Dubai: Dubai does not just celebrate big ideas, it also celebrates those who make them happen. Nominations are now open for the inaugural Dubai-it Award, recognising the individuals, projects and organisations that have turned ambition into exceptional results through speed, excellence and tangible impact “worthy of Dubai’s name”.Here is all you need to know about the award and how to apply for it.What is Dubai-it?His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the ‘Dubai-it’ initiative on June 17 to pass on Dubai’s philosophy of work to future generations.The philosophy, he said, is built on achieving exceptional results in record time, with precision and excellence. “Speed does not mean rushing, quality does not mean slowing down, and ambition has no value without execution,” he said.What is the Dubai-it Award?The Dubai-it Award was announced on June 24 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, to recognise those who transform bold ideas into tangible results and exceptional achievements, delivered with excellence and distinction in record time.The award is overseen by His Excellency Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chairman of The Executive Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.Nominations for the award opened today, on August 10, and will be accepted until September 10, 2026.For the inaugural edition, nominations will cover achievements, projects, initiatives, and transformations delivered during the past four years.From the second cycle onwards, nominations will be limited to achievements completed during the previous 24 months.Individuals may nominate themselves directly, or be nominated by their companies, institutions, or entities.Companies, institutions, and entities may also nominate themselves, their projects, their teams, and the individuals who played a defining role in leading or delivering the achievement.The Award is designed to be open, ambitious, and inclusive, recognising those who led, built, transformed, delivered and created results “worthy of Dubai’s name”, the award’s official website – dubai-it.ae, states.So, regardless of whether you are an individual or part of an organisation, you can nominate yourself for the award, if you reflect the spirit of ‘Dubai-it’: bold ambition, disciplined execution, exceptional quality, speed of delivery, and tangible impact.Three main categoriesThe award will be presented across three core segments:Individuals – to the individuals who led the achievement.Projects – to projects that created transformation.Institutions and companies – to the institutions and companies that turned vision into tangible results.Award fieldsThe nominations can be submitted if they fall under any one of the following fields:GovernmentReal estateEconomyBusinessTechnologySportsSocietyEducationServicesHealthEvaluation criteriaBefore you begin applying for the award and submit your nomination file, it is important to understand the criteria on which the entries will be assessed.A strong nomination file is built on a clear story, precise data, credible evidence, and honest impact. Each nomination is assessed through a clear framework based on the following criteria:1. Exceptional achievement: How distinctive and significant the achievement is, and whether it has created a meaningful shift beyond what is expected in its field.2. Excellence in execution: The level of professionalism in planning and delivery, the quality of outcomes, the attention to detail, and the commitment to the highest standards.3. Speed and efficiency of delivery: The ability to turn an idea or vision into tangible results in record time, without compromising quality or excellence.4. Embodying Dubai’s philosophy of work: This criterion measures how strongly the achievement reflects Dubai's philosophy of work, through ambition, speed of delivery, excellence in execution, and the ability to turn vision into tangible reality that delivers an exceptional impact worthy of Dubai.5. Turning vision into tangible results: The ability to translate a vision, idea, or ambition into a clear, practical reality with outcomes that can be seen, measured, and proven.6. Exceptional impact: The scale and depth of impact created by the achievement, whether on people, the city, a sector, the economy, quality of life, or Dubai's reputation and global standing.7. Sustainability and potential to grow: The ability of the achievement to continue, grow, scale, and evolve beyond the moment of launch or delivery.8. Clarity of the model and power to inspire: Whether the achievement can stand as a clear model for others to follow, and as a success story that inspires individuals, institutions, and future projects.How to nominateThe nominations can be filed through the award’s digital platform by following these steps:Visit dubai-it.aeClick on ‘Dubai-it Award’ at the top right corner of the screen and click on ‘Nominate now’.Enter your email address and click on ‘Send OTP’. You will receive the six-digit one-time password on your email address, which you need to enter to proceed.Select your recognition category – individual, project, institution or company.Select the award field applicable and click on continue.Enter your nomination details (whether you are nominating yourself or submitting on behalf of another individual or institution).Next, enter the nominee’s details – their full name, their Emirates ID and passport copy (as a pdf file), and their Emirates ID number.You will then be required to enter the details of their achievement, including the nature of the achievement (project, initiative, programme, service, product, transformation, policy/decision, or ‘other’), the achievement year (from 2023 to 2026), and what the nominee’s role was in the achievement, the challenges or opportunities that the achievement addressed, the scale or boldness of the idea, and how it embodies the Dubai-it philosophy.Next, you need to enter in detail how the submissions matches the eight evaluation criteria. For example, for the criterion – ‘Clarity of the model and power to inspire’, explain whether the achievement provides a clear model that others can understand, learn from and follow. The suggested word limit for each criterion is 300 words, and you would need to attach supporting documents for each criterion.Review your submission and confirm that each claim is supported with the necessary evidence attached as supporting material.Submit your application.If you have any queries, you can also reach out to the Award team directly at award@dubai-it.ae.
