iCodejr in the News
News stories, interviews and announcements about iCodejr, our free inter-school hackathon Code Battle, and our work bringing coding, robotics and AI to children across the UAE.
Featured stories
Written by journalists at UAE and regional outlets.
My Dubai Salary: Ex-investment banker now lives on Dh10,000 salary to keep his new company's costs down
Our founder Hannan Moti on leaving 14 years in investment banking to build iCodejr, and keeping costs lean while it grows.
iCodejr turns an autism coding pilot into a blueprint for accessible ed-tech
How a 10-week programme, built from scratch for neurodivergent learners at a Dubai therapy centre, could be copied by other schools.
Star Tech: Coding made fun, thanks to iCodejr.com
An early Khaleej Times profile of iCodejr and its classes taught in both English and Arabic.
All coverage
Every story we know of, newest first. Headlines open on the publisher's site; "Read our story" opens our own news post.
2026
iCodejr launches Bloqi, a bilingual coding, AI and robotics platform for schools
One platform for schools to teach coding, AI and robotics in English and Arabic, designed so non-specialist teachers can run it.
iCodejr partners with Behaviour Enrichment to expand coding education for neurodivergent learners
A 10-week coding programme with a Dubai paediatric therapy centre, using a curriculum adapted for autistic and neurodivergent children.
Also in GadgetVoize and ME News 247
2025
iCodejr's Code Battle 2025 celebrates UAE's brightest young coders in its 5th edition
205 students in 79 teams from 53 schools competed at the Code Battle 2025 finals at DTEC, Dubai.
Sheraa highlights Sharjah's role in supporting entrepreneurs at GITEX Global, Expand North Star 2025
iCodejr was one of the Sharjah start-ups on the Sheraa pavilion at Expand North Star, GITEX Global's start-up show.
Also in Al Bayan (Arabic)
UAE participates in GITEX Europe 2025 to highlight startup solutions and explore German and European market opportunities
iCodejr joined the UAE start-up delegation to GITEX Europe in Berlin through the Ministry's Riyada programme.
Also in ME News 247
SuperCharger Ventures Malta Cohort: iCodejr in the alumni line-up
Three months in Malta with an EdTech-only accelerator, ending with Demo Day at Verdala Palace on 26 June 2025.
iCodejr selected for Unicorn Factory Lisboa Spring 2025 incubation program
iCodejr joined Lisbon's start-up incubator, one of 49 start-ups chosen from 29 countries.
Also in ME News 247
Meet the startups shortlisted for PITCH at Web Summit Qatar 2025
iCodejr was one of 35 start-ups shortlisted to pitch at Web Summit Qatar 2025 in Doha.
2024
iCodejr's Code Battle 2024 celebrates the UAE's brightest young coders
More than 450 students from Grades 1 to 12 took part over three days at Dubai Digital Park.
iCodejr announces winners for prestigious UAE National Code Battle Championship
The national final brought together the winning teams from the Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi chapters.
Also in Edarabia, MENAFN and ME News 247
2023
iCodejr partners with 42 Abu Dhabi for Abu Dhabi chapter of Code Battle
Code Battle's first Abu Dhabi chapter, run with 42 Abu Dhabi for schools across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
Also in WAM and Al Etihad (Arabic), My Startup World, Eye of Arabia, mid-east.info and ME News 247
iCodejr hosts CodeNova hackathon for kids during Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival
More than 100 children coded for two hours at SEF, run with Sheraa, in three age groups.
2022
5,000 visitors attend the biggest Sharjah Entrepreneurial Festival so far
Khaleej Times' report on the festival covers the iCodejr SEF Coding Championship and its prize-giving.
iCodejr: Preparing children for the world of tomorrow
A Q&A with Hannan Moti about why we started iCodejr and why children should start coding early.
iCodejr partners with Bahrain's The Collective Hub, powered by tenmou
Live online coding workshops in web development and Python for members of the Bahrain hub.
Inaugural inter-school coding competition attracts 263 students in 102 teams
The very first Code Battle, held at Dtec in Dubai during UAE Innovates 2022, with 16 schools taking part.
Announced on Zawya, 25 Feb 2022
iCodejr gets STEM accreditation
STEM.org accredited iCodejr's courses and faculty, so course certificates carry the STEM.org badge.
Media kit & quick facts
The facts to use when you write about iCodejr.
Hannan Moti
A London School of Economics graduate, Hannan spent 14 years in investment banking before founding iCodejr. He speaks to the press for iCodejr.
Samir Aga
Writing a story?
For interviews, comment on kids and technology, Code Battle details, photos or our logo, email our press team.