❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I submit my application in Arabic?
Yes. Applications can be submitted in either Arabic or English.
However, all final presentations at the Arab AI Summit must include English slides (even if the oral presentation is in Arabic).
2. Who can apply?
The Hackathon is open to researchers affiliated with recognized institutions in Arab countries, including:
- PhD candidates
- Postdoctoral researchers
- Junior researchers or research assistants
- Faculty members (Assistant Lecturers or Assistant Professors)
Applicants must also be 40 years old or younger in December 1, 2025, and have at least one AI-related publication.
3. What types of publications are accepted?
Applicants must provide proof of at least one peer-reviewed publication in Artificial Intelligence or related fields.
Acceptable publication types include:
- Journal articles indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, or equivalent databases
- Conference papers (IEEE, ACM, or other reputable AI venues)
- Book chapters in edited academic volumes
- Preprints with DOI (e.g., arXiv, ResearchGate) under peer review
A PDF copy and DOI or URL link must be provided as proof.
4. How are proposals evaluated?
All proposals are evaluated by National Scientific Councils and the International Expert Panel according to the official scoring matrix.
Evaluation criteria include:
- Innovation & Novelty (30%)
- Regional Impact (30%)
- Technical Feasibility (20%)
- Scalability & Sustainability (20%)
- Research Integrity (an exclusion criterion)
A minimum score of 70 out of 100 is required to advance to the finals.
The top two applicants per country will represent their country at the Arab AI Hackathon Summit Finals in December 2025.