Khalifa Fund Participates in Abu Dhabi Global Entrepreneurship Festival, Launches ‘Funding on the Spot’ Initiative

Business

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.

In addition, KFED signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abu Dhabi Youth Business Council (ADYBC). The agreement, signed by H.E. Khalifa Al Kuwaiti and Mansoor Al Sayegh, Chairman of ADYBC, aims to enhance collaboration in supporting young entrepreneurs by improving access to funding, markets, and key economic platforms.

To date, KFED has supported more than 1,200 projects and provided financing exceeding AED 1.8 billion, reinforcing the role of SMEs in driving economic diversification and positioning Abu Dhabi as a leading hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.