Celebrating the individuals, projects and organisations turning ambitious ideas into tangible results
Dubai has launched a new annual award celebrating the people and organisations that do more than come up with big ideas, they turn them into action.
The first-ever Dubai-it Award opens for nominations on Monday, 10 August, giving individuals, companies and organisations until 10 September, 2026 to put forward achievements they believe deserve recognition.
Based on Dubai’s “Dubai-it” philosophy of action, speed and excellence, the award will shine a spotlight on achievements that have delivered tangible results and created a meaningful impact.
What is the Dubai-it Award?
The Dubai-it Award has been launched under the directives of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
The idea behind the award is straightforward: don’t just have an ambitious idea, make it happen.
It will therefore consider the journey from an initial vision, challenge or opportunity through to the final result, with an emphasis on execution, speed, quality and impact.
Who can be nominated?
The award is open across three main segments: Individuals, Projects, and Institutions & Companies.
Individuals can nominate themselves or someone else, while companies and organisations can put forward projects, teams or individuals who played an important role in delivering an achievement.
For the inaugural edition, achievements delivered during the past four years are eligible for consideration.
What areas does the award cover?
The Dubai-it Award spans 10 fields, covering a broad range of sectors that contribute to Dubai’s development.
These include Government, Real Estate, Economy, Business, Technology, Sports, Society, Education, Services and Health.
That means the award could recognise everything from a major property development or business transformation to a technology breakthrough, sporting achievement, education initiative or project that has made a difference to the wider community.
What does it take to be a Dubai-it achievement?
The award isn’t simply about having a clever idea.
Judges will look at what was actually delivered and how it was achieved. The assessment will consider the significance of the achievement, the standard of execution, the speed and efficiency of delivery and how closely it reflects Dubai’s culture of action.
They will also consider whether the achievement successfully turned a vision into tangible results, the impact it has created, its sustainability and potential for future growth, and whether it could inspire or provide a model for others.
Essentially, the award is about turning ambition into results.
What do you need to submit?
Nominees will need to tell the story behind their achievement, including the challenge or opportunity that prompted it, the steps taken to make it happen, the results delivered and the impact it created.
Supporting material can include performance figures, reports, photographs, certificates, media coverage and other relevant documentation.
The award team may also contact nominees for additional information or conduct interviews as part of the assessment process.
When do nominations open?
Nominations for the inaugural Dubai-it Award open on 10 August, 2026, and close on 10, September, 2026.
The first edition will consider achievements from the previous four years. From the second edition onwards, the eligibility period will focus on achievements delivered during the preceding 24 months.
How can you nominate?
Nominations can be submitted through the official Dubai-it Award digital platform.
You can put yourself forward or nominate another individual, while companies and organisations can nominate projects, teams or individuals involved in an achievement.
Nominate through the official Dubai-it Award website
What happens after the first edition?
The Dubai-it Award is designed to become an annual celebration of achievement in Dubai.
The award cycle will run from September to May, with nominations and evaluations for the following edition taking place during June, July and August.
For now, though, the first deadline to remember is September 10. If you’ve helped turn a big idea into something real over the past four years, this could be your chance to put it forward.
Open from Monday, 10 August to 10 September. For further information or to make a nomination, visit dubai-it.io
