SMA Sustainability Competition 2026

Sharjah Maritime Academy is officially joining forces with local industry leaders and maritime businesses to champion ecological stewardship and power the nationwide UAE Student Poster Competition 2026!
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Due to the overwhelming response, the Competition Committee has decided to extend the submission deadline to 30 September 2026.

About the Competition

The UAE Student Sustainability Poster Competition 2026 is a nationwide platform hosted by Sharjah Maritime Academy in partnership with local industry leaders. Aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, this competition challenges the next generation of thinkers to visualize real-world solutions for a carbon-neutral future. Through physical art, students are invited to showcase innovative ideas that bridge the gap between maritime logistics, environmental stewardship, and sustainable business.

 

Empowering Students

This competition empowers students to engage in real-world problem-solving and supports the UAE students in integrating responsible business principles into their projects. By fostering a community of practice, the competition encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing among local industries and students.

 

Engaging Businesses:

Through this strategic partnership with Sharjah Maritime Academy, the competition offers a unique opportunity for local businesses to tap into cutting-edge academic research and co-create practical frameworks for sustainable maritime operations. By collaborating with SMA, industry partners can directly shape the talent pipeline while gaining actionable, student-led insights to advance their own green logistics and carbon-neutral goals.

Final Submission – Poster Display

For the Abstract Submission, participants are required to provide a brief and clear description of their idea or project, including the relevant context. The abstract may be submitted using text, diagrams, or pictures, as appropriate.

Deadline for Submissions
30th September
Abstract Submission Last Date
10th October
Abstract Review and Approval by the Committee
20th October
Deadline for Final Poster Submission (Electronic Version)
3rd November
Competition Day – Submission and Display of the Printed Poster (Hard Copy)

Final Poster Submission Guidelines

  • The poster size must not exceed 1.0 meter × 1.5 meters.
  • Each poster will be displayed on a designated stand at the competition venue.
  • Electronic or digital displays will not be permitted at the competition venue.
  • Each participant/team may submit a maximum of three (3) posters for the     competition. Each idea/project must be presented on a single poster.
  • All submitted posters, photographs, diagrams, illustrations, and other visual materials must be in color.
  • An electronic version of the final poster must be submitted through the designated     portal by 20 October 2026.
  • Participants are responsible for ensuring that their posters are professionally     printed and ready for display at the SMA venue on the competition day, 3 November 2026.

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The Award

To honour the innovative thinking of our participants, the competition features three distinct award categories designed to celebrate holistic excellence:

The Grand Sustainability Champion Award: Awarded to the highest-scoring poster that seamlessly blends flawless visual design with a profound, scientifically accurate solution     aligned with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 vision.
The Green Innovation & Visionary Award: Celebrating the entry that displays exceptional creativity, offering a fresh, unique visual metaphor or a highly original approach to tackling modern environmental challenges.
The Industry Impact & Practicality Award: Recognising the poster that presents the most actionable, real-world application, demonstrating a clear understanding of how     sustainable principles can be practically integrated into local maritime or business operations.

Faculty

Neil James Thambi
Marine Chief Engineer (Unlimited)
Maters's, Technical Ship Mangement / Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, UK
Dr. Hossam M. Eldessouky
Assistant Professor
PhD, Advanced Manufacturing Systems, University of Bath, UK
Akram Zeid
Assistant Professor
PhD, Mechanical and Marine Engineering, University of Nottingham, UK
Ahmed Hamdy Moursy
Head of Maritime Transport Department
PhD, Advanced Manufacturing Systems, University of Bath, UK
Georgios Katsoulis
Dean
PhD, Electronics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece    
Ahmed Ismail
Captain/Master Mariner
master's Science in Maritime Affairs, Maritime Safety & Environmental Administration, World Maritime University, Sweden
Tarek Ali Hassan Abou Elela
Assistant Professor
PhD, Marine and Commercial Law- International Transport Law & Multimodal Transport. - Marine Communications. - Seaman ship. - Maritime arbitration. - Marine insurance., Alexandria University, Egypt
Mohamed Abdelfattah Mohamed
Captain Master Mariner
Masters Operation of ship and Maritime Safety, Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection, AASTMT, Egypt    
Dr. C. Elavarasi Sasikumar
Assistant Professor
PhD, Electronics Engineering- Communication system Communication System, Antenna, Microwave and Millimeter wave Antenna, Microwave Electronics, Electromagnetic Transmission Line, Pondicherry University, India    
Ahmed Salem
Associate Professor
PhD, Ship Design, Construction and Stability, University of Strathclyde, UK  
Donald Macleod Paterson,
Assistant Professor
PhD, Ship Stability & Risk-based Design, University of Strathclyde, UK    
Mauro Francesco
Assistant Professor
PhD Ocean Engineering, Research in hydrodynamics and marine propulsion, University of Rijeka, Croatia
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