19-Year-Old Indian Student in Sharjah Innovates with AI

Aug 29, 2026

92 min

Aug 29, 2026 06:30

How this 19-year-old Indian student in Sharjah uses AI to tackle farming, fuel, and deepfakes

## Early Life and Education

Bashaar Naik, a 19-year-old Indian student, has been making waves in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) from Sharjah, UAE. Born in Mumbai in 2007, Naik moved to the UAE as an infant and grew up in Sharjah. He attended Sharjah Indian School Juwaiza and later pursued computer engineering at the American University of Sharjah.

## AI Projects and Achievements

Naik's journey with AI began with a school project on soil minerals, which evolved into a sophisticated AI system to aid farmers in predicting soil mineral concentrations. This project won him first prize at the GITEX YouthX Hackathon in 2022.

In 2023, he developed an AI-powered system to enhance vehicle fuel efficiency, earning first place at the RTA Dubai Sustainability and Transport Innovation Hackathon. His work in AI also extended to tackling online misinformation through a deepfake detection tool, which received the Most Innovative Project award at the InnovateX Hackathon.

## Broader Impact and Recognition

Beyond AI competitions, Naik's projects have been showcased at events like GESS Dubai. His contributions to academics and community initiatives have been recognized with awards such as the Social Endowment Award by the Indian Association Sharjah. In 2024, he and his team represented the Middle East in the OTIS Made to Move Communities programme, securing second place internationally.

## Creating Opportunities

Naik has also been active in organizing events, such as TEDxSISJ Youth, and has delivered talks on topics like the "Phygital World." He emphasizes the importance of creating opportunities and encourages young people to take initiative and turn ideas into action.

## Future Aspirations

Looking ahead, Naik aims to continue using AI and engineering to develop practical solutions in areas like sustainability and digital safety. He believes in the power of innovation to address real-world challenges and make a meaningful impact on society.

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