BIS Abu Dhabi Scholars Complete World Scholar’s Cup Global Round in Dubai

Our BIS Abu Dhabi Scholars recently travelled to Dubai to compete in the World Scholar’s Cup 2026 Dubai Global Round, joining students from around the world for several days of academic challenge, collaboration and celebration.

Day 1: Building Teams and Making Memories

The trip began with a series of team-building activities designed to bring our Scholars together ahead of the competition. At TEPfactor and Adventure Island at JBR, students took part in team challenges and laser tag, putting their communication and problem-solving skills to the test.

“It was a great way to start the trip because we got to bond with our teammates and make new memories together.”

— Mia, Year 8

Day 2: Exploring Expo City Dubai

The second day marked the beginning of the Global Round, with our Scholars welcomed to the competition by the Alpaca-in-Chief before heading to Expo City Dubai for a scavenger hunt. As they explored the site and completed challenges, students also had the opportunity to learn more about the world's diverse ecosystems through talks from the team at Terra.

For Lochanashree, the day was a memorable introduction to the energy of the World Scholar’s Cup.

“The scavenger hunt was one of my favourite parts of the day. We got to explore, meet new people and work together in a completely different way.”
— Lochanashree, Year 10

Day 3: Taking on the Academic Challenges

The third day saw our Scholars take on the academic challenges at the heart of the competition. Students competed in Collaborative Writing, Debate and the Scholar’s Challenge, drawing on their knowledge, creativity and ability to work effectively as a team.

In Debate, students had to prepare arguments and respond to real-world issues within a limited timeframe, while Collaborative Writing challenged teams to develop creative responses around a range of topics. The Scholar’s Challenge then tested students across 120 multiple-choice questions based on the World Scholar’s Cup study guide.

As Khalifa explains, teamwork was central to the experience.

“In Debate and Collaborative Writing, teamwork is everything. In debate you have three motions (argument subjects) for three rounds, and you get fifteen minutes to prepare with your fellow teammates.”
— Khalifa, Year 9

Day 4: The Scholar’s Bowl and Talent Showcase

The Scholar’s Bowl brought another exciting challenge, with teams competing in a live, clicker-based quiz covering topics from the study guide. Students also took part in the Alpaca Adoption Ceremony before enjoying a showcase of talent and watching some of the competition’s top debaters go head-to-head.

“We all participated in an Alpaca adoption ceremony, where we received alpaca plushes in a variety of colours. We pledged a lengthy oath and celebrated it traditionally by throwing and catching them.”
— Khlood, Year 9

The day also featured the Talent Show, where students from across the Global Round had the opportunity to showcase their talents. Our students Kate and Sumayya proudly represented BIS Abu Dhabi with a singing performance, adding to a memorable day of competition and celebration.

Day 5: Celebrating a Memorable Global Round

The final day brought the Global Round to a close with the Scholars’ Show, Flag March and Awards Ceremony. The Flag March celebrated the diversity of the event, with delegations from almost 50 nationalities proudly representing their countries. Hessa, Year 9, proudly carried the UAE flag for BIS Abu Dhabi.

“It was the most diverse round this season, with almost 50 nationalities marching proudly under their banners.”
— Kate, Year 8

Celebrating Our Scholars

We were delighted to see all 29 BIS Abu Dhabi Scholars qualify for the final of the World Scholar’s Cup, marking an excellent achievement for our students.

We would also like to congratulate:

• Ahaan, Ibrahim and Milan (Year 8) – 5th Place in the Team Challenge
• Akhil, Borhan and Indraneel (Year 8) – 4th Place in the Scholar’s Bowl
• Dominic, Khlood and Noah (Year 9) – Highest-scoring BIS Abu Dhabi team

The Global Round was a memorable experience for our Scholars, giving them the chance to step beyond the classroom and engage with students from across the world through the shared experience of the competition.

We are incredibly proud of all 29 Scholars who represented BIS Abu Dhabi throughout the event.