UAE launches digital talent initiative and AI agent competition

The United Arab Emirates is launching several initiatives to advance its artificial intelligence and digital capabilities. In Abu Dhabi, the UAE Government Artificial Intelligence Office and the Mawaheb Talent Hub have introduced the Abu Dhabi Digital Talent initiative. This program aims to bridge the gap between academic study and the workforce by providing university students with professional training and practical experience in collaboration with global technology firms.

Simultaneously, Dubai has announced the Create AI Agents Championship, an international competition organized by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. The contest offers a total prize pool exceeding 2.5 million AED to encourage the development of agentic AI systems capable of performing complex tasks. The competition features four categories—societal impact, personal, business, and youth-led—and provides participants with mentorship and advanced training to transform prototypes into commercially viable products.