Dubai launches Create AI Agents Championship with prizes over Dh2.5m
In short
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, launched the Create AI Agents Championship at an awards ceremony in Dubai on Wednesday, with total prize money exceeding Dh2.5 million. The competition accepts ideas, prototypes and minimum viable products from around the world, with Dh550,000 grants for winners of four categories and Dh1 million for an overall AI Agent of the Year.
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Dubai has launched the Create AI Agents Championship, announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. The announcement was made at a ceremony honouring the winners of the third edition of the Create Apps Championship at Emirates Towers Boulevard on Wednesday, according to WAM and The National. The new competition carries total prize money exceeding Dh2.5 million. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The championship shifts the focus to autonomous AI-agent systems designed to address real-world challenges, The National reported, and is open to entrants of all ages and backgrounds worldwide. Submissions may range from ideas and early-stage prototypes to minimum viable products; fully commercialised solutions are not eligible. Participants compete in four categories — Best Societal AI Agent, Best Personal AI Agent, Best Business AI Agent and Best Youth AI Agent, the last for those under 21. Each category winner receives a grant of Dh550,000 ($150,000), and one overall winner takes the AI Agent of the Year title and Dh1 million. Registration is open, with workshops and a Digital Academy offering training courses and mentorship planned through November and December. [ 4 ]
Sheikh Hamdan said the initiative would make Dubai “the first city to lead innovation in this field”, shaping future approaches to service delivery and placing people at the centre of technological advancement. He said Dubai’s development model, inspired by the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, focuses on enhancing human capabilities and enabling people to benefit from advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. He added that Dubai “will remain a platform for creativity that benefits the world at large”. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The championship is part of the Create Apps in Dubai initiative led by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. According to the chamber, the earlier Create Apps Championship has drawn 15,564 applications from 153 countries since launching in 2023, contributed to the development of more than 1,700 prototypes and supported the launch of over 140 applications. WAM reported that the third edition alone drew 9,754 entries from around the world. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
At the same ceremony, The National reported, POP by Kwelio — a smart medication-adherence app using behavioural science and predictive analytics — won both the Longevity App of the Year award and the title of Dubai’s App of the Year. [ 4 ]
The outlets differ on how the new competition relates to the old one. Emirates 24|7 and WAM describe the Create AI Agents Championship as marking a new phase of the Create Apps Championship, while The National describes it as replacing the app development competition. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The championship is run under the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s Create Apps in Dubai initiative, and the documents present it as part of the emirate’s push to lead in artificial intelligence and to shape future service delivery. Its organisers point to the previous competition’s reach — applications from 153 countries — indicating the programme is aimed at an international pool of developers rather than only local ones.
Key facts
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, launched the Create AI Agents Championship. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The launch was announced at an awards ceremony for the third edition of the Create Apps Championship at Emirates Towers Boulevard on Wednesday. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Total prize money for the new championship exceeds Dh2.5 million, with each of four category winners receiving Dh550,000 ($150,000) and one overall winner taking the AI Agent of the Year title and Dh1 million. [ 4 ]
- The four categories are Best Societal AI Agent, Best Personal AI Agent, Best Business AI Agent and Best Youth AI Agent, the last open to those under 21. [ 4 ]
- Entries may range from ideas and early-stage prototypes to minimum viable products; fully commercialised solutions are not eligible, and registration is open. [ 4 ]
- Across its three editions the Create Apps Championship has attracted 15,564 applications from 153 countries, contributed to more than 1,700 prototypes and supported the launch of over 140 applications, according to the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- POP by Kwelio, a medication-adherence app, won both the Longevity App of the Year award and the title of Dubai’s App of the Year at the same ceremony. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed launched the Create AI Agents Championship, announced at the Create Apps Championship awards ceremony in Dubai. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The Create Apps Championship, run under the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s Create Apps in Dubai initiative, has drawn 15,564 applications from 153 countries and supported more than 140 app launches since 2023. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the Create AI Agents Championship is a new phase of the Create Apps Championship or a replacement for it. Emirates 24|7 and WAM describe the new competition as a new phase of the Create Apps Championship, while The National says it replaces the app development competition.
- How many entries the third edition of the Create Apps Championship received. Only WAM states a figure, saying the third edition drew 9,754 entries from around the world.
- The deadline for registering for the new championship, and whether the Create Apps Championship will continue. The documents say registration is open and mention workshops in November and December, but give no closing date or say what happens to the earlier competition.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Emirates 24|7 reports the launch of the Create AI Agents Championship with a Dh2.5 million prize pool. [ 1 ]
- WAM reports Sheikh Hamdan’s announcement of the championship as winners of the third Create Apps Championship are honoured at Emirates Towers Boulevard. [ 2 ]
- The National reports the launch, adding prize, category and eligibility details and the winners of the Create Apps Championship. [ 4 ]