Abu Dhabi, UAE : The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Global Academy, the knowledge arm of Abu Dhabi Global Market ( ADGM ), has launched the new edition of the Al Ain Pioneers Training Program. This program aims to equip Emirati entrepreneurs in Al Ain with the entrepreneurial mindset, practical skills, mentorship, and specialized expertise necessary to transform their ideas into scalable and future-ready businesses.

The interactive program was held from June 8 to 12, 2026 at Mazen Hub Al Ain , building on the success of its previous edition by enhancing the presence of participants within the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, and creating direct pathways to innovation-based sectors that are of strategic importance to the economic future of Al Ain .

This program, led by the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and supported by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) , aligns with the UAE’s future economic priorities, combining practical learning with real-world business challenges. It provides Emirati entrepreneurs with the opportunity to enhance their business ideas and entrepreneurial mindset through interactive learning, personalized mentorship, and challenges across diverse sectors, along with access to the broader “Muzn” ecosystem .

This year's edition focused on four priority sectors: agricultural technology, light industries, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and culture and tourism, each playing a vital role in shaping Al Ain's long-term development trajectory . By integrating these sectors, the program aims to empower participants to develop innovative solutions directly linked to Al Ain's economic identity, its economic diversification priorities, and its long-term competitiveness .

By integrating these sectors, the program contributes to enabling participants to develop solutions that are not only innovative, but are directly linked to the economic identity of Al Ain, its priorities in economic diversification, and enhancing its competitiveness and the sustainability of its long-term growth.

With the support of government entities, the program aimed to create new pathways for citizens to expand their ambitions and careers in entrepreneurship, reflecting the shared commitment of the Khalifa Fund and Abu Dhabi Global Academy to developing entrepreneurial talent, supporting innovation in Al Ain, and contributing to a diversified and knowledge-based national economy .

The program, hosted by Mazen Hub Al Ain , the emirate's leading business accelerator, provided participants with practical tools to identify, develop, and deliver impactful business solutions. Through an intensive, hands-on learning approach, participants gained hands-on experience in team building, business model design, prototype development, and pitching .

The "Al Ain Pioneers Training Program" provided direct access to industry experts, mentors, and partners to support participants in developing solutions to real-world challenges. Through this approach, participants gained practical knowledge of priority industries while building the confidence, networks, and entrepreneurial skills necessary to transform their ideas into reality .

On the final day of the program, participants presented their solutions to a panel of experts, with three winning teams receiving ongoing support after the program's completion. This includes six months of dedicated one-on-one mentoring with local experts to focus on improving the effectiveness of their solutions in addressing the challenges presented, identifying target customers, and aligning their projects with priority sectors. They will also be granted exclusive access to state-of-the-art coworking spaces at Muzn Hub Al Ain , which include meeting rooms, 3D printing labs, and a cutting-edge podcast studio .

In addition, the winning teams qualified directly to participate in the second edition of the "Khalifa Fund Entrepreneurship Competition", which is a platform to highlight innovative startups within priority sectors in Abu Dhabi .

His Excellency Khalifa Saeed Al-Kuwaiti, Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Sector at the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said: “The Al Ain Pioneers Training Program embodies the Khalifa Fund’s commitment to supporting and empowering Emirati entrepreneurs in Al Ain, providing them with the skills, guidance, and vision necessary to build sustainable projects capable of meeting the demands of the future. The program comes within our ongoing efforts to enhance the entrepreneurial environment and establish a culture of innovation, which contributes to transforming promising ideas into projects with a sustainable economic impact . ”

He added: “Through empowering national talents, we are working to prepare the next generation of business leaders and develop their ability to innovate and seize quality opportunities, which supports the growth of the knowledge-based economy in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi .”

For his part, Ali Al Muhairi, Senior Director of Business Empowerment at Abu Dhabi Global Academy, said : “Applied learning and collaboration with sectors are of paramount importance in equipping national talent with future entrepreneurial skills, and through the Al Ain Pioneers program we are working to combine practical experience, project establishment, mentorship, and problem-solving skills based on innovation .”

He added: “We are keen to connect talented participants to the wider ‘Muzn’ ecosystem and provide them with long-term growth opportunities, in line with our firm commitment to contributing to the support of the UAE’s national innovation agenda .”

The Khalifa Fund and Abu Dhabi Global Academy, through the Al Ain Pioneers Training Program, are working to expand access to support dedicated to entrepreneurship in Al Ain, to help citizens move from initial ideas to market-ready solutions, relying on guidance, skills development, and interaction with the business ecosystem .

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About Abu Dhabi Global Academy

The Abu Dhabi Global Academy is the knowledge arm of the Abu Dhabi International Financial Centre (ADIG). ADIG was established to solidify Abu Dhabi's position as a leading financial center, to develop the Abu Dhabi economy, to provide an attractive environment for financial investments, and to contribute to the advancement of the global financial services sector.

Abu Dhabi Global Academy was established to become one of the region's leading academies in banking, finance, and public services. In line with the vision of the UAE leadership to build a strong and resilient economy, we are committed to providing entities operating within Abu Dhabi Global Market ( ADGM ) and all segments of society with world-class educational and training programs.

Abu Dhabi Global Academy has provided numerous training programs for the financial and digital sectors, partnering with leading industry experts, organizations and academic institutions to design and deliver programs, and to produce basic applied research relevant to the financial sector that responds to future trends.

For communication from media organizations:

Email: media@adgm.com

About Abu Dhabi Global Market ( ADGM )

Abu Dhabi Global Market ( ADGM ) is the leading international financial center of the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and one of the largest financial districts in the world in terms of geographical scope and the largest in the Middle East and North Africa region in terms of the number of active licenses.

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) is one of a limited number of global financial centers and the only financial center in the region that operates within an international regulatory framework based on the direct application of English common law .

Abu Dhabi Global Market ( ADGM ) governs Al Maryah Island and Reem Island, which together comprise Abu Dhabi’s financial free zone, and serves as a link between the growing economies of the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia and global markets. ADGM provides an advanced and comprehensive ecosystem that enables financial and non-financial institutions to thrive, and supports innovation, sustainable growth, and long-term economic resilience.

Through its continued growth and cross-border partnerships, Abu Dhabi Global Market ( ADGM ) reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as the “ capital of capital” and a leading global destination for finance, investment and business .

For more information about Abu Dhabi Global Market ( ADGM ), please visit www.adgm.com or follow its social media pages: LinkedIn and Instagram: @ADGM and X : @adglobalmarket

For communication from media organizations:

Email: media@adgm.com

About the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development:

The Khalifa Fund is an independent, non-profit organization affiliated with the Abu Dhabi government, dedicated to developing entrepreneurship. Its mission is to cultivate and promote a culture of entrepreneurship, encourage innovation, and provide support and assistance through a balanced ecosystem for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the United Arab Emirates.

The Khalifa Fund was established in 2007, pursuant to Law No. 14 of 2005 and its amendments, in implementation of the vision of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

For more information about the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, please visit our website :
www.khalifafund.ae

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