Dubai: The Higher Committee of Future Technology Development and Digital Economy have launched “Create Apps in Dubai,” an initiative aimed at fostering an innovation-driven ecosystem for digital applications in the emirate and making Dubai one of the most alluring locations for business opportunities by 2025.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. The introduction of “Create Apps in Dubai,” as per Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, is part of carrying out the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to develop initiatives that can elevate Dubai to the forefront of the global digital industry and usher in a brand-new era characterised by cutting-edge technologies and sciences.
Since launching Dubai Internet City, the emirate’s strategic investments in the digital sector have seen it becoming an important player in the global technological landscape, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed stated.
With the help of governmental organisations and tech firms, the “Build Apps in Dubai” initiative, run by the Dubai Chamber for Digital Economy, aims to train a chosen group of 1,000 UAE citizens in Dubai in collaboration with the private sector. In order to empower and enable these UAE nationals to play significant roles in achieving the nation’s digital vision, the initiative will identify priority sectors and support development initiatives. The plan also aims to assist 100 new national initiatives for the creation of cutting-edge apps that will be made available in digital app stores over the following 24 months, as well as triple the number of app developers by 2025.
Growth and innovation in the industry have been gaining traction, with worldwide smartphone sales revenues surpassing $448 billion and two million new applications and games generated in 2021. Consumers spent more than $160 billion on applications, and in 2021 there were 230 billion downloads of applications, opening up a plethora of new options for investors, business owners, and technology specialists.
In the Middle East and Africa, there were more than 157 million financial and business applications downloaded in 2021, an increase of 182 percent from 2018, and user spending on the top 25 electronic apps climbed by 6.5 times from 2018 to 2021. By building a solid digital infrastructure, crafting laws that encourage the creation of apps, and implementing government incentives, Dubai is attempting to take advantage of new growth potential in the industry.