Dubai's Team ORBIT Wins FIRST Tech Challenge Istanbul Premier Event

Dubai Team ORBIT FIRST Tech Challenge Istanbul Robotics victory

Dubai-based Team ORBIT became the first United Arab Emirates team to win an international FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Premier Event, capturing both the Valens Division Winning Alliance title and the Overall Event Winning Alliance championship at the FTC Istanbul Premier Event held June 26‑28, 2026.

The rookie squad, formed only six months earlier and qualified through the UAE National Championship, competed against 77 leading FTC teams from around the world. Chief Mentor Banson Thomas said, "This is a historic moment not only for Team ORBIT but for the UAE robotics community as a whole," and added, "For a rookie team to achieve this on an international stage is a testament to the dedication, talent and determination of our students."

The double victory is being hailed as a milestone for the UAE’s growing robotics and STEM ecosystem, showing the potential of young innovators on the global stage.

Sources

Dubai’s ORBIT Team Claims Victory at Prestigious FTC İstanbul Event | Daily Guardian UAE [dailyguardian.ae]

16 days ago

Dubai’s Team ORBIT Creates History, Becomes First UAE Team to Win Global FIRST Tech Challenge Premier Event - Middle East Business News and Information - mid-east. info [mid-east.info]

16 days ago

Dubai’s ORBIT Team Claims Victory at Prestigious FTC İstanbul Event [uaenews247.com]

16 days ago