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4/23/26, 11:04 AM Khalifa Fund Participates in Abu Dhabi Global Entrepreneurship Festival, Launches ‘Funding on the Spot’ Initiative

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Apr 22, 2026 61 0

Khalifa Fund Participates in Abu Dhabi Global Entrepreneurship

Festival, Launches ‘Funding on the Spot’ Initiative

Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) is participating in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Global Entrepreneurship Festival, where it
has unveiled its new ‘Funding on the Spot’ initiative aimed at accelerating access to finance for Emirati entrepreneurs.

Held from April 20 to 22 at the Abu Dhabi Energy Center, the festival is organised under the patronage of Sheikh Zayed bin Nahyan bin
Zayed Al Nahyan and carries the theme “Your Impact. Our Economy’s Pulse.”

KFED’s participation underscores its commitment to strengthening Abu Dhabi’s SME ecosystem by enabling entrepreneurs to scale
their businesses while providing direct opportunities to connect with investors and decision-makers.

A key highlight of the Fund’s presence is the launch of the ‘Funding on the Spot’ initiative, an innovative platform that allows
entrepreneurs to undergo immediate eligibility assessments and receive on-site advisory support. The initiative assists
with compliance checks, documentation, and application processes, targeting Emirati business owners aged 21 to 60, particularly
those operating in growth and expansion stages across sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, information technology,
tourism, and industry.

In parallel, the ‘Young Emirati Traders’ competition has been announced under the patronage of Sheikha Rawdha bint Nahyan bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, in collaboration with KFED. The initiative is designed for youth aged 6 to 18, aiming to introduce them
to entrepreneurship through hands-on learning, while promoting awareness of emerging sectors like artificial intelligence and
clean energy, alongside improving financial literacy.

As part of the festival’s programme, H.E. Khalifa Al Kuwaiti, Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Sector at KFED, participated in
a panel discussion titled ‘Building Abu Dhabi as a Global Founder Platform’. The session explored Abu Dhabi’s position in the global
startup ecosystem, focusing on the importance of aligning government policy, capital flows, and institutional support to drive
sustainable business growth.

KFED is also hosting a series of specialised workshops, including From Concept to First Revenue, Financial Strategy and Pricing
Confidence, and Strategic Customer Discovery. These sessions are designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice, equipping
entrepreneurs with practical tools for business growth.

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