2026Registration is open
School of Cyber Defence CTF 2026
Three rounds, a jury of industry experts, and a live final on the Dark Stage at GISEC Global in Dubai. Backed by the Dubai Electronic Security Center and Tech Firm.
View the 2026 editionNational CTF championship · UAE
School of Cyber Defence CTF
A national CTF competition designed to help students, universities, and organisations sharpen practical defensive cybersecurity skills — from an online qualification through to a live final on stage at GISEC Global.
Backed by DESC + Tech Firm Live final at GISEC Global UAE university students
About the championship
Where the UAE's next cyber defenders are found
School of Cyber Defence is a cybersecurity championship for university students across the UAE. Teams tackle real-world security challenges, develop solutions, and defend them before a jury of industry experts — culminating in a live final at GISEC Global.
Audience
UAE university students, teams of up to 5
Format
3 rounds — 2 online, 1 live final
Venue
GISEC Global · Dubai Exhibition Centre
Backed by
DESC + Tech Firm
Editions
Pick an edition to explore
Every edition runs as a full championship season — outreach to universities, online qualification, case development, and a live final. Open the edition below for its format, timeline, and highlights.
2026Future editions will be announced here as the championship calendar is confirmed.
What to expect
Built to test real defensive capability
Real-world challenges
Teams work assigned security cases end to end — analysis, solution build, and a defensible write-up rather than trivia.
A jury of experts
Submissions are scored by DESC, Tech Firm, and partner specialists, so feedback reflects how the industry actually assesses risk.
A national stage
Finalists defend their work live at GISEC Global in front of the region’s cybersecurity community, media, and employers.
Representing a university or a student team?
Registration for the 2026 season is open — build a team of up to five students and sign up before 3 September.