Students from Herriot-Watt University have won the 2024 edition of the ADNOC-Bloomberg Trading Challenge, a unique commodities-focused competition designed to help students in the UAE showcase their skills in data analytics. 
Ashwil Phillips, Dhruv Sachdeva, Euan Pereira, Sraya George and Taniya Sindhi from the ‘Bulls of Wall Street’ team were named the winners for their strategy, which stood out due to its robust risk management and adaptive market analysis. The team showcased exceptional team spirit, advanced technical skills, and originality in their strategic approach. The winners are eligible for internships with ADNOC Global Trading.
His Excellency Dr. Hassan Obaid AlMheiri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Planning and Educational Services Sector at the Ministry of Education, praised the ADNOC-Bloomberg Trading Challenge for enhancing students’ skills in emerging fields such as digital transformation in the energy sector and harnessing innovations to enhance data sciences. He added: "The Ministry of Education continually works with partners to support initiatives and programmes that equip our students to excel in the future labour market, enhance their global competitiveness, and contribute to the knowledge-based economy in line with UAE vision, and national goals. We will continue collaborating with our strategic partners such as ADNOC and Bloomberg to provide platforms for students to showcase their skills and innovations."
The challenge, which forms part of the ADNOC-Bloomberg for Education Initiative, is a collaborative effort by ADNOC, the Ministry of Education and Bloomberg that aims to support the UAE’s next generation of graduates. Using Bloomberg Terminals and guided by Bloomberg analysts across different sectors, teams from competing universities simulated analyst workflows and commodities trading strategies, creating a research report that was presented to a jury of experts within the energy sector.
Saif Al Falahi, Executive Vice President, Group Business Support & Special Tasks, ADNOC said: “We warmly congratulate the winners of the ADNOC-Bloomberg Trading Challenge and commend all the students who took part for showcasing their skills, talent and dedication. ADNOC is committed to nurturing our youth and equipping them with the skills required to thrive in the evolving energy landscape through programs such as the ADNOC-Bloomberg Trading Challenge, which support the UAE’s plans to build a knowledge-based, globally competitive workforce and society.” 
More than 300 students from seven universities took part in the 2024 challenge. Five teams were shortlisted as finalists, each giving a presentation on their strategy for placing trades, including how they used artificial intelligence (AI) in their decisions. This year, teams focused on the theme of digital transformation in the energy sector, highlighting the role of emerging technologies in driving efficiency and sustainability.
In 2019, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between ADNOC, Bloomberg and the Ministry of Education to implement and develop a training program to equip future generations of UAE students with the financial skills needed to thrive in today’s dynamic and globally connected world. To date, this partnership has supported over 9,000 students, with 100 Terminals also installed across five of the UAE’s leading universities - Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi University, UAE University, New York University Abu Dhabi, and the Higher Colleges of Technology.

Giuseppe Netti, Regional Head of Sales, Middle East & Africa, Bloomberg said: “Each year, the standard of the teams entering the challenge is truly impressive. Developing a knowledge-based economy is a priority for the UAE and will be the foundation for creating new opportunities in an increasingly connected world. The strategies we saw from the students showcased their skills in understanding and interpreting real financial data for effective decisions. This demonstrates that the next generation of professionals possess the talent and capabilities needed for the challenges ahead.”