Under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, the Solar Decathlon Middle East (SDME) is a prestigious collegiate competition featuring 10 contests that challenge students to design and build energy-efficient, solar-powered homes, promoting sustainability and innovation in renewable energy.

On June 17, 2015, the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and the U.S. Department of Energy formalized their collaboration by signing an agreement to launch the Solar Decathlon Middle East (SDME) for 2018-2020. This groundbreaking initiative integrates local and regional sustainability challenges, showcasing cutting-edge solar technologies tailored to the unique environmental conditions of the Middle East.

The 2018 edition of SDME, organized by DEWA, took place at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. The competition features 10 rigorous contests, inspired by previous Solar Decathlon editions, with customizations to address the region’s challenges, including extreme heat, dust, and high humidity. Multidisciplinary student teams design and construct innovative, energy-efficient houses, gaining hands-on experience in technical problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and sustainable living. This holistic approach ensures the feasibility and socio-economic relevance of their projects, driving progress toward a greener future.