Sheikh Hamdan presents an award to one of the winners of the App Olympics in Dubai on Thursday. WAM

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Hamdan emphasised that the foundation that Dubai has created for its continuous development and prosperity has been guided by the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

The App Olympics is part of the ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ initiative launched by Sheikh Hamdan in March 2023, with the aim of reinforcing Dubai’s global leadership in digital technologies and the smart applications sector. The App Olympics attracted 1,100 applications, with 12 ideas being selected for the final stage of the contest.

Sheikh Hamdan issued directives to launch a global edition of the App Olympics, expanding the opportunity for innovators and developers of smart applications from around the world to participate in the next edition.

Sheikh Hamdan said, “Dubai has an ambitious vision and is taking proactive steps to enhance its position as a global hub for technology innovation. The city has created an exceptional platform for attracting digital talent from around the world. Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the city serves as an inspiring role model for nurturing ideas and innovations that shape the future.”

He stated, “Dubai continues to inspire the world and showcase its commitment to developing a comprehensive digital ecosystem, powered by advanced infrastructure that is capable of fostering innovative solutions to major global challenges.

“Empowering the technology sector is an integral part of efforts to achieve the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to establish Dubai as one of the world’s top three cities. The extensive participation of innovators and digital creatives from around the world in the App Olympics reflects Dubai's stature as a global hub for research, innovation, and opportunity and a leading city that offers sustainable growth and a high quality of life.”

He further said, “Dubai’s digital leadership is our top priority, and advancements in smart applications offer Dubai a new opportunity to excel on the global stage. The world’s confidence in Dubai as a hub for innovative digital ideas serves as powerful motivation to strengthen our efforts to position the emirate as a global leader in the digital economy.”

Sheikh Hamdan presented awards to the winners of the App Olympics across four categories. Following this, His Highness crowned Emudy as ‘Dubai’s App of the Year’ for its ground-breaking idea that assists students in preparing for their EmSATS exam to enter universities and apply for scholarships.

The award for the ‘Best Youth-Made App’ category was also presented to Emudy earlier in the ceremony. The award for the ‘Best Social Impact App’ was presented to The Intern, an app that connects college students with highly relevant internships as well as financial management and educational resources. Bareeq, an app that connects users with unique homemade products from their communities, received the award for the ‘Most Innovative App’ category. Takeem, an app that reduces the time, stress, and cost of long-term renting, was announced as the winner in the ‘Best Advanced App’ category.

The award ceremony was attended by Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy; Ahmed bin Byat, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy; Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers; Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation; Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy; and a number of officials from the government and private sectors.

Spearheaded by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three Chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, the App Olympics is part of the ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ initiative announced by Sheikh Hamdan.

The App Olympics received over 1,100 applications from all corners of the world, with international participants from 64 countries accounting for 30% of the entries submitted. The remaining 70% of entries were from UAE nationals and residents. A total of 247 ideas were chosen to participate in the App Olympics programme and compete across four categories, with 12 ideas selected to progress to compete in the final stage.