Dubai Chambers has launched the Create AI Agents Championship, a global competition designed to empower students, entrepreneurs, developers, startups, and innovators to transform real-world challenges into practical artificial intelligence solutions. The initiative provides participants with opportunities to develop AI agents, access expert mentorship, strengthen business ideas, and compete for substantial funding to support the growth of their innovations.
Launched on 7 October 2026, the Championship welcomes both technical and non-technical participants, offering a platform to explore agentic AI and develop solutions with commercial potential. With four award categories and a USD 150,000 grant for each category winner, the competition aims to accelerate innovation and support the development of AI-driven businesses in Dubai and beyond.
Four Award Categories, Four Opportunities
The Championship features four categories, each targeting a distinct area of AI innovation. Every category winner will receive a USD 150,000 grant to support the development and growth of their AI agent solution and business.
1. Best Societal AI Agent
This category recognises AI agents designed to address meaningful societal challenges. Participants are encouraged to develop solutions that improve communities, enhance public wellbeing, or simplify everyday life. Successful projects should demonstrate how AI can create measurable social impact in Dubai and internationally.
2. Best Personal AI Agent
This category focuses on AI agents that improve individual experiences and everyday activities. Potential applications include health and wellbeing, personal productivity, time management, and other tools that help people manage their daily responsibilities more effectively.
3. Best Business AI Agent
This category recognises AI agents developed for public- and private-sector organisations. Solutions may improve operational efficiency, automate processes, strengthen decision-making, enhance customer experiences, or improve service delivery. Entries should demonstrate clear business value and measurable outcomes.
4. Best Youth AI Agent, Top Youth-Led Venture
This award celebrates emerging AI talent and promising young founders. Eligible solutions must be developed by participants under 21 years of age at registration. Team entries must be youth-led, with the lead applicant meeting the same age requirement.
In addition to the four category awards, one winner will receive the overall title of Dubai AI Agent of the Year.
Who Can Participate?
The competition is open to UAE residents and international participants interested in developing AI solutions and expanding into the regional market. Students, entrepreneurs, technology enthusiasts, developers, startup founders, and innovators from different industries are encouraged to participate.
There is no minimum age for general participation, although the Youth category has specific eligibility requirements. Entries may be submitted individually or in teams of up to six members.
Each submission must present an original AI agent solution at the idea, prototype, or early minimum viable product stage. Fully commercialised solutions are not eligible, although existing businesses may participate by proposing a new AI agent capability.
Projects must not be copied from existing repositories and must include appropriate safeguards for personal, confidential, and organisational information. Although early-stage concepts are accepted initially, finalists must demonstrate a fully functional AI agent at the Grand Final rather than an MVP.
How the Championship Works
The competition follows four core development stages: identifying a genuine problem, building an AI agent, validating its potential, and demonstrating its value.
Participants begin by identifying a real challenge, understanding the needs of affected users, and defining the outcomes their AI agents should achieve. They then design solutions capable of reasoning, planning, using tools, and taking appropriate actions.
The validation stage focuses on demonstrating customer demand, commercial viability, and measurable impact. This process helps participants transform promising ideas into solutions with practical applications and sustainable business potential.
Competition Timeline
October–November 2026: Explore
Registration opened on 7 October 2026. Participants can attend three live Agentic AI workshops to explore opportunities and identify potential applications. Ten short Digital Academy videos are scheduled for November to introduce AI agent fundamentals.
November 2026–January 2027: Build
Participants can access four advanced training courses, four practical workshops, and mentorship opportunities. Registration is scheduled to close in January 2027, when applicants must submit their AI agent prototype, pitch deck, and demonstration video.
January–March 2027: Accelerate and Compete
Twenty-four teams will advance to the semi-final stage. Selected teams will enter the Tech Accelerator Programme, receiving technical guidance and support to develop, test, and improve their solutions. Pitch training will precede the semi-final presentations in March, followed by the announcement of 12 finalists.
April–May 2027: Grand Final Preparation and Awards
Finalists will receive intensive pitch training and refine their business cases. Twelve finalists are expected to demonstrate fully functional AI agents before an independent jury, investors, and industry decision-makers at the Grand Final, scheduled for the first week of May 2027.
Training, Mentorship, and Funding
The Championship provides access to workshops, online learning resources, technical mentorship, pitch preparation, and accelerator support. Although participation in training activities is recommended rather than compulsory, these resources can help applicants strengthen their solutions and prepare for evaluation.
Each category winner will receive USD 150,000, creating opportunities to develop products, expand operations, and establish commercially viable AI businesses.
Registration and Further Information
Interested participants should register through the official Dubai Chambers Create AI Agents Championship platform and monitor official communication channels for updates, eligibility details, and submission requirements.
For enquiries, the organising team can be contacted at createaiagents@dubaichamber.com.
The Create AI Agents Championship offers a significant opportunity for innovators to combine artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and practical problem-solving while developing solutions with global potential.
