The Smart Apps Olympiad Attracts Over 1100 Participants from Around the World to Dubai
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has been attracting the attention of innovators and entrepreneurs from around the world. It has received more than 1,100 applications for participation in the “Smart Apps Olympiad,” launched as part of the “Apply in Dubai” initiative announced by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.
This Olympiad is part of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s efforts to enhance Dubai’s status as one of the leading digital hubs globally, support the success of Dubai’s digital ecosystem, and accelerate the transformation of the emirate into a leading digital economy. This aligns with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).
The “Smart Apps Olympiad” aims to bolster Dubai’s leadership in smart app development and attract creative talents in this vital field. Participants are encouraged to present their ideas for developing mobile applications, benefit from the support of experts and specialists in the field, and compete for prizes that will help accelerate business growth.
The Olympiad witnessed wide international participation, with 31% of the applications coming from international participants from 64 countries. The ideas for applications varied, with the education sector receiving the largest share, followed by healthcare, sustainability, logistics, and others.
After a meticulous evaluation process, 247 ideas were selected to compete in the qualification stages over six months, where all participants benefited from various training courses.
Upon completion of the first phase, 24 ideas will be selected to compete in the second phase, and then 12 ideas will compete in the final award ceremony, scheduled for the end of February.
At this ceremony, four winners will be selected, each receiving a prize of $150,000, along with comprehensive support from the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, aiming to transform their ideas into successful startups.
Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, emphasized the Olympiad’s importance as a unique opportunity for innovators, to support the transformation of ideas into emerging digital companies. This contributes to enhancing Dubai’s attractiveness to creative minds and entrepreneurs worldwide.
The “Apply in Dubai” initiative works to consolidate Dubai’s position in the digital technology sector by training citizens and supporting them in efficiently building mobile applications, increasing the number of app developers, and supporting new national projects.
With these efforts, Dubai reaffirms its commitment to transforming ideas into successful projects and enhancing its role as one of the world’s most important digital hubs.
