DCL Expands UAE Footprint After AI-Powered Championship Success
DCL will launch a free-to-play simulator, pilot certification programmes and STEM-focused media collaborations.
The Drone Champions League (DCL) - a global leader in competitive drone racing - is expanding its operations in the UAE following a landmark weekend at the A2RL x DCL Autonomous Drone Championship in Abu Dhabi.
The April 2025 event, co-organised with the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL), saw 14 international teams compete for a USD 1 million prize pool. In a historic moment, an AI-powered drone developed by the Dutch university team MavLab (TU Delft) outperformed a world-class human pilot in a live challenge.
As part of a new five-year roadmap for DCL’s growth in the UAE, the league will launch DCL: The Game, a free-to-play simulator designed to make drone racing accessible to a global audience. Additional initiatives include pilot certification programmes, STEM-driven media collaborations with extreme sports creators, and the development of interactive learning hubs.
“The UAE is the ideal launchpad for what comes next,” said Drone Champions League Executive Chair Markus Stampfer. “The vision is not just to push boundaries in speed and performance, but to inspire a generation, build careers, and unlock the full potential of autonomous systems in everyday life.”
Plans include flight arenas, virtual tracks modelled on global landmarks, and initiatives merging esports, streetwear, and education to engage Gen Z and Alpha.
