World's largest mobile app competition comes to MENA

Abu Dhabi: Young people in the Middle East and North Africa, MENA, are being given the opportunity to showcase their technical and entrepreneurship skills through the Arab Mobile App Challenge, part of the world's largest competition for mobile app design and development, says Pearson, a world-leading learning company. The Arab Mobile App Challenge is part of the annual Global Mobile App Challenge run by the United States' Applied Innovation Institute. The competition is being brought to the region for the first time by Silatech, a not-for-profit initiative that works to create jobs and expand opportunities for young people throughout the Arab world. Pearson, a world leading education company, is a major sponsor of the competition in the Middle East and North Africa. Competition participants will work in teams to design a mobile app that can be used by the entertainment, health, education or employability industries. Entrants will be judged on the design of their business model, as well as the presentation and innovative utility of the app itself. Teams making it through the first round of the competition will be given substantial support from technical and business experts from leading local and international companies, helping them create dynamic and innovative apps. Mentors from across relevant industries will work closely with the teams to develop their app ideas into viable business start-ups. Competition finalists from across the Arab world will be selected to compete in the regional final, which will be held in Qatar in February, 2014. Prizes include US$50,000 for first prize, US30,000 for second prize and US$20,000 for third prize. Winners from the MENA region will also have their costs paid to attend the international finals of the competition to be held at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona. Silatech and Pearson are calling on tech-savvy, potential entrepreneurs under the age of 30 to find out more about the App Challenge. Dana Shaddad, Senior Project Manager from Silatech, says the Challenge will play an important role in nurturing young entrepreneurs in the Arab world. "There is a strong need throughout MENA to promote innovation and entrepreneurship amongst young people to support future economic growth and social stability. The percentage of the population under the age of 30 in MENA countries is growing at a rapid rate, but so are youth unemployment figures. We need to channel the potential of this large number of young people in the region into positive, income generating activities. Fostering technological talent through competitions such as the Arab Mobile App Challenge is an excellent way to do this. Encouraging successful new start-up businesses will have the dual effect of fuelling the private sector and generating new jobs, outcomes welcomed by governments and individuals across the Arab world". Pearson's Haseeb Khan, a competition mentor, says Pearson chose to support the App Challenge because developing educational and employability opportunities by harnessing technology is an issue Pearson has been closely involved with. – Emirates News Agency, WAM