Page 201 - KHALIFA FUND PR REPORT - JULY 2025

Khalifa Fund Abu Dhabi SME Champions Programme facilitates 650+ deals worth AED672mn in
2024

Story by TF
• 12h •

2 min read

ABU DHABI, 2nd July, 2025 (WAM) – As part of the Abu Dhabi SME Champions Programme, Khalifa
Fund for Enterprise Development has witnessed a significant growth in the number of deals forged
between SMEs and leading public and private institutions, achieving a total of 652 deals by 2024,
with a total value of AED 672 million, across various key sectors such as IT, consultancy, advertising
and event management.

The initiative was launched in 2023 by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development to
increase the share of procurement opportunities allocated to SMEs by major private companies as
well as government entities and institutions. As a result, the number of registered companies grew
from 835 in 2023 to 2,235 in 2024, with the strategic partner count increasing to 20.
Since its inception, the programme has been focused on supporting and encouraging SMEs to
participate in supply chain opportunities, by providing them with a robust platform for business
development.

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

https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/other/khalifa-fund-abu-dhabi-sme-champions-programme-
facilitates-650-deals-worth-aed672mn-in-2024/ar-AA1HQLX9?ocid=BingNewsSerp