Dubai awards 100,000 dirhams in a new technology competition

Aspiring entrepreneurs from around the world have been invited to participate in a competition and win AED 100,000 to help launch their venture. The six-week royalty-free accelerator program led by the Department of Tourism and Trade Marketing (DTCM) aims to tap into the creative startup community by inviting technology startups into the industry. Yousef Lootah, Executive Director of Tourism Development and Investments at Dubai Tourism, said: “Since the inception of the Futurism program in 2017, Dubai Tourism has helped highlight many pioneering startups from around the world, supporting them to become true success stories, as their solutions have led to impactful improvements in the travel and tourism sector.”

The Futurism program is part of the Dubai 10X initiative by the Dubai government to accelerate the city 10 years earlier than others. He said: "The launch of the third edition is a testament to the program's continued success and the great interest it has gained among Dubai Tourism partners, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and stakeholders within the emerging tourism ecosystems. The Futurism program forms part of our ongoing efforts to push Dubai's tourism industry into the digital era, ensuring its leading position as a global destination."

This year's Futurism program invites entrepreneurs to submit applications by July 31, 2019, which can be accessed on the DTCM website. Dubai Tourism said in a statement: “DTCM and its network of partners will mentor rising stars and collaborate with them to help identify opportunities. Then, in the final week of the program, applicants pitched their ideas on stage at GITEX Technology Week where the winners received a cash prize.”

“GITEX Technology Week will run from 6 to 10 October 2019 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. A judging panel comprising leading technology experts, Dubai Tourism leadership and partners across the industry will select the top 10 startups from all entries submitted in the process. The startups will present their unique concepts to a group of business owners, investors and venture capitalists at Dubai Tourism’s pavilion at GITEX Future Stars, which will be hosted later this year.

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