The UAE school competition where teams of four build a working robot out of things people threw away, then teach it to see, hear and decide with AI. Three age categories from 7 to 18. Grand Final at Do It Lab, American University of Sharjah.
Register your teamTeams enter the tier of their oldest member as of 1 September 2026. School, homeschool, club and mixed-school teams all welcome.
A moving junk creature or vehicle that reacts to light, sound or touch. Cardboard, bottles, tins, motors and LEDs. No soldering.
An autonomous junk robot that completes arena missions. Body at least 60% junk; controller and sensors from the kit or your own parts.
A junk robot that solves a real problem with edge or cloud AI. Body at least 50% junk, any controller, your own code.
Six months from launch to final. Build a robot that gives waste a second life, and give it a brain while you are at it.
Sign up your team, pay the entry fee and order a kit if you want one.
15 Oct to 15 Dec 2026Two coach sessions, one online and one at Do It Lab. Kits ship by 10 January.
Nov 2026 to Jan 2027Weekly build videos and AI tutorials, online office hours twice a week, and your team's Digital Scrapbook.
10 Jan to 5 Mar 2027Submit a 3-minute video, your Scrapbook and an Innovation Project poster. Top 12 teams per tier go through.
6 to 20 Mar 2027Judging sessions, arena runs, a public junk exhibition and the awards ceremony at Do It Lab, AUS.
April 2027A 2.4 m by 1.2 m printed mat on a walled table. Three of the missions are randomised every run, so the robot has to recognise real items and images it has not been shown before. Trained AI earns points on the mat, not just in the judging room. Sparks have their own show-and-tell mat with three tasks.
Full arena rules, missions and mat layoutFive areas, weighted by age so the youngest are rewarded for the build and the oldest for the intelligence. Each criterion is rated Beginning, Developing, Accomplished or Exemplary, and every team gets a written feedback sheet.
| Area | What judges look for | Sparks | Makers | Innovators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junk Build | Creativity of reclaimed materials, mechanical soundness, safety, documented iterations | 30 | 25 | 20 |
| AI Integration | AI doing real work on the robot, quality of training data, understanding of how the model decides, honest account of failures | 15 | 25 | 30 |
| Arena Challenge | Mission points, reliability across runs, autonomy, sportsmanship at the table | 15 | 20 | 20 |
| Innovation Project | A theme-linked problem researched with real people and a solution the robot demonstrates | 20 | 15 | 20 |
| Teamwork and Presentation | Every member contributes and can answer, a clear 5-minute presentation, Scrapbook quality | 20 | 15 | 10 |
The podium is decided on total score, not arena points alone. A team that loses at the table can still take the title. Every podium team also receives CREST Award certification from the British Science Association, at the level matched to its age category, with Junkbot as the accredited delivery partner.
Trophy, medals and CREST Award certification
Trophy, medals, the season title and CREST Award certification
Trophy, medals and CREST Award certification
CREST is the UK's national scheme for student-led science, technology, engineering and maths projects, run by the British Science Association and recognised by schools and universities in the UK and worldwide. Nine winning teams have their League project submitted for certification by Junkbot, a CREST Accredited Resource provider, at the level matched to their age category, up to Bronze. A certificate with real currency for a school profile or a university application, alongside the trophy.
This season is capped at 150 teams, 50 per category. Schools registering three or more teams get a free coach training seat per team.
Junkbot League is the next step in a decade of competitions, leagues and founder programmes Junkbot has organised across the UAE, from utility-backed robotics challenges to youth startup pitches.
No. The kit is a convenience for teams starting from zero. Salvaged motors, an old micro:bit or an Arduino you already own are all fine, and salvaged electronics score a bonus.
FLL builds with a LEGO set. Junkbot League builds from junk, makes AI a scored part of every robot, and costs a fraction of an FLL season. Many schools do both; our final is in April so it does not clash with the January FLL regionals.
Yes. The team enters the tier of its oldest member as of 1 September 2026.
Sparks coaches may be hands-on as long as students explain the work. Makers coaches guide only. Innovators coaches mentor only. Judges ask students, not coaches.
The top 12 teams per category from the online qualifier, judged against the published rubric. Every registered team that completes the qualifier receives a certificate and feedback.
CREST is the British Science Association's scheme for student-led STEM project work, recognised by schools and universities in the UK and internationally. Podium teams and the Innovation Project winner have their League project submitted for CREST certification by Junkbot, at the level that fits their age category, up to Bronze.
To the school, or split equally between guardians for independent teams, within 30 days of the final.