Dubai has launched a AED2.5m ($680,000) contest to find the best app developers in the city.
The third edition of the “Create Apps Championship”, a major initiative under the Create Apps in Dubai programme looks to nurture top global tech talent and strengthen its position as a global hub for the digital economy.
The initiative was launched as Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, reaffirmed that Dubai’s rise as a global centre for digital transformation reflects the bold development vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Dubai Create Apps Championship
The Create Apps Championship will feature four main categories:
- Best Youth App
- Most Impactful App
- Most Innovative App
- Longevity App of the Year (new)
The competition offers total funding exceeding AED2.5m ($680,000) to support app development and launch.
Winners in three categories will each receive more than AED550,000 ($150,000), while the overall “App of the Year” winner—determined through public voting—will receive AED1m ($272,000).
Tech innovation
Sheikh Hamdan said the emirate’s economic and innovation journey continues to be shaped by its focus on empowering talent, developing pioneering solutions and advancing sustainable growth.
The first two editions of the Create Apps Championship attracted more than 5,800 applications and supported the development and launch of more than 55 smart applications, significantly contributing to Dubai’s innovation ecosystem.
Sheikh Hamdan said: “Dubai continues to advance as a leader in innovation, developing pioneering solutions that drive its digital transformation journey. These initiatives represent a key part of our strategy to embody the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai as the global capital of the digital economy.
“By fostering a world-class innovation ecosystem that empowers talent and inspires creativity, we are accelerating the development of future-focused solutions and advancing the ambitious objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
“Dubai is establishing inspiring models for the world by creating an enabling environment that attracts and empowers talent, inspiring one and all to pursue a promising future driven by knowledge, creativity, and innovation.
“Through a supportive and stimulating ecosystem that nurtures ideas, Dubai reinforces its position as a global destination for business, investment, and innovation.”
Talent retention
He also emphasised that Dubai continues to elevate its position as a global hub for tech talent, supported by world-class infrastructure and agile legal frameworks that strengthen public–private collaboration and support the development of smart applications.
Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, said the Create Apps Championship has become a world-leading initiative that attracts exceptional global talent and reinforces Dubai’s role as a centre for digital technology development.
Al Olama said: “Through this challenge, we continue to attract exceptional talent to Dubai’s innovation-driven environment, which serves as an advanced model in keeping pace with the rapid changes in the digital applications sector, one of the fastest-growing and most influential sectors in the global economy.”
New app category
This year’s edition includes the new “Longevity App of the Year” award, recognising applications that enhance wellbeing and sustainable health in fields such as fitness, wellness and lifestyle.
The category aligns with national priorities to enhance quality of life and build a future-ready society.
The third edition also introduces an Alumni Accelerator Programme for high-potential teams that previously entered the challenge.
The programme will support the completion and launch of 50 additional fully developed applications in the market, providing access to a dedicated business accelerator.
In addition, the organisers will create a dedicated hub for participants, offering tailored training, mentorship and expert guidance to accelerate the growth and scaling of their projects.
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