UAE Launches New Programme to Turn 1,000 Families into Entrepreneurs Over 5 Years

The UAE has launched a state-backed programme to convert 1,000 Emirati families into entrepreneurs over the next five years, officials announced on April 20, 2026. Rolled out under the national campaign “The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World,” the initiative is a joint effort by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, the Ministry of Community Empowerment, the New Economy Academy and the National CSR Fund (Majra). The scheme will target roughly 200 families per year across four cohorts and focuses on training, mentoring and market access rather than direct cash support.

“We don’t want low-income families to just depend on financial assistance,” said Noor Abu Al-Houl, Assistant Undersecretary for Social Welfare and Empowerment at the Ministry, to Gulf News. “We want them to be economically independent. We go hand in hand with them until they reach the market.”

Programme design and delivery

• Target: 1,000 Emirati families over five years, delivered in four cohorts of about 200 families annually.
• Partners: Ministry of Economy and Tourism; Ministry of Community Empowerment; New Economy Academy; National CSR Fund (Majra).
• Training delivery: New Economy Academy will run compact six-day cohorts — two days in-person and four days online.
• Participant model: Each family nominates one member to take part, with the expectation that knowledge will cascade through the household.
• Participant categories: “startup” (idea stage), “skill-up” (existing but unstable income) and “scale-up” (ready to expand).
• Support model: Free training, structured guidance, mentoring and access to a network of government and private-sector partners; no direct cash grants.
• Selection criteria: Open to Emirati nationals aged 18 and above; emphasis placed on willingness to participate rather than existing business success.
• Measurement: Success will be tracked through pre- and post-assessments and ongoing cohort feedback; the programme will be adjusted iteratively.
• Sector guidance: Open across sectors but steered towards national priorities such as agriculture, agritech, logistics and food processing.

Dr Laila Faridoon, CEO of the New Economy Academy, said the training focuses on practical tools to help families compete in the UAE market and beyond. “The main objective is to train and empower 1,000 Emirati families to operate within the UAE market—and hopefully expand globally,” she told Gulf News. The curriculum covers ideation, business models, marketing and branding, mixing theory with hands-on exercises.

Officials emphasised a capacity-building approach. “It’s about building capacity first. Then we move to a startup kit—giving them a proper framework—and finally quality assurance, so they can actually reach the market,” Noor Abu Al-Houl said. The programme includes an iterative feedback loop: “We are taking an iterative approach,” she added. “We adjust the programme as we go, based on what works and what doesn’t.”

While the immediate aim is to reach 1,000 families, officials signalled potential expansion if the early cohorts deliver results. “Getting the first 1,000 is already a big step,” Noor said. “But once success is delivered, I’m sure there will be appetite to scale.” (Source: Gulf News, Dhanusha Gokulan, April 20, 2026.)