Dubai has launched the Create AI Agents Championship, replacing the Create Apps Championship as the emirate shifts its startup push from apps to autonomous AI agents, Dubai Media Office said.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced the competition at Emirates Towers Boulevard while winners of the third Create Apps Championship were honoured. The programme is run by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.
What is on offer
There are four categories: Best Societal AI Agent, Best Personal AI Agent, Best Business AI Agent and Best Youth AI Agent, the last open to under-21s. Each category winner receives a grant of Dh550,000 ($150,000). One overall winner is named AI Agent of the Year and receives Dh1 million. Total prize money exceeds Dh2.5 million, The National reported.
Who can enter
Entry is open worldwide to individuals and teams, technical or not, with no minimum age. Ideas, prototypes and early-stage products qualify, and existing companies may enter new AI-agent capabilities. Fully launched, commercialised solutions are excluded, Khaleej Times reported. Workshops, mentoring and online learning are offered to newcomers.
Why it matters for business
The predecessor competition drew 15,564 applications from 153 countries over three editions, produced 1,700 prototypes and helped launch more than 140 apps, according to Dubai Media Office. Moving the format to AI agents signals where Dubai wants its next wave of founders, and its grant money, to go. Registration is open on the chamber's site.