Dubai: At Gitex 2025, Robots Walk Among Humans And It Feels Surprisingly Natural

At Gitex Global 2025, the boundary between humans and machines is thinner than ever, as robots move side by side with people — and somehow, it feels completely normal.

From humanoid robots teaching children new languages to machines that can run, climb, and sense their surroundings, the future of automation has stepped out of the lab and into real life, confidently roaming the halls of the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Among the sea of cutting-edge creations, one innovation captures attention for its human-like purpose — a teaching robot built to understand every child’s individual learning approach.

Sanad: The AI Assistant with a Human Touch

Latifa Alhammadi, Academic Vice Principal at Al Ethaar School (Emirates Schools Establishment) in Abu Dhabi, unveiled Sanad — an AI-powered teaching assistant designed to support students in learning English and other languages through personalised study plans.

She explained that the robot uses a smart recommendation system to deliver lessons suited to each student’s performance. “In a class of 25 to 30 students, it’s hard for a teacher to customise lessons for everyone. The robot analyses how each child learns and adjusts the plan accordingly. It’s mainly designed to teach languages to children,” she said.

If a student answers most questions correctly, the AI increases the difficulty level. But if the student struggles, the system simplifies the content and gradually builds it up again — allowing every learner to progress at their own speed.

Made in the UAE, for the UAE’s Classrooms

At present, Sanad teaches English, but it can easily be programmed to teach other languages such as French and Chinese. The project is still in its research phase.

“It’s developed entirely in the UAE,” said Alhammadi, who is also pursuing a PhD in artificial intelligence. “I wanted my research to make a real difference for students, so I came up with the idea and built the prototype myself. It took me around five to six months.”

The next step is to pilot Sanad in government schools, starting with Grades 1 to 5. “We’ll soon be seeking approval from the Ministry of Education to test it in classrooms,” she noted.

Beyond Lessons: Teaching Social Skills Too

Apart from academics, Sanad can also interact with students during breaks or free time, encouraging natural conversations and building social confidence.

“This is version one,” Alhammadi shared. “I’m already developing version two, which will include more sensors and cameras. In version three, students won’t even need to log in — the robot will automatically recognise them and continue the session based on each child’s level.”

As Gitex 2025 highlights the next wave of technological innovation, creations like Sanad demonstrate how the future of education is becoming more intelligent, interactive, and deeply personal — bridging the gap between AI and human learning.