Page 178 - KHALIFA FUND PR REPORT - JULY 2025

7/3/25, 11:30 AM Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development's Abu Dhabi SME Champions Program facilitates 650+ deals worth AED672m in 2024
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.

H.E. 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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