Climate change, mental health, traffic congestion, sustainable food and accessible design are among the issues tackled by the inaugrual members of Expo City Dubai Foundation’s Changemakers Academy.
The Ten winners will receive grants of up to Dhs 50,000, a business licence, and workspace at Expo City, as well as access to mentorship and support.
Launched in February, the Changemakers Academy incentivises creative problem-solving, channelling the passion and ingenuity of young entrepreneurs to unearth impactful solutions across priority areas.
The competition received 148 applications from youth and students across public and private universities, from which 49 promising ideas were shortlisted to take part in a structured, hands-on training and mentorship programme.
This included an online bootcamp to support the design and development of their innovative solutions, delivered by Lumi, an AI-enabled platform that takes participants through design-thinking quests to enhance their critical skills.
“We’ve been inspired by the creativity and commitment of these changemakers, whose solutions have real potential to improve the lives of people in our communities,” said Yousuf Caires, the executive director of the Expo City Dubai Foundation, established by Expo City Dubai Authority to further Expo Live’s legacy of innovation and partnerships.
And he added: “What we discovered was a generation driven by a desire to leave a meaningful mark. For almost half of all applicants, entrepreneurship wasn’t solely about profit – it was about purpose.”
"This is a generation driven by a desire to leave a meaningful mark."
Yousuf Caires, executive director, Expo City Dubai Foundation
Mohammed Al Mheiri, director of the Social Regulations Department at the Community Development Authority, said: “This initiative exemplifies the power of cross-sector collaboration, bringing together government, academia, the private sector and civil society with a unified purpose: to address a range of societal needs and build a more sustainable and inclusive future.”
The Changemakers Academy aligns with the UAE's commitment to a sustainable and socially responsible future – a vision championed by initiatives such as the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, the UAE Green Agenda 2030 and the UAE Centennial 2071 Plan, as well as the country’s shared responsibility towards the global Sustainable Development Goals.
It also supports the aims of the UAE Year of Community – to inspire and equip the next generation to act, channelling their creativity and passion into real-world impact.
Caires said there was a strong sense of responsibilty and desire for indepdence among the changemaker entries. “Their yearning to “build something of my own” and “be my own boss” demonstrates the values of autonomy and self-determination – values that resonate with the UAE’s strategic focus on empowering youth and building a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem,” he said.
The winning projects were:
SpacePoint (SatKit) - a modular CubeSat development kit and training programme that brings practical space education to the classroom
Unitors - connecting university student tutors with UAE families
Ember – solving social media chellenges
Vantage - an affordable, wearable solution that provides blind people with real-time spatial awareness and obstacle detection
Relpha - a holistic app for young adults combining condition tracking and with emotionally resonant stories to boost wellbeing
Biodegradable Bacterial Cellulose Wound Patch - a biodegradable wound patch offering affordable and sustainable diabetic care
Mangrove Ecosystem Monitoring - an AI-powered tool for real-time mangrove ecosystems and soil carbon monitoring
Sea Thrive Reef Moor Project - a 3D-printed mooring system that protects seabeds and restores marine life
Smart Rainwater Management Emergency & Response System (SRMERS) - a smart flood system using sensors and alerts to warn residents and collect rainwater
Exhaura - a smart, recyclable exhaust filter for older vehicles that cuts emissions affordably.
