Dubai Tourism looks to startups to help revolutionise the city’s tourism sector

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has announced a strategic collaboration with GITEX Future Stars to launch the first-ever Dubai Tourism Startup Competition with a focus on ‘Futurism’.

It is inviting bright minds and innovators from around the world to submit ideas and business plans that will help revolutionise the city’s travel and tourism sectors.

The competition is in line with the Dubai 10X initiative launched under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which is guiding the emirate’s journey towards becoming a global hub for innovation in the next 10 years.

It is also an effort towards discovering innovative solutions and facilitating further growth of the startup ecosystem in alignment with Dubai’s Tourism Vision 2020 – the strategy for attracting 20 million visitors per year by 2020.

Speaking about the Dubai Tourism Futurism Competition, Yousuf Lootah, executive director – tourism development & investments, Dubai Tourism, said: “Dubai has grown to become the business capital of the region and through the launch of the first-ever Dubai Tourism Futurism Competition we aim to continue to encourage pioneering thinking, and offer a platform for startups to succeed.

He added: “As we progress towards the future, startups play a crucial role not only in the growth of the economy, but also in discovering solutions to meet evolving needs and tackle industry gaps. We are proud to collaborate with GITEX Future Stars to drive entrepreneurship forward, and are committed to building an environment that will help nurture innovative ideas and facilitate success.”

The Futurism competition features two key categories – hospitality and visitor experience – for which individuals and startups can submit innovative ideas and business plans.

Each submission will be judged by a panel of experts and a shortlist of the top 30 submissions will be awarded exhibition space at this year’s GITEX Technology Week, which will take place in Dubai from 8-12 October. The initiative will provide a platform for the shortlisted candidates to showcase their innovative solutions to attending conglomerates, investors and venture capitalists.

Ultimately, three winners will be selected in each category who will receive access to Dubai Tourism experts, as well as industry leaders to transform their vision into reality. A total prize value of US$100,000 has also been allocated to be distributed to the six winners as initial startup capital.