Page 171 - KHALIFA FUND PR REPORT - JULY 2025

7/3/25, 11:29 AM Khalifa Fund’s Abu Dhabi SME Champions Programme facilitates 650+ deals worth AED672mn in 2024 – UAE Business and Travel…
The initiative has created new pathways for these companies to play an active role in private sector projects, thus
enhancing their contribution to GDP growth, diversifying economic resources and fostering innovation within
Abu Dhabi, in line with the UAE’s vision for a more sustainable and diverse economy.

The programme features awareness initiatives to educate SMEs on the benefits of forging strategic alliances with
both government and private sector entities. It also supports efforts to classify companies, develop their skills
and strengthen collaboration and partnership pathways through relevant projects. Micro-enterprises now
represent over half of the registered companies, with approximately 20 per cent of them being eligible for deals
with leading institutions across both public and private sectors.

Mouza Al Nasri, CEO of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said: “The Abu Dhabi SME Champions
Program acts as a bridge connecting SMEs in Abu Dhabi with leading institutions and government entities. This
helps enhance the productivity and innovation within this vital business category, which is a cornerstone of the
national economy. SMEs further play a pivotal role in catalysing Abu Dhabi’s sustainable growth, aligning with
the UAE’s broader vision for economic development.

“Led by Khalifa Fund’s ongoing efforts to promote entrepreneurship, the programme has garnered significant
attention from Emirati entrepreneurs over the past two years, by paving the way for collaborations with leading
institutions. The programme has conducted 13 bi-monthly training sessions to date, in collaboration with at least
nine partners, focusing on skill development for SMEs to meet market demands. This is a remarkable milestone
in building a sustainable and innovation-based economy, in line with the UAE’s aspirations to become a leading
knowledge-based and competitive economy.”

The programme’s key participants include the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, Department of
Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi, Department of Finance, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Family
Development Foundation, Early Childhood Authority, AD Ports Group, Miral Group, E&, Aldar Properties,
Etihad Airways, EMSTEEL Group, Emirates Development Bank, Agthia Group, ADGM, Mubadala, Masdar
City, Industrial Capital Group (ICG), and United Copper Rods LLC (UCR), among others.

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