42 Abu Dhabi

42 Abu Dhabi is a tuition-free coding and AI academy in the Mina Zayed warehouses district of Abu Dhabi, part of the global 42 Network. It is for anyone aged 18 or over with a high school certificate who wants to learn software development through peer-to-peer, project-based work, with no previous coding experience needed.

How admission works

1. Create an account on the application portal (apply.42abudhabi.ae) and fill in a short demographics form.
2. Pass two online games that test memory and logic. No coding is needed, but allow 1 to 2 hours in a quiet place.
3. Attend a check-in session of about 30 minutes, online or on campus, where staff validate your application and explain the programme.
4. Complete the personal data form, register for a Piscine and attend the ID check.
5. Pass the Piscine, an intensive 25-day entry programme (the How to Apply page calls it four weeks). Passing it means you are enrolled.

Places in each Piscine are limited and given on a first-come, first-served basis, with several Piscines a year. The Piscine Status page lists the 2026 Abu Dhabi sessions in June, July and August as complete, so check it for the next dates.

The programme

• Common Core (12 to 18 months): 7 levels of projects, from C and C++ to AI, networking, web frameworks and graphics. There are no teachers or lectures.
• Internships: two internships of 4 to 6 months each.
• Specialisation: Web & Mobile Development, Game & Graphics Programming, Systems & Kernel Programming, or Security & Networks.
• Level 6 qualification: accredited by the UAE National Qualifications Council, certified by the Ministry of Higher Education, and equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in Software Development and AI Applications. The full journey takes 3 to 5 years.

Good to know

• Tuition is free.
• Students have 24-hour access to the campus; study areas are mixed, with separate male and female lounges.
• The campus can hold up to 750 students at full capacity.
• There is a second campus in Al Ain with its own application portal.
• Contact: +971 2 111 2222 or [email protected].

Description written from official sources, checked 17 October 2026: 42abudhabi.ae. Confirm details with the business before you go.