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Gaming for Good: Online Safety Hackathon – Abu Dhabi

Overview

On 16 July 2026, the Secure Communities Forum, together with Rabdan Academy and the United Nations Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, convened the Gaming for Good: Online Safety Hackathon in Abu Dhabi. The event brought together 70 participants from universities across the UAE to prototype practical solutions for safer online gaming environments.


The hackathon was built on the findings of the SCF's research project, Gaming Safety Stories, which surveyed players across the globe and identified five priority challenges: limited moderation of text and voice chat, difficulty recognising harmful behaviour, ineffective reporting systems, early targeted recruitment of users, and religious identity as a frequent target of hate. Students at the hackathon developed real world solutions to address these challenges.


The event opened with remarks from H.E. Salem Saeed Al Saeedi, Vice President of Rabdan Academy, followed by a keynote address by Dr. David Scharia, Director and Chief of Branch, United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, and expert panels on online extremism and the risks facing women and young people in digital spaces.


Speakers included:

  • Dr. Naji Al Seiari, Dean of Faculty and Research and Innovation Division Director, Rabdan Academy

  • Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Ahmed Alzarooni, Deputy Director General, International Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Interior, UAE

  • 1st Lt. Sultan Al Dahbashi, Head, Permanent Alliances Development Branch, International Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Interior, UAE; Secure Communities Forum

  • Dr. Omer Ali Saifudeen, Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies, Rabdan Academy

  • Professor Stan Gilmour, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Oxon Advisory

  • Professor Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim, Head, Public Safety and Security Programme, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)

  • Eitan Charnoff, Secretariat, Secure Communities Forum

  • Dr Munir Zamir, Strategic Engagement Director, M&C Saatchi World Services

  • Parul Vyas, Coinbase (joining virtually)

  • Jolene Jerard, Executive Director, Sentinal

The Gaming Safety Stories research was developed by an international working group of practitioners and researchers: Lieutenant Colonel Hamad Alhammadi, Dr. Omer Ali Saifudeen, 1st Lt. Sultan Al Dahbashi, Professor Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim, Eitan Charnoff, Professor Stan Gilmour, Nicholas Aaron Khoo, Galen Lamphere-Englund, Tore Refslund Hamming, and Parul Vyas.


Coverage:

  1. Rabdan Academy Hackathon challenges students to develop AI for online gaming safety — Emirates News Agency (WAM), 6 August 2026

  2. Rabdan Academy hosts Gaming for Good: Online Safety Hackathon — Abu Dhabi Government Media Office, official release

  3. Rabdan Academy hosts Gaming for Good hackathon to boost online safety — AbuDhabi.News, 8 August 2026

  4. Rabdan Academy Hackathon challenges students to develop AI for online gaming safety — Aletihad News Centre (English)

  5. Rabdan Academy Hackathon challenges students to develop AI for online gaming safety — TotalUAE

  6. Rabdan Academy Hackathon challenges students to develop AI for online gaming safety — Big News Network

  7. Rabdan Academy Hackathon challenges students to develop AI for online gaming safety — Arab Herald

  8. Rabdan Academy Hackathon challenges students to develop AI for online gaming safety — Middle East Star

 
 
 

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