Dubai has launched the Create AI Agents Championship, a global competition inviting innovators, developers, entrepreneurs and students to build AI agents that solve real-world problems. With a prize pool exceeding AED 2.5 million, the championship aims to encourage the development of practical AI solutions across society, personal productivity, business and youth innovation.

Launched on 7 October 2026 by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the initiative represents the next stage in Dubai's ambition to strengthen its position as a global technology and innovation hub. The championship is led by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy under Dubai Chambers.

Unlike traditional app-building competitions, the focus is on AI agents — systems designed to plan tasks, use tools, make decisions and complete work with varying degrees of autonomy.

What Is the Create AI Agents Championship?

The Create AI Agents Championship is an international innovation competition focused on developing AI-powered agents that address meaningful challenges. Participants can enter with an idea, prototype or early minimum viable product (MVP), making the opportunity accessible to both experienced developers and people beginning their AI journey.

The competition builds on the Create Apps Championship and reflects the growing shift from conventional applications to intelligent systems that can perform tasks, assist users and improve workflows.

Potential applications include AI agents that help people access services, automate repetitive business operations, manage everyday tasks or develop innovative solutions to social challenges.

Prize Pool: More Than AED 2.5 Million

The championship offers grants across four categories, along with a special AI Agent of the Year award.

Each of the four category winners receives an AED 550,000 grant. One outstanding participant is also recognised as AI Agent of the Year, with an additional AED 1 million award.

The combined value of the four category grants and the top award is AED 3.2 million. Participants should consult the official competition rules for the precise award structure and eligibility conditions.

Explore the Four Competition Categories

1. Best Societal AI Agent

This category focuses on AI solutions that address social needs and improve people's lives. Participants can explore challenges in areas such as education, accessibility, public services, sustainability and community support.

For example, an AI agent could help people navigate essential services, support learners with personalised guidance or make information more accessible to underserved communities.

2. Best Personal AI Agent

Personal AI agents are designed to help individuals manage everyday activities and improve productivity.

Possible ideas include intelligent personal assistants, task-planning agents, learning companions and systems that organise schedules or simplify routine digital tasks.

The goal is to create solutions that provide practical value and make everyday activities easier to manage.

3. Best Business AI Agent

This category targets AI solutions that help businesses operate more efficiently, improve customer experiences and automate repetitive processes.

Ideas could include AI agents for customer support, sales operations, business research, inventory management, workflow coordination and data analysis.

Entrepreneurs and developers can use this category to demonstrate how agentic AI can address genuine business challenges rather than simply generate content or answer questions.

4. Best Youth AI Agent

The Youth category is intended for participants under 21. It encourages young innovators to explore artificial intelligence and develop solutions to real-world problems.

Students can participate with ideas or early-stage prototypes, giving them an opportunity to develop technical skills, experiment with AI technologies and present their work on an international platform.

Young participants should check the official rules for age verification, team composition and any additional requirements.

Who Can Participate?

The championship is designed to welcome innovators from around the world. According to the announced participation details, entry is free, and there is no general minimum age requirement, although the Youth category has its own age restrictions.

Key participation highlights include:

• Global participation: Open to eligible participants worldwide.

• Free entry: No competition entry fee is indicated.

• Individuals and teams: Participants can enter individually or in teams of up to six.

• Flexible development stage: Ideas, prototypes and early MVPs can be considered.

• Learning opportunities: Workshops, Digital Academy resources and mentorship are part of the announced programme.

Participants should review the official registration portal for complete eligibility requirements, submission guidelines, intellectual property provisions and any category-specific conditions.

How to Register for the Championship

Interested participants can begin by visiting the official Create AI Agents Championship registration page.

Step 1: Visit the official website

Go to https://dubaichamberdigital.com/en/create-ai-agents and review the competition information.

Step 2: Select a suitable category

Choose the category that best matches the problem your proposed AI agent will solve: Societal, Personal, Business or Youth.

Step 3: Define the problem

Identify a clear problem and explain who experiences it, why it matters and how an AI agent could provide a useful solution.

Step 4: Prepare your idea or prototype

Develop a clear concept, working prototype or early MVP. Explain how the agent will operate, what tools it may use and how its performance can be evaluated.

Step 5: Complete registration

Follow the instructions on the official portal and provide the requested information and project details.

Step 6: Participate in the programme

Use the available workshops, learning resources and mentorship opportunities to refine your project and prepare for the competition stages.

Registration deadlines and submission requirements may be updated. Check the official website for the latest information before applying.

Important Dates to Know

The announced timeline includes the following milestones:

The December registration deadline and May 2027 Grand Final are based on the announced details supplied for this guide. Confirm exact dates, submission cut-offs and event arrangements through the official competition website.

Why This Opportunity Matters for AI Developers and Startups in India

For developers, students, startup founders and technology teams in India, the Create AI Agents Championship offers an opportunity to develop solutions for an international audience.

India has a growing community of software developers, technology entrepreneurs and students experimenting with artificial intelligence. The championship provides a reason to move beyond basic chatbots and explore AI agents that can carry out useful tasks.

Developers can consider building agents that automate business workflows, support customers in multiple languages, simplify research, improve access to information or help small businesses manage routine operations.

Startups may also use the competition to test an early product concept, demonstrate its potential impact and receive feedback through the programme.

The strongest proposals are likely to be those that clearly explain the problem, demonstrate a practical solution and show how the AI agent can deliver measurable value.

What Makes a Strong AI Agent Project?

Before entering, participants should consider a few important principles:

Solve a real problem. Start with a specific user need instead of choosing a technology simply because it is popular.

Demonstrate useful actions. Explain what the agent can do, which tools it uses and where human approval is necessary.

Build a reliable prototype. A focused, working demonstration can make the idea easier to understand and evaluate.

Measure the outcome. Show how the solution could save time, reduce costs, improve access or increase productivity.

Consider safety and privacy. Explain how the agent handles sensitive information, avoids inappropriate actions and deals with errors.

A well-defined use case, clear demonstration and realistic implementation plan can help distinguish a practical AI agent from a general-purpose chatbot.

Final Thoughts

The Create AI Agents Championship signals a growing emphasis on AI systems that do more than answer questions. By encouraging participants to build agents that solve practical problems, the competition aims to support innovation across society, personal productivity, business and youth development.

With a substantial announced prize pool, global participation and a programme that includes learning and mentorship, it is an opportunity worth exploring for developers, students, founders and teams interested in agentic AI.

If you have an idea for an AI agent that can make a meaningful difference, review the eligibility rules, choose your category and prepare your project for submission.

Ready to participate?

Official registration and information: https://dubaichamberdigital.com/en/create-ai-agents

Note: Competition dates, eligibility, grant amounts and award conditions should be verified against the official rules before publication or registration.