Dubai’s app-building contest has turned into an AI agent competition. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced the Create AI Agents Championship on 7 October, with more than AED 2.5 million in prizes and registration open from day one to entrants anywhere in the world.
It replaces the Create Apps Championship, which the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy has run since 2023. According to the Dubai Media Office, that contest drew 15,564 applications from 153 countries over three editions, produced 1,700 prototypes and helped launch more than 140 apps. The new format asks for something harder than an app: an agent that can take a goal, plan the steps, use tools and act on a real user’s behalf. The organiser’s FAQ puts it plainly, describing an AI agent as “more than a chatbot”.
Who can enter
Eligibility is broad. Students, developers, founders and people with no technical background can all apply, and there’s no minimum age. You can enter alone or in a team of up to six, with an idea, a prototype or an early MVP. Existing companies may enter too, provided they’re pitching a new agent or capability; anything already fully on the market is out.
The rules carry a few conditions worth reading before you start. The agent has to be original and can’t be lifted from an existing repository, it must protect personal and organisational data, and all registration and submission material has to be in English. Entry is free, though you cover your own development costs. Each team member also registers individually to get access to the platform and learning material.
Categories and prize money
Entries compete in four categories:
| Category | What judges want |
|---|---|
| Best Societal AI Agent | Social impact: inclusion, education, sustainability, resilience |
| Best Personal AI Agent | Daily life: productivity, health, wellbeing, personal decisions |
| Best Business AI Agent | Public- or private-sector workflows, services and customer experience |
| Best Youth AI Agent | Same brief, but the lead applicant must be under 21 at registration |
Each category winner receives a grant of AED 550,000 (listed as USD 150,000 on the competition site). One of the four is then named AI Agent of the Year, and per the Dubai Media Office, that winner’s prize rises to AED 1 million. The championship website puts the total grant pot at USD 750,000.
Key dates
The timeline on the championship site runs for about seven months:
- October–November 2026: three open workshops on agentic AI. The Digital Academy opens in November with four advanced courses, four practical workshops and mentoring sessions.
- December 2026: registration closes.
- January 2027: deadline to submit your agent prototype, pitch deck and demo video. Per the organisers, you’ll be notified when submissions open.
- February–March 2027: semi-finalists announced, followed by pitch training and a semi-final pitch day; 12 finalists go through.
- First week of May 2027: grand final, where finalists must demonstrate a fully working agent live, not an MVP, to a jury, investors and government officials.
The workshops and webinars are recommended but optional. Semi-finalists and other high-potential teams also join a Tech Accelerator Programme for technical mentoring while they build.
Why Dubai is doing this
The championship sits alongside a wider push by Dubai Chambers on agentic AI, including a plan to train 14,000 companies in the technology. Sheikh Hamdan said the aim is “making Dubai the first city to lead innovation in this field”, with faster, more efficient public services as the stated goal.
For startups, the grant matters, but so do the connections. Past Create Apps finalists and semi-finalists have been offered direct entry to the Launchpad programme run by Oraseya Capital, the venture arm of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority. The organisers haven’t said whether AI agent finalists will get the same route. It’s one of several funding paths open to early-stage UAE AI companies, alongside programmes such as Mastercard’s Lighthouse programme.
At the same ceremony, the third Create Apps edition crowned its winners. POP by Kwelio, a medication-adherence app, was named Dubai’s App of the Year.
How do I register for the Create AI Agents Championship?
Sign up through the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s championship page before registration closes in December 2026. Registering gives you access to the competition platform, workshops and learning videos, and you’ll be told when submissions open.
Do I need to be in the UAE to take part?
No. The organisers say the competition is open regardless of age or location, though all entries must be in English. Finalists do have to demonstrate their agent live at the grand final in May 2027.
Can I enter more than one idea?
Yes. During the submission stage you can file more than one application without registering again, either alone or in a team of up to six.
