Khalifa Fund Entrepreneurship Competition winners meet Abu Dhabi Crown Prince as five startups claim top honours
Crown Prince Sheikh Khalid met winners of the Khalifa Fund Entrepreneurship Competition’s second edition, praising young innovators and the contest that selected five winning projects from 509 entrants.
Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, personally received the winners of the Khalifa Fund Entrepreneurship Competition’s second edition and congratulated them on their achievements. The meeting highlighted the role of young Emirati entrepreneurs in advancing a knowledge-based, sustainable economy and underscored continued leadership support for innovation and private-sector growth.
Highlights of the royal meeting
Sheikh Khalid exchanged cordial remarks with the competition winners and reviewed their projects and plans for scale-up.
Winners expressed gratitude for the encounter, saying the meeting signalled strong institutional backing that motivates further innovation and excellence.
Officials noted the visit as a tangible affirmation of national efforts to empower youth and accelerate economic diversification across Abu Dhabi.
Scale and reach of the Khalifa Fund Entrepreneurship Competition
The second edition attracted 509 participants, including entrepreneurs, startups, young professionals and national talents competing with practical solutions for real economic challenges.
Organisers shortlisted a cohort for an intensive training bootcamp prior to the final judging, demonstrating a structured pipeline from idea to market readiness.
Regional representation included 28 startups from Abu Dhabi city, 21 from Al Ain and 8 from Al Dhafra, reflecting a broad geographic spread of entrepreneurial activity.
Bootcamp, mentorship and preparation for finalists
Selected teams took part in a concentrated training programme that combined mentorship, technical guidance and investor readiness sessions.
Startups benefited from personalised coaching aimed at refining business models, improving pitch delivery and strengthening go-to-market strategies.
The preparatory phase was designed to sharpen each project’s viability and to ready founders for the competition’s final evaluation stage.
Award winners and sectoral focus
The competition’s final stage crowned five winning projects across priority sectors: tourism, financial technology, energy, healthcare and agriculture.
In addition, three special awards recognised excellence in artificial intelligence solutions, sustainability initiatives and robotics applications.
Judges prioritised projects that demonstrated scalability, economic impact and alignment with Abu Dhabi’s strategic development goals.
Statements from Khalifa Fund leadership
Ahmed Jassim Al Zaabi, Chairman of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said the competition illustrates the Fund’s belief that promising ideas can become national companies that generate sustainable economic value.
He emphasised the Fund’s commitment to equipping founders with knowledge, finance and partnerships needed to transform concepts into impactful enterprises.
Al Zaabi added that sustained support for national talent will help enhance Abu Dhabi’s competitiveness and cement its standing as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Strategic intent and wider economic impact
Moza Obaid Al Nasri, Chief Executive Officer of Khalifa Fund, described the second edition as evidence of the Fund’s ongoing efforts to boost national projects and strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
She noted that strategic partnerships and institutional support are central to nurturing innovative solutions that contribute to the UAE’s sustainable development agenda.
Officials said the competition not only generates immediate business opportunities but also builds long-term capacity for knowledge-driven economic growth.
The Khalifa Fund Entrepreneurship Competition has emerged as a practical platform linking ambitious founders with the resources required to scale, from mentorship to market access and potential funding.
By spotlighting sectors such as fintech, energy and healthcare, the initiative aligns startup innovation with national priorities and investor interest.
Organisers plan to maintain and expand support programmes that accelerate startup maturity and attract further participation across Abu Dhabi’s regions.
Winners at the meeting pledged to use the recognition and support to accelerate product development and expand market reach, while leaders reiterated follow-on assistance to translate pilot success into commercial scale.
The engagement between leadership and founders reflects a coordinated approach to nurturing entrepreneurship that combines policy support, institutional funding and capacity-building.
As Abu Dhabi continues to position itself as a centre for innovation, the Khalifa Fund Entrepreneurship Competition is likely to remain a key channel for discovering and developing the next generation of Emirati-led businesses.