The third edition of the Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Forum, organized by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, concluded by spotlighting the next wave of creative startups in the emirate. The two-day forum served as a hub for entrepreneurs, industry specialists, and SMEs to connect, learn, and grow, culminating in the announcement of the winners of the Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Competition.
The competition is designed to support emerging ventures and encourage innovative ideas that contribute to Dubai’s thriving creative economy.
The Winners Circle
Three startups were crowned winners, receiving a total of AED 160,000 in cash prizes to fuel their growth. The winners are:
- First Place (AED 80,000): Hamad Khoory, founder of Badawees, a company specializing in producing digital games inspired by local Emirati heritage.
- Second Place (AED 50,000): Sophia Camilday, founder of the Art Deeb platform, which organizes art and film workshops, cultural evenings, and diverse creative events.
- Third Place (AED 30,000): Nizar Ahmadi, founder and CEO of MADE, a platform dedicated to the music, art, and entertainment sectors, enabling creatives in the UAE to connect directly with talent seekers.
A Comprehensive Support Package
Beyond the cash prizes, the winners secured a valuable package of in-kind support from the forum’s partners. This includes investment guidance and venture capital support from Eurasia Capital, branding support and an office visit from LinkedIn, and a $500 credit on the Zoho platform.
Further support includes a three-month membership at the in5 business incubator, a three-month discount on co-working space from Innovate, a 20% discount on an event at Ibbicon Capital Club, professional mentoring sessions from TiE Dubai, a one-hour manufacturing consultation from Make Works UAE, and a one-month gold membership from Letswork.
Forum Highlights And Industry Insights
The forum’s agenda featured a series of high-level panel discussions and specialized workshops. Highlights included “Animating the Future,” a session by Lammtara Pictures’ Mohammed Saeed Harib on the role of storytelling in shaping creative entrepreneurship. Another key session, “Co-authoring Tomorrow: Scripting the Human Story with AI,” featured a dialogue between bestselling author and former Google X CBO, Mohamed Gawdat, and media consultant Omar Butti.
Workshops provided attendees with practical skills, including a session on optimizing LinkedIn profiles by Bilal Maasrani, a discussion on empathetic entrepreneurial thinking by DIDI’s Elmar Schuller, and a legal session on protecting intellectual property for creatives by Mariam Rico Rodriguez from Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism.
About Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Competition
The Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Competition is an initiative by Dubai Culture aimed at fostering the growth of Dubai’s creative industries. The competition received a large number of applications, with seven startups shortlisted to pitch to a distinguished jury. The judging panel included Ahmed Al Fahim of the Dubai Sports Council, Neha Kaura of Abdul Wahid Al Rostamani Group, Fatma Ahmed of the Mohammed bin Rashid Innovation Fund, and John Shehady of Wright. Projects were evaluated based on creativity, market competitiveness, sustainability, and their potential impact on the cultural and creative sector.
Source: Albayan.ae
