The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, a key player in the emirate’s innovation ecosystem, has launched the “App Olympics,” an exciting competition aimed at accelerating Dubai’s journey to becoming the capital of mobile app development worldwide.
This ambitious initiative was officially unveiled during the opening day of Expand North Star, a prestigious event that gathered thousands of startups and investors at the picturesque Dubai Harbour from October 15 to 18, 2023. Expand North Star, hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy as part of GITEX Global, is the largest congregation of its kind and promises to be a game-changer for the tech and entrepreneurship scene.
The App Olympics is a critical component of the broader “Create Apps in Dubai” initiative, originally announced in March by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai. This comprehensive effort is managed by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and enjoys extensive support from government entities and leading tech companies. It seeks to reinforce Dubai’s standing as a global leader in the digital domain.
Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, emphasised the App Olympics’ significance. He stated, “The App Olympics represents another important step in developing the capabilities of the talented app developers who will help shape Dubai’s ambitious future. By inspiring tomorrow’s digital talent, this competition will play a key role in bringing the wise leadership’s vision for the digital economy to life and contribute to the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).”
The competition is open to a diverse range of participants, including UAE nationals, residents from any emirate, and global tech startups interested in establishing a foothold in Dubai. These participants will have the chance to learn about app development, build mobile applications, and compete for substantial prizes and awards that can significantly boost their business growth.
The App Olympics unfolds in multiple phases that encourage aspiring digital entrepreneurs to submit their mobile app development ideas and receive expert support during their structured learning journey in the realm of app development. The grand finale of the competition will take place during Dubai Innovation Month in February 2024, where each finalist will showcase their application through a one-minute promotional video and a four-minute pitch presentation. A distinguished panel of judges will include experts from sectors such as banking, venture capital, government entities, and the private sector. The competition will also provide opportunities for participants to attend exclusive events and connect with potential investors.
Participation in the App Olympics comes with a host of benefits. Contestants will enjoy complimentary access to a tailored package of mobile app development training modules and the opportunity to build a fully funded application. Moreover, they will receive mentorship from industry experts and have access to prototyping tools to facilitate the creation of their products.
The “Create Apps in Dubai” initiative, led by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, has ambitious goals. It aims to train over 1,000 Emiratis on the fundamentals of coding, mobile app development, and business creation models through its “Emirati Training Academy.” Additionally, the initiative seeks to triple the number of app developers in Dubai by 2025 and support the development of 100 new national projects for cutting-edge applications to be made available in digital app stores over the next two years.
