Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy Makes Strides in Advancing the Digital Industries
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, a key player in Dubai’s digital landscape, has showcased its significant achievements during the first quarter of 2024. The chamber’s efforts are aimed at propelling the digital industries in the emirate to meet the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and solidify Dubai’s status as a global hub for the digital economy.
One of the standout initiatives undertaken by the chamber was the ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ program, which saw 200 Emiratis undergo training in app development. This initiative, spearheaded by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, aims to bolster digital capabilities in the UAE.
A highlight of the program was the ‘App Olympics’ competition, which attracted over 1,100 applications from 64 countries, with 30% of entries coming from international participants. The competition culminated in a special awards ceremony at the Museum of the Future in February, where His Highness honored the winners. The success of the competition prompted the announcement of a global edition of the App Olympics to engage innovators and developers worldwide in the next edition.
The ‘Create Apps in Dubai’ initiative sets ambitious targets to train 1,000 Emiratis in collaboration with the private sector, triple the number of app developers in Dubai by 2025, and support 100 new national projects for mobile application development. The program aims to leverage growth opportunities in the digital sector by establishing a robust digital infrastructure, creating a supportive legislative framework, and offering government incentives to drive sectoral growth.
In addition to training initiatives, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy supported 45 high-potential digital startups in establishing and expanding their businesses in the emirate. The chamber also inked four MoUs with partners to provide tailored services and solutions for tech and digital companies looking to set up and scale up in Dubai.
Commenting on the chamber’s achievements, His Excellency Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, emphasized Dubai’s commitment to enhancing its digital ecosystem and attracting global businesses and investors. The goal is to generate an annual contribution of AED 100 billion to the emirate’s economy from digital transformation projects, in alignment with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).
Looking ahead, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and Dubai World Trade Centre launched the international promotional campaign for Expand North Star 2024, the world’s largest event for startups and investors. The event, scheduled to take place at Dubai Harbour from 13 – 16 October, aims to bring together innovators and investors from around the world.
The chamber’s active participation in key events, such as the ‘1 Billion Followers Summit’ in Dubai, underscores its strategic role in fostering the growth of the digital industries in the emirate. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and capacity building, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy is poised to drive the digital transformation agenda in Dubai and reinforce its position as a global digital powerhouse.