Dubai:The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) has announced the selection of 20 contestants from around the world to compete in the AI Grandmaster Challenge. This event will take place at The Challenge Dome during Dubai Future Week from November 18 to 21, 2026, at Emirates Towers and the Museum of the Future.
According to Wam, the competition will begin on Wednesday, November 18, with participants facing a series of increasingly complex challenges aimed at testing their ability to apply artificial intelligence across multiple disciplines. Tasks will include creating multimedia content, building intelligent applications, and developing AI-powered assistant experiences, all while demonstrating innovation and the ability to deliver results within strict time constraints.
The competition will intensify as it progresses, with the top performers from each round advancing to the next stage until one winner is declared the AI Grandmaster, taking home a prize of AED 1 million. Google Cloud will partner as the challenge's Technology Partner, supporting a competitive atmosphere where participants can showcase their skills using the latest AI tools.
A panel of AI experts and specialists from Google Cloud will judge the contestants based on criteria such as output quality, creativity, technical execution, adaptability, and effective use of AI under time pressure. Abdulaziz AlJaziri, Deputy CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, highlighted the challenge's role in showcasing outstanding AI skills and reinforcing AI as a tool for enhancing human capabilities.
Building on the momentum of its previous edition in 2025, which attracted over 3,800 applications from 125 countries, the AI Grandmaster Challenge aims to foster a global community for exchanging AI prompt engineering knowledge and innovations. The event also seeks to provide an open platform for local and international talent, strengthen opportunities for collaboration, and unlock new possibilities offered by advancing AI capabilities.
The challenge intends to drive significant shifts in AI technology usage to support development and humanity's future, reinforcing Dubai's position as a global hub with advanced digital infrastructure. The initiative aims to create a positive impact across the technology community, support sustainable innovation, and encourage practical AI-powered solutions development.