Dubai Culture closes Al Quoz entrepreneurship forum, names winners

Dubai Culture has wrapped up the fourth Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Forum and named the winners of its pitch competition, according to a Dubai Media Office release published on 6 November.

About the forum

The forum was organised by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority in partnership with Al Khayat Avenue. It took place on 30 and 31 October 2026 at Area 57 on Al Khayat Avenue, in the Al Quoz Creative Zone. This year's theme was "Creative Frontiers – Expanding What's Possible".

Entrepreneurs, investors, artists, designers and industry specialists attended sessions on building sustainable businesses, attracting investment, adopting advanced technology and responding to market demand. Workshops included "How to Build Sustainable Creative Projects" and "Practical AI for Business".

The pitch competition

Eight ventures presented to a jury of industry experts and investors, after receiving mentorship before the pitches. The prize money was:

• first place, AED 80,000, to SoundX: Base, a Dubai-based music technology company;
• second place, AED 50,000, to Les Marionnettes, a Dubai-based puppet theatre;
• third place, AED 30,000, to Rooted Elevation Games, a Dubai-based independent game studio.

The winners also received further prizes from the competition's partners, in5 and TiE, intended to support their growth. Wio Business sponsored the forum and offered financial tools aimed at freelancers and creative entrepreneurs, covering money management and receiving payments.

What it means for creative businesses

Dubai Culture says the forum is part of its wider effort to nurture creative talent, support entrepreneurship and increase the creative economy's contribution to Dubai's economy. For freelancers and small studios in the emirate, events like this offer a route to investors, mentors and potential partners.

The announcement does not mention any new licences, fees or regulatory changes. Anyone interested in future editions or related programmes should follow Dubai Culture's official channels for dates and application details.