UAE-based Ugandan content creator Rashid Lumunye has won AED100,000, approximately Shs100 million, in a Dubai storytelling contest organised as part of the #Dubai_It campaign.
Lumunye emerged winner of the Best Dubai-It Story after beating thousands of entries submitted by residents of the United Arab Emirates. He was announced as the winner during a live finale of The Lovin Dubai Show, where he competed against fellow finalists Mariana Mustafina and Maymi Asgari.
The contest invited people across the UAE to share personal transformations, before-and-after journeys and experiences that reflected the idea of “Dubai-it”.
According to Lovin Dubai, Lumunye’s entry stood out for its account of resilience and the role of self-belief and hard work in his journey in the UAE.
During the live finale, Lumunye said he moved from Uganda to Dubai in 2018 at the age of 20, carrying a suitcase and about $200.
His story has previously attracted attention in the UAE. Gulf News reported in October 2025 that Lumunye had arrived in Dubai on a modest salary but continued pursuing his interest in video production and storytelling. He later became a content creator, obtained a 10-year UAE Golden Visa and established his own media and marketing agency.
The latest prize adds to a career Lumunye has built around documenting life, work, tourism and opportunities in the UAE for an Ugandan and wider African audience.
The #Dubai_It campaign is part of a wider initiative launched by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on June 17, 2026. The initiative defines “Dubai-it” as turning ambitious ideas into visible achievements through action, speed, excellence and measurable results.
The official Dubai-it platform says the initiative seeks to promote a culture in which ideas are translated into concrete results, drawing on Dubai’s own transformation and development model.
The competition attracted thousands of entries before Lumunye, Mustafina and Asgari were selected as the final three contestants.
Lovin Dubai described Lumunye’s winning story as capturing what it called the “true beating heart” of Dubai, while announcing him as the recipient of the AED100,000 grand prize.
For Lumunye, the award marks another chapter in a journey that began with a young Ugandan arriving in Dubai with limited resources and has since developed into a career in digital storytelling and media.
