Abu Dhabi Global Entrepreneurship Festival 2026 launches

ABU DHABI, April 20 / WAM / Under the patronage of Sheikh Zayed bin Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the activities of the “Abu Dhabi Global Entrepreneurship Festival 2026” were launched today in the capital, Abu Dhabi, which will continue until April 22 at the Abu Dhabi Energy Center, with the participation of an elite group of entrepreneurs, investors and decision makers from various economic sectors.

The opening ceremony began with the UAE national anthem, followed by an official opening program that included keynote speeches and leadership sessions that discussed the future of entrepreneurship in Abu Dhabi.

In a keynote speech during the opening, Moza Obaid Al Nasiri, CEO of the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, stressed that organizing this festival reflects the advanced position that Abu Dhabi has established as a global platform for creating the future through innovation, entrepreneurship and influential partnerships. At the heart of this scene is the Falcon Economy as a pioneering economic model leading a unique phase of growth in Abu Dhabi.

She added that this diversity aims to build a more sustainable and competitive economy based on advanced knowledge and technologies, noting that the Falcon Economy is an effective economic path that reshapes the relationship between policies and markets and places small and medium enterprises at the heart of the growth equation.

She said that the efforts of the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development resulted in the financing of more than 1,200 projects with a financing value exceeding 1.8 billion dirhams, which reflects the growing impact of small and medium enterprises in the national economy and their role in leading the path of economic diversification.

Al-Nasseri announced the launch of the initiative to immediately submit a request for financing projects, which allows immediate submission of funding requests and facilitates entrepreneurs’ access to direct financing, which reflects the transition from traditional procedures to a more rapid and efficient experience.

The first day witnessed major sessions and leadership dialogues on the agenda, the most prominent of which were sessions that addressed “Building Abu Dhabi as a global platform for founders,” “The power of economic systems,” and “Human potential in entrepreneurship,” in addition to a leadership council that discussed social impact and the shared vision, with the participation of an elite group of officials and experts.

The program also included the signing of memorandums of understanding between a number of parties, in addition to dialogue sessions and interactive discussions aimed at enhancing cooperation between institutions and supporting the business environment in the emirate.

Participating in the “Building Abu Dhabi as a Global Platform for Founders” session were His Excellency Salem Ali Al Shamsi, Executive Director of the Incubator and Social Contracts Sector at the Together Community Contributions Authority, His Excellency Khalid Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Federal Youth Foundation, His Excellency Khalifa Al Kuwaiti, Chief Operating Officer of the Khalifa Fund, and Salama Al Haj Al Awadhi, Senior Vice President of Commercial Affairs for the Group, and the Local Additive and Industrial Development Summit at ADNOC.

Participants in the session stressed that small and medium-sized companies represent an essential pillar for sustainable economic growth, as they constitute the backbone of the national economy, as they account for more than 94% of the total companies in the country, and contribute more than 60% of the non-oil gross domestic product, which reflects their vital role in promoting economic diversification, supporting innovation, and creating job opportunities.

They pointed out that Abu Dhabi has established itself as a preferred headquarters and starting point for founders and entrepreneurs from various parts of the world, in light of the emirate’s advanced infrastructure and a flexible and stimulating legislative system, in addition to the availability of diverse sources of financing that support the growth and expansion of projects in a way that enhances the competitive business environment and keeps pace with the requirements of the future economy.

The festival enjoys the support of strategic partners, including “ADNOC”, the Community Contributions Authority “Ma’an”, and the “Athar+” programme, in addition to possible entities including the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, the Khalifa Fund, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hub71, and Abu Dhabi Customs, in addition to the participation of government agencies and supporting institutions, in a way that enhances integration between the public and private sectors, and contributes to the development of an integrated economic system based on innovation and sustainable economic growth in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

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