Recently, the IKEN Child Skills Development Training Centre LLC Dubai, United Arab Emirates (hereinafter referred to as the IKEN Training Centre), a member unit of the World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic (hereinafter referred to as the WAAMA), held appraisal and competition activities.

In November 2023, the IKEN Training Centre held the first WAAMA International Grading Examination 2023 across UAE. 172 students from teaching centers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah participated in the level appraisal and obtained the appraisal certificate issued by the WAAMA. "We are immensely proud of our students who participated in the WAAMA International Grading Examination 2023. Their enthusiasm and commitment to honing their mental arithmetic skills are truly commendable," said Mr. Sreenevas KM Iyengar, Global Education Director at mathello.

On January 7, 2024, the IKEN Training Center held the First mathello Abacus & Mental Arithmetic National Competition, United Arab Emirates, "mathello Genius Quest 2024" at the Swiss International Science School, Al Jadaf, Dubai, UAE. A total of 170 students participated in Visual (abacus & mental arithmetic) and Listening competition across various categories. Participants demonstrated their prowess in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and higher-level decimals, solving 150 to 200 sums ranging from 725 digits to 3430 digits to be solved in 6 minutes. After a day of competition, the list of winners was also announced: 11 people won the Champions, 10 people won the first prize, 11 people won the second prize, 6 people won the third prize, 23 people won the merit awards, and 20 people won the Sparkling Stars.Mr. Sreenevas shared his reflections on the mathello Genius Quest 2024, stating, this competition is more than just a showcase of abacus and mental arithmetic brilliance; it's a celebration of dedication, innovation, and the indomitable spirit of our young learners.

The WAAMA was established in 2002. It is an international united association made up of non-governmental education and research organizations of abacus and abacus-based mental arithmetic, enjoying strong influence in the international abacus and mental arithmetic community. Currently, it has 55 member units from 19 countries and regions around the world. On March 28, 2023, after deliberation at the seventh meeting of the fifth standing council of the WAAMA, the application for the IKEN Training Center to join the WAAMA and become a member unit of the council was approved.