Page 71 - KFED PR REPORT - APRIL 2026

4/22/26, 10:32 AM Khalifa Fund participates in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Global Entrepreneurship Festival
As part of its participation, the Fund is launching the ‘Funding on the Spot’ initiative, an innovative
platform designed to facilitate entrepreneurs’ access to financing during the festival by enabling
immediate eligibility assessments and providing on-site advisory support, including assessing
compliance with requirements and assisting with documentation and application processes. It is

targeted at Emirati business owners aged 21 to 60 operating in Abu Dhabi, particularly those in
growth and expansion phases across priority sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture,
information technology, tourism, and industry.

Additionally, the ‘Young Emirati Traders’ competition was announced under the patronage of Sheikha

Rawdha Bint Nahyan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in collaboration with Khalifa Fund. The initiative targets
youth aged 6 to 18, introducing them to entrepreneurship through hands-on learning while building
awareness of emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and clean energy, alongside promoting
financial literacy in partnership with banks and financial institutions.

As part of the festival 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,’ which discussed Abu Dhabi’s position within the global entrepreneurship economy and the
role of alignment between government policies, capital flows, and enabling institutions in supporting

start-up growth. During the session, he presented KFED’s perspective on effective institutional
enablement for entrepreneurs, the challenges facing businesses in early growth and scaling stages,
and mechanisms to balance access to finance with long-term commercial sustainability.

In parallel, the Fund is delivering a series of specialised workshops aimed at strengthening
entrepreneurial capabilities. This includes ‘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 practical application, supporting both early-stage founders and scaling
businesses, while ensuring alignment with real market needs.

In addition, KFED and the Abu Dhabi Youth Business Council (ADYBC) signed a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU). H.E. Khalifa Al Kuwaiti, Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Sector at
KFED, and Mansoor Al Sayegh, Chairman of ADYBC, signed the agreement, which aims to establish
a strategic cooperation to enhance Abu Dhabi’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. It seeks to empower
young entrepreneurs by facilitating participation in key economic events, connecting them with
funding and investment opportunities, and expanding their access to capital and new markets.

KFED’s participation underscores the tangible impact of its initiatives in supporting the growth of
SMEs across the Emirate. To date, the Fund has supported more than 1,200 projects and provided
financing exceeding AED 1.8 billion, reinforcing SMEs’ role in driving economic diversification and
positioning Abu Dhabi as a global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.

About Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development:

The Khalifa Fund is an independent, non-profit organisation affiliated with Abu Dhabi Government. Its
mission is to nurture the culture of entrepreneurship, promote innovation, and offer support for small

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