Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy recently hosted its inaugural ‘Design Thinking Hackathon,’ marking a significant milestone for the ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ initiative. This event was launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, with the aim of fostering innovation in the digital landscape.
The hackathon took place at Dubai Chambers headquarters and saw the attendance of more than 100 young Emiratis. Among the distinguished participants were Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, and Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.
The interactive workshop offered an excellent opportunity for the participants to explore the challenges and possibilities in developing smart applications. They engaged in discussions on effective strategies to bring their business ideas to fruition. Dubai Chamber’s President and CEO, Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, highlighted the significance of empowering the young Emirati talents and digital experts to achieve the UAE Digital Economy Strategy.
The strategy aims to prepare the nation’s talents to leverage technology and artificial intelligence for innovative economic opportunities. By doing so, it solidifies the UAE and Dubai’s positions as global hubs for talents and enterprises, asserting their leadership in the digital economy on both regional and global scales.
The Design Thinking Hackathon was a crucial step in achieving the goals of ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ initiative. By empowering the young generation, the initiative strives to enhance Dubai’s economy and foster a thriving business environment characterized by diversity and flexibility. Dubai’s economy has a unique foundation based on leveraging technology to drive growth and digital transformation across various sectors.
To further support this initiative, the event included inspirational speeches, a panel session, and activities introducing design thinking methodologies. It aimed to help participants identify and develop business ideas for mobile applications. The target audience comprised fresh graduates and digital entrepreneurs, with a focus on engaging future business leaders in the digital sector.
The ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ initiative aims to nurture the capabilities of national digital talent. The ambitious goal is to train 1,000 Emiratis in partnership with the private sector, ultimately tripling the number of app creators in the emirate by 2025. Additionally, the initiative supports the development of 100 new national projects for cutting-edge apps, which will be available in digital app stores over the next two years.
The demand for mobile apps continues to grow globally, with significant spending on apps and a substantial number of downloads in recent years. This presents exciting opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs, and talented young app developers, especially in the Middle East and Africa region.
The success of the ‘Design Thinking Hackathon’ and the ongoing efforts of the ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ initiative reaffirm Dubai’s commitment to becoming a leading global capital in the digital economy and advancing innovation in the region.
