Team up & discover the theme
You'll be introduced to the main program theme and placed into teams with students you may have never worked with before.
5th Edition
SREO Program
UAE's largest student-led program. By students, for students. Four days, five skills, one startup pitch.
Program overview
UAE's Largest Student-Led Program
For high school and university students who are interested in conducting research, building startups, and advancing their community initiatives.
Have a great startup idea but don't know where to start?
Want your research to become impactful, recognized, and impossible to ignore?
Have a community project idea but don't know how to scale its impact and sustainability?
Whether you have an idea or are just starting your journey, this program is designed to give you the space, support, and community to take your next step.
By students, for students
Completely free to attend
Four days at Emirates Towers, Dubai
Five industry-level skills
Entry to the SREO Alumni Program
Seats are limited
The milestone edition
Five editions of students building what's next
The 5th Edition brings the Class of 2026 experience to Emirates Towers, in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation.
DatesAugust 10–13, 2026
Daily hours9AM–4PM GST
VenueEmirates Towers, Dubai
FormatFour-day, on-site
AudienceHigh school & university students
CostFree to attend
Skills & presenters
Learn 5 key skills
Across the program, you'll learn five essential industry-level skills from the ground up, with a balance of theory and hands-on practice. Every skill is taught by its own Skill Lead.
Five skills,
one toolkit
one toolkit
Day 1 · Aug 10, 2026
Business & Entrepreneurship
What?
This session introduces the entrepreneurship layer of the SREO skills toolkit, focusing on problem framing, opportunity mapping, and AI-assisted venture design. Participants will learn how to identify user needs, assess market gaps, build value propositions, and use generative AI to test and refine solution directions.
Why?
Technical ideas need a clear problem, a defined user, and a realistic path to adoption. This skill helps teams evaluate feasibility, viability, scalability, and impact before developing their solutions further.
Day 1 · Aug 10, 2026
Graphic Design Technology
What?
This session introduces the design layer of the SREO skills toolkit, focusing on brand identity, visual communication, and AI-assisted design workflows. Participants will learn how to translate their solutions into clear visual systems using creative tools, while developing the ability to assess design quality, consistency, and audience fit.
Why?
A strong solution needs to be understood, trusted, and remembered. This skill helps teams build an industry-standard visual identity that communicates their idea clearly, strengthens their pitch, and presents their solution with professional credibility.
Day 2 · Aug 11, 2026
Product Strategy & Development
What?
This session introduces the strategy-to-development layer of the SREO skills toolkit, focusing on how to turn a concept into a buildable, testable, and evidence-backed product prototype. Participants will define product requirements, prioritize features, map development pathways, use AI-supported tools, design validation methods, analyze data, and translate results into stronger product decisions.
Why?
A strong product is strategically planned, technically built, and validated through evidence. This skill helps teams make development decisions with measurable outcomes, AI-enabled workflows, and real testing.
Day 3 · Aug 12, 2026
Content Creation
What?
This session introduces the product communication and validation layer of the SREO skills toolkit, focusing on how to turn a developed prototype into strategic, platform-ready content. Participants will learn how to plan content angles, write scripts, set up camera shots, choose shooting styles, use AI-supported tools, edit for clarity and retention, and apply platform features to improve reach and engagement.
Why?
A product gains traction when people understand it, respond to it, and see its value. This skill helps teams use content as both a communication and testing tool, allowing them to measure audience interest, strengthen their messaging, and present their solutions with professional creative execution.
Presented by
Jumana Alaidarous
Director of Outreach of SREO & Skill Lead for Content Creation
MD @ United Arab Emirates University
Supported by
Maryam Al Suleimani
Skill Specialist for Content Creation
Professional Photographer
Day 3 · Aug 12, 2026
Rhetoric and Reasoning
What?
This session introduces the persuasion and defense layer of the SREO skills toolkit, focusing on how to present, justify, and argue for a developed solution with clarity. Participants will learn to structure a compelling pitch, build persuasive narratives, reason through decisions, respond to criticism, handle difficult questions, and use AI-supported tools to refine arguments and strengthen delivery.
Why?
A strong solution must be clearly explained and convincingly defended. This skill helps teams communicate value, support their thinking with logic, and guide an audience toward trust, interest, and acceptance.
Program journey
Inside the 4-day SREO experience
Learn 5 key skills
Across the program, you'll learn five essential industry-level skills from the ground up, with a balance of theory and hands-on practice.
Build, apply & have fun
You'll complete mentored project tasks after each skill session, while enjoying talks, startup stories, admissions insights, product showcases, and fun activities.
Pitch & continue beyond SREO
By Day 4, your team will pitch a complete startup concept to experts. Winners will join the SREO Alumni Program for further support, mentorship, and opportunities.
Introducing · 2026
The SREO Alumni Program
Designed to keep participants connected after each edition, creating a growing network of students who continue to collaborate, share opportunities, and develop the ideas they started during SREO.
Alumni Community Track
Open to all participants
Open to all SREO participants, this network allows alumni to stay connected through our online community, exchange updates, support each other, and continue growing their projects.
Alumni Accelerator Track
For winning teams
Selected winning teams will receive closer support from the SREO team and our partners. Through this track, we aim to connect them with opportunities such as mentorship, internships, advanced incubator programs, and other pathways to help take their startup concepts further.
Partners & collaboration
Backed by the UAE's innovation leaders
The 5th Edition of the SREO Program is delivered in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, alongside the UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, Prime Minister's Office.
The venue
Hosted at Emirates Towers. Start it. Dubai-it!
Four days in the heart of Dubai's innovation district. 9AM–4PM GST, August 10–13, 2026.
Behind the 5th Edition
Meet the team bringing the Class of 2026 experience to life
The SREO Program is run end to end by its student teams, from strategy and outreach to the operations on the ground.
Leadership Team
3 members
Operations Team
5th Edition · 4 members
Previous editions
A legacy in the making since 2021
Launched in April 2021 by students, for students, SREO has grown edition after edition. The previous edition alone reached 135,000+ people across 12+ countries, and the 5th Edition builds on everything that came before it.
4th Edition · Previous
3rd Edition
1st Edition
2nd Edition
Up next · Class of 2026
5th Edition
August 10–13, 2026
Be part of it
August 10–13, 2026
FAQs
Everything you need to know
Who is the SREO Program for?
The SREO Program is for high school and university students who are interested in conducting research, building startups, and advancing their community initiatives. Whether you have an idea or are just starting your journey, this program is designed to give you the space, support, and community to take your next step.
How do I register?
You can register through the link in our bio or through our website. Seats are limited, so we recommend registering as soon as possible. Register here.
Is the program free to attend?
Yes, SREO is completely free to attend. Accessibility is one of our central goals, and we want as many students as possible to benefit from this opportunity.
What happens after I register?
Once you complete your registration, no worries, we have received it and you do not need to fill it out again. Our team will contact you by email around one to two weeks before the program with the schedule, timing, what to bring, and confirmation form. If the confirmation form is not completed, your registration may be canceled and your spot may be offered to someone on the waitlist.
Do I have to attend all program days?
Yes, attendance is mandatory for all four days, from Day 1 to Day 4. Since seats are limited and demand is high, missing a full day may result in your spot being given to someone on the waitlist.
What does it mean if I am placed on the waitlist?
Because demand for the program is high, we may not be able to accept everyone right away, and spots are offered on a first come, first served basis. If you are placed on the waitlist, we may send you a form to confirm your interest, and once a spot opens, our team will contact you so you can be added as soon as possible. We will do our best to avoid waitlists where we can, so if you are interested in joining, make sure to register early.
Are accommodation or transportation provided?
The SREO Program is non-residential. Accommodation and transportation are not provided, so participants must make their own arrangements to attend the full program.
What will I receive from the program?
All participants will gain insights into our award-winning skills toolkit and receive a certificate from SREO. Attendees will also join the SREO Alumni Program community track for ongoing networking and growth support.
Winners will receive additional specialized certificates and prizes, along with exclusive entry into the upgraded Alumni Accelerator Track. Built with our partners, this track is designed to supercharge startup ideas and unlock experiential career opportunities.
Still have a question?
No worries at all. Just DM us on Instagram and our team will be happy to help. We usually respond within a few hours, and at most within three days.
Connect
Follow the journey. Stay connected.
Announcements, behind-the-scenes, and every update on the 5th Edition, Instagram first.
SREO Program · 5th Edition
Seats are limited. Your next step isn't.
August 10–13, 2026 at Emirates Towers, Dubai. Free to attend, so register as soon as possible.