simple materials that only used water and air pressure to move. This project is part of a larger attempt to train the next generation of aerospace workers.

The game took place at EAU’s campus in Dubai and was open to students in grades 11 and 12. They worked together in groups of four. Each team built rockets out of materials that were easy for everyone to get their hands on. This encouraged imagination and made sure that everyone could take part. It was exactly 45 degrees when the rockets were fired.

Vice Chancellor of Emirates Aviation University Professor Ahmad Al Ali stressed how important the game is for training future engineers and scientists. He said that this event is part of their corporate social responsibility efforts to get young people interested in science, technology, engineering, or math jobs and to give them the skills they need to do so.

President of Boeing Middle East, Turkey, Africa, and Central Asia Kuljit Ghata-Aura talked about how important it is to put money into STEM programs, especially since the UAE’s aerospace and space research industries are growing. According to him, working with Emirates Aviation University helps them inspire the next generation of aerospace workers and gives students the chance to learn technical skills from Boeing engineers during the competition.

Since it began in 2017, the Water Rocket Competition has had over 1,000 students from 100 schools take part. The competition helps students improve their technical skills and ability to solve problems. The winners were chosen by a group of judges from Emirates Aviation University and Boeing. The Dubai English Speaking College team called “It is Not Rocket Science” set a new record by firing their rocket 120 meters into the air.

The first runners-up were the Rocket Riders from Dubai Scholars Private School, who reached 117 meters, while the second runners-up, Eagle 1 from Islamiya English School, achieved a height of 115 meters. This event continues to inspire young minds and enhance the STEM education landscape in the UAE.