Dubai is taking its digital innovation ambitions to the next level with the launch of the Create AI Agents Championship, a new initiative designed to help innovators transform artificial intelligence ideas into practical, scalable solutions.

The announcement was made by His Highness 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. The initiative introduces a new direction for the successful Create Apps Championship, organised under the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s Create Apps in Dubai initiative.

The new competition aims to empower innovators to develop AI-agent systems that address real-world challenges, improve services, and create opportunities for sustainable business growth.

Dubai Strengthens Its Vision for AI and Digital Innovation

Sheikh Hamdan highlighted Dubai’s commitment to using advanced technologies to improve people’s lives, strengthen government services, and support innovation across different sectors.

Building on the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the emirate continues to invest in initiatives that develop human capabilities and encourage the practical application of emerging technologies.

The Create AI Agents Championship reflects this approach by inviting innovators from around the world to develop solutions that make services more accessible, efficient, and responsive to people’s needs.

Sheikh Hamdan also encouraged creative minds internationally to participate, emphasising the importance of turning promising ideas into projects that deliver meaningful benefits to society.

From the Create Apps Championship to AI Agents

The new championship represents a significant development in Dubai’s digital entrepreneurship ecosystem. While the original Create Apps Championship focused on mobile applications, the new competition places greater emphasis on AI agents and intelligent systems that can perform tasks and help solve practical problems.

The initiative supports the wider adoption of Agentic AI and aims to strengthen the ability of businesses and organisations to use these technologies effectively.

Participants are encouraged to identify important challenges, design AI-agent solutions, test their effectiveness, and explore how their projects can develop into commercially viable products, services, and business ventures.

The competition is not limited to technical development. It also emphasises practical value, market relevance, scalability, and the potential to create lasting impact.

A Global Competition Open to Innovators

The Create AI Agents Championship welcomes participants from across the world, including individuals with technical and non-technical backgrounds. There is no minimum age requirement for general participation.

Applicants can enter with an innovative concept, a prototype, or an early-stage minimum viable product (MVP). Existing businesses may also participate by presenting a new AI-agent solution or capability. Fully commercialised solutions are not eligible.

This broad participation model is intended to encourage ideas from different disciplines and backgrounds, helping more people contribute to the development of useful AI technologies.

The competition also provides an opportunity for students, entrepreneurs, developers, and aspiring founders to explore how artificial intelligence can be applied to real business and societal needs.

Four Competition Categories and Major Cash Prizes

The Create AI Agents Championship features four main categories, each recognising a different area of potential impact.

1. Best Societal AI Agent

This category recognises AI-agent solutions that promote social inclusion, strengthen community connections, and contribute to areas such as education, sustainability, and social resilience.

2. Best Personal AI Agent

This category focuses on AI agents that help individuals manage everyday activities, improve productivity, support health and wellbeing, and make more informed personal decisions.

3. Best Business AI Agent

This category highlights solutions that help public- and private-sector organisations improve workflows, enhance customer experiences, support decision-making, and deliver more effective services.

4. Best Youth AI Agent

Designed for younger innovators, this category is open to participants under 21 years of age when they register. For team applications, the team leader must also meet the age requirement at registration.

Each category winner will receive AED 550,000 to support further development of their solution and business venture. In addition, one of the four winners will receive the prestigious AI Agent of the Year title and an additional prize of AED 1 million.

The championship offers a total prize pool exceeding AED 2.5 million, creating significant opportunities for innovators seeking to develop their AI projects further.

Training, Workshops and Mentorship for Participants

Beyond the financial rewards, the championship includes educational and professional development opportunities to help participants strengthen their AI-agent solutions.

Three introductory workshops on Agentic AI are planned, followed by the launch of the Digital Academy in November 2026. The academy will offer four advanced training courses, four practical workshops, and mentoring sessions.

Participants will also have access to self-paced learning materials, specialised sessions, and expert guidance. These resources are intended to help innovators deepen their understanding of AI agents, refine their concepts, evaluate their solutions, and prepare effective project pitches.

Registration is scheduled to close in December 2026. Participants will be required to submit an AI-agent prototype, a pitch deck, and a demonstration video.

Application information: Create AI Agents Championship

Create Apps Championship: Results from Three Editions

The new AI-focused competition builds on the achievements of the Create Apps Championship, which has developed into an international platform for digital innovation and entrepreneurship.

Across its first three editions, the competition received 15,564 applications from 153 countries, contributed to the development of more than 1,700 app prototypes, and supported the launch of over 140 applications. The third edition alone attracted 9,754 entries from around the world.

During the third-edition awards ceremony at Emirates Towers Boulevard, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum honoured the winners across four categories.

The winning applications included:

• Ettan Ehsan – Best Youth-made App: A gamified learning platform that turns school subjects into short, visual, interactive challenges.
• RUSH – Most Impactful App: A marketplace offering curated group travel experiences built around shared interests and social connections.
• LiaPay – Most Innovative App: An AI-powered financial wellness assistant that uses financial and employment data to provide personalised insights and guidance.
• POP by Kwelio – Longevity App of the Year: A medication-adherence application combining behavioural science, gamification, and predictive analytics to encourage consistent medication use.

POP by Kwelio also received the overall title of Dubai’s App of the Year.

Startup Development Opportunities Through Oraseya Capital

The championship’s support extends beyond the competition itself. Finalists and semi-finalists from the Create Apps Championship will be offered direct entry to Oraseya Capital’s Launchpad, a six-month, in-person programme for early-stage startups preparing for investment.

Through structured guidance, expert support, and access to professional networks and resources, the programme helps founders improve their products, strengthen business models, and build early market traction.

Oraseya Capital is the venture capital arm of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), investing in startups from pre-seed through Series B.

This additional opportunity connects digital innovation with entrepreneurship, helping promising founders move closer to building sustainable businesses.

Dubai’s Growing Role in the Global AI Economy

Since its launch in 2023, the Create Apps Championship has evolved from an application development competition into a broader platform for technology entrepreneurship and business innovation.

The introduction of the Create AI Agents Championship marks another step in Dubai’s efforts to encourage the practical use of artificial intelligence, attract international talent, and develop solutions that address real-world needs.

By combining financial awards, training, mentorship, and opportunities for business development, the initiative aims to help innovators turn ideas into scalable AI products and services.

The championship reinforces Dubai’s ambition to become a leading global centre for AI innovation, digital entrepreneurship, and the commercial application of emerging technologies.

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