Page 180 - 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 - Mi…
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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