• Spellers must be enrolled in Grade 0 to Grade 8 as of September 30^th, 2026
• Spellers must not have reached their 14th birthday as of September 30^th, 2026.
• Spellers must not have won a previous Scripps National Spelling Bee.
• Spellers must be resident of UAE and studying in the UAE and registered through spellingbee.ae

• The Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary is the official dictionary and source of words for the competition.
• The study list for the 2026-27 season is the Words of the Champions word list, which will be provided to all registered students. In the Final Round, words may be drawn from the full Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary beyond the provided list.
• Pronunciations follow Merriam-Webster Unabridged standards, consistent with Scripps National Spelling Bee practice.

• The competition will be separated into Preliminaries, Semifinals and Finals.
• The Preliminaries will have 2 rounds: 1 written round, 1 Oral round,
• The semi-finals and Finals have only Oral rounds
• A speller is eliminated upon providing an incorrect answer
• If all spellers in a Finals round misspell, a new round begins with the spellers competing in their original order.

• In the Preliminary Rounds, each participant will have 120 seconds to spell two words.
  In the Semi-Finals and Finals, the time limit will be 60 seconds per word.
• Please note: Time limits are subject to adjustment by the organizing committee on the day of the contest, based on event flow and judging considerations.
• The officials may announce schedule and/or location changes.

All decisions made by the judges and contest officials are final and binding. Participants and guardians are expected to respect and uphold the integrity of these decisions. No disputes or appeals will be entertained.

To ensure a fair, focused, and distraction-free environment for all participants, any interference by parents or guardians during the competition may lead to the disqualification of the concerned participant. We request full cooperation in upholding the integrity and spirit of the championship.

The organizing officials reserve the right to amend rules, procedures, schedules, and venue details as deemed necessary for the smooth conduct of the championship. All participants will be informed of any such changes in advance, wherever possible.

Participants are expected to maintain personal hygiene, respectful behavior, and a positive attitude throughout the competition. Courtesy towards officials, fellow participants, and volunteers is mandatory. All spellers must also comply with any health and safety guidelines communicated prior to or during the event.

Participants may be disqualified for failure to meet eligibility criteria, engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct, or violating any competition rules or guidelines. Disqualification may also occur if participants or their guardians fail to respect the decisions of officials.

Spellers are only permitted to communicate with officials during designated times or in response to official queries. Unauthorized communication with parents, guardians, or other participants during the competition will lead to disqualification. This ensures a fair and undistracted environment for all contestants.
Additionally, all queries or concerns should be directed to the event officials in a respectful and appropriate manner.

Spellers are expected to conduct themselves with the highest level of respect, integrity, and professionalism throughout the competition. This includes being courteous to officials, fellow participants, and all event staff. Any disruptive behavior, including but not limited to, cheating, verbal or physical aggression, intimidation, or any form of disrespect towards others, will not be tolerated and may lead to immediate disqualification.

Participants are encouraged to display good sportsmanship and maintain a positive, focused attitude throughout the event, understanding that the competition is an opportunity for personal growth and celebration of their linguistic skills.