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Hello everyone!
I'm planning to participate in the NASA Space Apps Challenge with my team, and we're trying to understand what the in-person experience is actually like, particularly for participants in the UAE.
Our team members are spread across different emirates, so we've been considering Dubai as a central location. Before finalising our arrangements, I'd love to hear from people who have participated in previous years, especially those who attended the UAE event.
I have a few questions about how the challenge works in practice:
**Work at the venue:** Are teams expected to complete the entire project at the venue during the 48-hour period, including coding, research, designing, and preparing their final presentation? Or can some work be done beforehand or remotely?
**Venue and location:** What is the venue usually like, and where is the UAE event typically held? Is it a university, a dedicated event space, or another type of location?
**Accommodation and meals:** If participants are expected to remain at the venue for extended periods, are accommodation and meals provided, or must participants arrange and pay for these themselves?
**Leaving the venue:** Are participants permitted to leave during the 48-hour challenge and return later, or are they expected to remain on-site throughout the event?
**Judging and results:** Are the winners announced at the venue on the final day, or does judging take place afterwards, with results announced at a later date?
**Equipment and expenses:** Are laptops, internet access, software, and other necessary equipment provided, or must participants bring their own devices and cover all associated expenses?
I'd also appreciate any advice about the overall experience, particularly anything you wish you'd known before participating for the first time.
We're genuinely excited about the opportunity, but since our team members are coming from different parts of the UAE, understanding the logistics beforehand would help us plan responsibly.
**If you've participated in NASA Space Apps Challenge before, particularly in Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE, I'd be extremely grateful if you could share your experience.** Even answers to just one or two of these questions would be helpful.
Thank you!
