Rabdan Academy held a Gaming for Good hackathon on 6 August. Students tackle online gaming risks. The event was run in collaboration with the Secure Communities Forum of the UAE Ministry of Interior, linking the academy’s research focus with the nation’s AI agenda and digital‑trust goals.
Participants came from Rabdan Academy, UAEU, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi University, Khalifa University, Zayed University and Zayed Military University, forming three multidisciplinary groups to prototype AI‑enabled safety tools.
His Excellency Salem Saeed Al Saeedi, Vice President of Rabdan Academy, highlighted the collective effort required to protect digital spaces. “Keeping people safe in the digital world is a shared responsibility that no single organisation can do alone. It takes partnership, new ideas, and people who are willing to make the effort. Today is an opportunity for our students to challenge themselves, think differently and share their ideas with confidence. Every solution begins with one simple idea.” — Salem Saeed Al Saeedi, Vice President, Rabdan Academy
Experts underscore digital safety. The hackathon built on findings from the study “Gaming Safety Stories: Hate Speech, Extremism and Player Experiences in Online Games”, which surveyed 70 respondents and identified five priority areas: limited moderation of text and voice chats, difficulty recognising harmful behaviour, ineffective reporting systems, early targeted recruitment of young users, and religious identity as a frequent hate target. These insights shaped the challenge brief given to the students.
The programme also featured a keynote address by Dr David Scharia of the United Nations Security Council’s Counter‑Terrorism Executive Directorate, followed by expert panels on online extremism and the specific risks faced by women and young people in digital spaces.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Gaming for Good hackathon organized by Rabdan Academy? The Gaming for Good hackathon, held on 6 August, was a student competition hosted by Rabdan Academy that tasked participants with developing AI‑enabled tools to improve safety in online gaming environments.
Who partnered with Rabdan Academy for the Gaming for Good hackathon? Rabdan Academy partnered with the Secure Communities Forum of the UAE Ministry of Interior, aligning the event with the nation’s AI agenda and digital‑trust objectives.
What online gaming risks were addressed at the hackathon? The hackathon focused on five priority risks identified in the “Gaming Safety Stories” study: limited moderation of text and voice chats, difficulty recognizing harmful behaviour, ineffective reporting systems, early targeted recruitment of young users, and religious‑identity‑based hate.
Which universities took part in the Gaming for Good hackathon? Students from Rabdan Academy, UAEU, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi University, Khalifa University, Zayed University and Zayed Military University formed three multidisciplinary groups for the event.
What key findings from the ‘Gaming Safety Stories’ study guided the hackathon challenge? The study surveyed 70 respondents and highlighted five priority areas—poor chat moderation, difficulty spotting harmful behaviour, weak reporting mechanisms, early targeting of young gamers, and religious‑identity hate—which shaped the hackathon brief.
