Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy launches App Olympics

Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, has launched the App Olympics, a new competition designed to accelerate Dubai’s journey to become the mobile app development capital of the world.

The competition is part of the ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ initiative that was launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, in March.

The App Olympics was announced during the opening day of Expand North Star in Dubai. It is overseen by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and supported by government entities and leading technology companies.

Create Apps in Dubai has developed a series of initiatives aimed at further strengthening the emirate’s position as a global leader in the digital domain.

“The App Olympics represents another important step in developing the capabilities of the talented app developers who will help shape Dubai’s ambitious future,” said Saeed Al Gergawi, vice president of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.

Al Gergawi said by inspiring tomorrow’s digital talent, the 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 UAE nationals and residents as well as global tech startups interested in establishing a presence in Dubai.

The initiative enables participants to learn about app development, build mobile applications, and compete for major prizes and awards that accelerate business growth.

App Olympics’ challenge

The multi-phase challenge encourages aspiring digital entrepreneurs to submit their mobile app development ideas and benefit from expert support during their structured learning journey in the world of app development.

Each finalist will have the opportunity to showcase their application through a one-minute promotional video, followed by a four-minute pitch presentation.

The App Olympics enables participants to benefit from complimentary access to a tailored package of mobile app development training modules and compete for a chance to build a fully funded application.

Contestants will also receive mentorship from industry experts and have access to prototyping tools to facilitate the creation of their products.

The competition also provides opportunities to attend exclusive events and connect with potential investors.

‘Create Apps in Dubai’ seeks to train more than 1,000 Emiratis on the fundamentals of coding, building mobile applications, and business creation models through its ‘Emirati Training Academy.’

The App Olympics seeks to triple the number of app developers in Dubai by 2025. It will support 100 new national projects for the development of cutting-edge applications, which will be made available in digital app stores over the coming two years.

Meanwhile, Expand North Star, the world’s largest start-up show, organised by Dubai World Trade Centre as part of GITEX Global has opened in Dubai.

The four-day event is set to attract more than 1,800 startup exhibitors from more than 100 countries, together with around 1,000 investors with a combined total of over $1tn under management.

Read: Expand North Star 2023: A global stage for startups at Dubai Harbour