Ajman, United Arab Emirates –July 2026: The Department of Finance in Ajman has concluded the ‘Abacus Challenge Camp (Mental Arithmetic),’ one of its three flagship programmes under ‘Our Happy Summer 2026.’ Held over four days and comprising 12 training hours, the camp engaged 39 children and young people in a series of interactive learning activities and mental challenges. The programme provided an enriching educational experience designed to develop mental arithmetic skills, strengthen logical thinking, and enhance concentration and analytical abilities. It achieved a 100% satisfaction rate, reflecting the quality of the learning experience and the high level of participant engagement.
The camp adopted a modern experiential learning approach, combining mental challenges, educational games, group activities, and speed and concentration exercises. This methodology helped develop participants’ visual memory, improve response speed, build self-confidence, and create a stimulating learning environment that balanced knowledge acquisition with interaction and healthy competition.
The programme featured a progressive training curriculum, beginning with an introduction to the abacus and its practical use, followed by mental arithmetic applications and concentration and speed exercises. It concluded with a championship competition, allowing participants to apply the skills they had acquired throughout the programme in a competitive setting that encouraged achievement and perseverance.
Commenting on the initiative, HE Marwan Ahmed Al Ali, Director General of the Department of Finance in Ajman, said: “We are committed to delivering high-quality community programmes that contribute to developing the capabilities of children and young people through innovative educational experiences that combine meaningful content with enjoyable learning. These initiatives play an important role in nurturing critical thinking, analytical skills, and innovation.”
He added: “The ‘Abacus Challenge Camp’ represents an excellent example of programmes that make productive use of the summer break by developing the mental abilities of children and young people through modern training methods that make learning more engaging and enjoyable. The programme helps participants build practical skills that strengthen logical thinking, concentration, and self-confidence, while equipping them with valuable tools they can apply throughout their academic journey and daily lives.”
The camp received highly positive feedback from participants and parents, who praised the quality of the training content and the interactive learning methods adopted throughout the programme. They also expressed their appreciation of the Department for organising such a meaningful initiative during the summer holiday.
One of the camp participants, Abdullah Sultan Al Suwaidi, said: “I really enjoyed the challenges and activities, and I learned how to calculate more quickly and improve my concentration. My favourite part was the final competition, which gave me greater confidence in my abilities. I would like to thank the Department of Finance in Ajman for providing this wonderful opportunity.”
The ‘Abacus Challenge Camp’ took place alongside the ‘Ajman Mal Plus’ and ‘Play it Right!’ initiatives, reflecting the Department’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality community programmes that promote lifelong learning, develop future-ready skills, and support the Government of Ajman’s vision of investing in people.
