Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed launched the Create AI Agents Championship on Wednesday at a ceremony on Emirates Towers Boulevard, unveiling a global competition with prize money exceeding Dh2.5 million ($680,000).
The contest replaces the Create Apps Championship, which ran since 2023 and drew more than 15,564 app submissions from 153 countries. The new championship is open worldwide to participants of all ages and will run across four categories: Best Societal AI Agent, Best Personal AI Agent, Best Business AI Agent, and Best Youth AI Agent for entrants under 21.
Category winners will receive Dh550,000 ($150,000) each, while the overall AI Agent of the Year award carries a Dh1 million ($272,000) prize. Entries can range from early-stage ideas to working prototypes or minimum viable products.
Sheikh Hamdan, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, said Dubai aims to be the first city to lead innovation in artificial intelligence, framing the championship as part of the emirate's broader push to position itself as a global AI hub.
Registration opened immediately, with related workshops scheduled to run from November through December, giving participants time to refine submissions before judging.
At the same ceremony, the Kwelio-developed app POP picked up two awards, Longevity App of the Year and Dubai's App of the Year, underscoring the breadth of recognition handed out during the event alongside the championship launch.