The window is closing for global innovators to submit their ideas to Dubai’s 3rd edition of Create Apps Championship , with big prizes, mentorship and new “Longevity” prize on offer.
Dubai is once again opening its doors to app creators from across the world. The 3rd edition of the Create Apps Championship — run by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy (DCDE) as part of the broader Create Apps in Dubai programme — is now accepting global entries, offering opportunities for global students, entrepreneurs, app-curious innovators, and experienced developers to turn their ideas into live apps with funding, mentorship and support.
The message is clear: Dubai wants to be a magnet for digital talent. And, with registrations closing on 28th December 2025, time is of the essence for those ready to pitch.
What’s on offer: funding, mentorship and real chances to launch
The Championship brings serious incentives. As well as competing for a share of the total €580,000 prize pool (AED 2.5 million, at time of publication), applicants from anywhere in the world — aged 14 and above — are offered access to substantial resources, mentorship and technical support to help turn their concept into a viable product.
Four winners – one in each of the competition’s main categories – will receive a share of the prize money to support development, prototyping and market launch. This year’s categories are Best Youth App (for creators under the age of 21), Most Impactful App, Most Innovative App and – a new addition for 2025 – Longevity App of the Year (for ideas that tackle health challenges).
For the Grand Prize, the four category winners will then go head to head, pitching their ideas on stage in front of government leaders to be crowned “App of the Year” – the top ranked app overall – and awarded €230,000 (AED 1 million) of the total prize pot.
Beyond funding, applicants also get support in the form of mentorship, business-building workshops, and professional guidance: with access to a dedicated hub hosting expert training, best-practice advice, and market-entry support. Applicants don’t need prior coding experience to apply – there’s the opportunity to learn programming basics through the initiative’s training programmes.
App creators get insight into business licensing and access to a network of partners and clients — a package designed to turn promising ideas into real, scalable companies.
Why Create Apps exists: Dubai’s bet on global talent
Since its 2023 launch, the challenge has attracted more than 5,800 applications and helped launch over 55 mobile apps into the market. Organisers say the Championship continues to “draw exceptional minds and talents from around the world”, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global magnet for digital talent.
H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy says of the contest: “Through this challenge, we continue to attract exceptional talent to Dubai’s innovation‑driven environment, which serves as an advanced model in keeping pace with the rapid changes in the digital applications sector, one of the fastest‑growing and most influential sectors in the global economy.”
That reach and ambition reflect a broader strategy for Emirati growth— under the vision of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum — to build a sustainable, globally-connected digital economy. The Create Apps initiative is key to this, turning Dubai into a global hub of app‑economy innovation.
Become a leader of the digital global economy
The introduction of the “Longevity” category hints at where Dubai sees future growth in the digital economy — health and wellness tech, lifestyle tools, and socially conscious applications — reflecting global trends and an appetite for solutions that improve lives.
For aspiring app creators everywhere, this Championship offers more than just prize money. It offers access to a complete launchpad: mentorship, business support, exposure to global markets and the potential to embed an idea within one of the world’s fastest-growing digital ecosystems.
If you’re sitting on an idea, this is a moment worth grabbing.
Competition process and how to apply
- Registrations are open until 28th December 2025 via the Create Apps Championship website, with the full application (including the ABC form, Pitch Deck and Prototype) to be submitted by 4th January 2026 (check the official site for more details).
- Both solo entries and teams (up to six members) are allowed.
- Applicants are expected to submit original app ideas — not fully developed apps. The competition is aimed at ideation or early-stage prototypes.
- For participants without coding experience, the competition provides access to a “learning hub” — offering courses and AI tools, workshops and mentorship to help turn ideas into prototypes.
Register on the Create Apps Championship website today.