Dalia Zidan

Dalia Zidan, a first-generation Palestinian high school student living in the UAE, is redefining what’s possible for youth in STEM. Despite limited school resources and a lack of representation, she has made extraordinary strides as a technologist, educator, and changemaker – proving that resilience and innovation can rewrite futures.

A future electrical engineering and computer science major, Dalia’s passion for technology is deeply personal and purpose-driven. Last year, she was a winner of the international Empower Hacks 2.0 competition, where she built an AI-powered web app to support the mental health of first-generation, low-income students. Her work stood out among 165 projects and over 300 participants, judged by engineers from Microsoft, X, Meta and Intel.

As Executive Director of the International Youth Science Journal (IYSJ), she leads a team across 12 countries and 6 continents, publishing more than 145 articles for over 72,000 global readers. Under her leadership, IYSJ launched a podcast, expanded internationally with its first chapter in Ghana, and ran a global writing workshop for young scientists on how to write the perfect research paper.

Dalia is also the founder of AMTech, her school’s first-ever tech club. In a school with limited AP courses and extracurriculars, she created a platform to offer coding materials, AP/SAT prep, and college guidance for underserved students. AMTech has reached over 25 members and earned more than $9,000 in prizes in national tech competitions. In collaboration with the UAE government and KHDA, the club ran Dubai AI Week, introducing over 30 elementary students to artificial intelligence and training teachers to implement code-friendly curricula.

A self-taught programmer, Dalia has authored over 65 pages of coding materials and a children’s maths book, Catching Infinity, designed to make STEM exciting for young learners. The book was recognised by RISE for the World and Run The Future, earning her finalist spots among tens of thousands of applicants globally.

Dalia’s academic achievements are historic within her school. She earned a 5 on AP Calculus as a sophomore, a score never achieved previously at her school, and has completed university-level courses in linear algebra, calculus, and differential equations. She is also a World Science Scholar, selected by Professor Brian Greene as one of only 54 students globally for mathematical talent.

A proud Muslim and hijab-wearing student in STEM, Dalia has faced discrimination, academic under-support, and cultural barriers. When denied access to advanced courses, she self-studied, advocated for herself, and proved her readiness through performance. Today, she is on track to graduate as valedictorian, having completed the most rigorous course load in school history.

If awarded the Global Student Prize, Dalia plans to fund STEM resources for underserved students in the UAE, expand AMTech, and create cash-prize science competitions through IYSJ. Her goal: make sure no talented student misses out because of who they are or where they come from.