One team flew for 55 hours from Nicaragua just to take part. According to Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, they made the journey because they believe Dubai offers the right platform to serve global economies. That story says a lot about how far the Create Apps Championship has come, and about the shift from apps to AI agents that is now shaping its next chapter.
A Warm Welcome for New Ideas
Three editions in, the Create Apps Championship is reinventing itself as the Create AI Agents Championship. The goal is to encourage innovators to build systems that do more than answer questions: they carry out tasks and make decisions on their own. The change was announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, as this year’s winners were honoured on 7 October, with an ambition to lead innovation in this field.
Why the Shift From Apps to AI Agents Makes Sense
A chatbot answers a question. An AI agent can be given a goal and work towards it, checking, booking, filing, and following up with limited human input. Apps put services on the phone, while agents can use those services on the user’s behalf. For a competition built on apps, the move from apps to AI agents is a natural next step.
Growth Worth Celebrating
The shift from apps to AI agents builds on real momentum. The contest began as a local competition in 2023 and has grown quickly:
- 15,564 applications from 153 countries so far
- 9,754 applications this year alone, more than the first two editions combined
- 1,700 prototypes developed
- More than 140 live apps
- More than 250 mentors from around the world, according to Al Gergawi
The second and third editions opened the contest to the world, and the third drew entrants from as far as Central America.
Voices From Founders
Founders who have been through the championship are already building with this technology as the move from apps to AI agents gathers pace. Rakesh Mavath, co-founder of Takeem and a winner from the first edition, said agentic AI matters because it makes things easier for consumers. He added that his team also uses it behind the scenes for tasks such as administration, content marketing and go-to-market work, which the public rarely sees.
Who Runs the Championship
The championship is run by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of three chambers under Dubai Chambers. It was set up to attract digital companies, talent and investment to the emirate. The new format is part of a wider push to accelerate the use of agentic AI across Dubai’s business community.
How It Works
Entrants are asked to take four steps:
- Find a real problem
- Build an AI agent to solve it
- Test its impact
- Show how it could become a business
Saeed Al Gergawi said he wants the championship to give anyone with an idea, and any business, a level playing field with the rest of the world. He also said AI tools can help small startups compete with large corporates, and that he hopes entrants use agentic AI to benefit humanity, businesses and society.
From Years to Months
Speed is a big part of the appeal. The idea is that innovators can prove a concept in Dubai and then take it to their own home markets. The target is to shrink a journey that usually takes years into less than six months.
Open to Everyone, Including the Young
There is no minimum age to enter, and no need to write a line of code. Teenagers can compete alongside start-ups and established firms. Al Gergawi believes young people have an advantage because they can move quickly.
The Prizes
Each of the four category winners, covering societal, personal, business, and youth agents, receives around AED 550,000 (about €128,000). One of them is named AI Agent of the Year and receives around AED 1 million (about €232,000).
Why This Evolution Deserves Appreciation
The move from apps to AI agents deserves appreciation for several reasons:
- It keeps the door open to newcomers of every age
- It encourages ideas that solve real problems and can grow into businesses
- It gives smaller companies a chance to compete with larger ones
- It has already reached innovators in 153 countries
Conclusion
The journey from apps to AI agents shows how a local contest can grow into a global invitation. By welcoming young people, small teams, and experienced founders alike, Dubai is giving good ideas a place to start and the support to grow.
If you have an idea you would like to shape for the AI agent era, Horizontal8 is here to help. Reach out to Horizontal8 today, and let’s talk about your next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is changing about the championship?Â
The Create Apps Championship is becoming the Create AI Agents Championship, focused on systems that carry out tasks and make decisions on their own.
What is the difference between a chatbot and an AI agent?Â
A chatbot answers a question, while an AI agent can be given a goal and work towards it with limited human input.
Is there an age limit or a coding requirement?Â
There is no minimum age to enter, and no need to write a line of code.
How much can winners receive?Â
Each of the four category winners receives around AED 550,000, and the AI Agent of the Year receives around AED 1 million.
What are entrants asked to do?Â
They must find a real problem, build an AI agent to solve it, test its impact, and show how it could become a business.