Building UAE's next tech entrepreneurs through talent-to-startup strategy
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI) Fresh from an intensive four-week dive into coding and artificial intelligence, more than 100 young talents in the UAE have been equipped with the skills needed to either delve deeper into advanced technologies or go straight into launching their own startups.The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED), in collaboration with coding school 42 Abu Dhabi (42AD), hosted the first Piscine coding bootcamp at KFED's Al Ain Campus from July 14 to August 7.The bootcamp attracted as many as 130 participants from diverse backgrounds and offered a unique, decentralised, peer-to-peer learning experience with a strong focus on coding and AI. Through this initiative, KFED and 42AD aimed to build a seamless pathway from education to entrepreneurship.Speaking to Aletihad, Mouza Obaid Al Nasri, CEO of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said: "After completing the Piscine bootcamp, participants can join 42 Abu Dhabi's accredited diploma in software development. For Emiratis aspiring to launch ventures, Khalifa Fund provides startup support to ensure graduates are not only technically equipped but also strategically positioned and enabled to turn their ideas into thriving startups."By providing hands-on training that mirrors real-world tech environments, KFED addresses key market gaps in software development, AI literacy, and tech entrepreneurship - sectors that are essential in Abu Dhabi's digital transformation."Beyond technical skills, the programme integrated entrepreneurial mindset development through challenges that required collaboration and real-world problem-solving," Al Nasri said.There were also pitching opportunities that introduced participants to the soft skills necessary in running a business. "Graduates benefit from joint mentorship programmes, exposure to venture creation pathways and opportunities to pitch ideas during community events. These elements cultivate essential business acumen, from ideation and validation to scaling and sustainability," the KFED CEO added. Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Acting CEO of 42 Abu Dhabi, highlighted the progressive structure of the tech education the school offers. AI is central to advanced stages, with students moving from C and C++ to AI basics, then specialising in fields like web and mobile; game and graphics; system and kernel; and security and network, he told Aletihad. "This progressive structure ensures a deep, hands-on understanding of AI as students advance. Through 42 Abu Dhabi's diverse programmes, we provide advanced technical training aligned with global technology trends - nurturing talent that meets evolving industry demands and supports the UAE's broader innovation agenda," Dr. Al Shoaibi said.With Al Ain Piscine - the school's collaboration with KFED - the tech training was complemented with "a series of workshops and specialised courses that helped translate technical expertise into scalable entrepreneurial ventures", he added. "Since the launch of Al Ain Piscine we have seen an extensive demand with over 130 participants with almost equal female to male ratio, across 13 nationalities, and various backgrounds ranging from tech specialists, gamers, job-seekers and career shifters. These statistics reinforce 42 Abu Dhabi's position as a leading coding institute within the Emirate, equipping students to meet the evolving demands of the tech and business industry," Dr. Al Shoaibi said.
Supporting the National AgendaKFED's talent-to-startup pipeline has been built on national priorities, Al Nasri said. "Khalifa Fund is prioritising sectors such as fintech, healthtech, and green tech, which are central to Abu Dhabi and its transition towards a smart, diversified, and sustainable economy. These industries have high growth potential and align with national goals for economic diversification, sustainability, and digital innovation," she said.
The fund is ensuring that its startup pipeline continues to be high-impact and relevant by tracking outcomes like the number of participants trained, ventures created, and the shift from education to entrepreneurship.
It is also tracking funding, the number of startups that are surviving, the impact of GDP and how much are being involved with mentorship programmes as a true indication of its impact to the UAE's SME and innovation landscape.
Expanding PiscineFollowing the success of Al Ain Piscine, Khalifa Fund plans to replicate the model and expand the initiative to Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra Region, and across sectors.
"The fund's evolving strategy includes AI-powered platforms, venture studios, and light manufacturing accelerators, which ensure that its educational and entrepreneurial frameworks remain responsive to emerging trends and technologies," Al Nasri said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
ECA's Parent-Friendly Label sets higher bar as more UAE employers adopt family-first policies
15 Aug 2025 00:24 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)The UAE is seeing a shift in workplace culture as more employers expand parental leave, flexible hours, and support for families of children of determination. This trend is being shaped in part by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority's Parent-Friendly Label (PFL) programme, which has tightened its evaluation standards and drawn record participation in its third programme's latest cycle saw a record 83 applications from semi-government, private and third-sector employers, with a notable rise in entries from professional services, education, energy and healthcare. The number of employees benefitting from parent-friendly policies rose 28% compared with the previous cycle, while inclusivity for parents of children of determination improved by more than 50%. 'The third cycle of the Parent-Friendly Label marks a significant milestone in the programme's journey, both in scale and impact,' Fatmah Rashed Alkaabi, PFL Programme Manager at the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), told Aletihad in an interview. 'This cycle holds special importance as we celebrate our label earners while the UAE marks the Year of Community in 2025, reinforcing the programme's commitment to fostering a more inclusive, family-supportive work culture across the country.'Organisations applying for the label are also adapting to more demanding evaluation criteria, which now place greater weight on the measurable impact and sustainability of workplace practices. Alkaabi revealed that, while the PFL retained the original 19 criteria across the five assessment areas — parental leave, flexible work, family care, family wellbeing, and organisational culture — the third cycle placed greater emphasis on leadership accountability, data tracking, and staff wellbeing support.'We also focused on assessing managers' support mechanisms beyond policy documentation, including leadership accountability, data tracking, and parental wellbeing programmes. These enhancements were informed by insights from earlier cycles to ensure stronger differentiation of label earners,' she added. Impact Beyond the Workplace Alkaabi said label earners have introduced institutional initiatives that directly affect the lives of working parents, creating long-term benefits for their children, communities, and the organisations themselves. Some offer six months' maternity leave, eight weeks' paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, and dedicated support for parents of children of determination. These measures, she explained, reduce stress, strengthen families, and enhance wellbeing, equity, productivity, and global competitiveness.'Our primary objective is to drive social change across the UAE by fostering a deeper understanding of the unique journey of working parents,' Alkaabi said.'This shift represents a long-term investment in child wellbeing and national development goals. Parent-supportive workplaces enhance healthy child development by encouraging beneficial practices like breastfeeding, which improve mother and child health,' she acknowledged that some employers, particularly smaller firms, may have concerns about potential disruption and costs. To address these, Alkaabi said the PFL programme offers free support to foster inclusive policies and has already impacted more than one million employees worldwide.'One of [the programme's] most valuable features is a structured feedback process, through which all applicants, regardless of outcome, receive an independent assessment highlighting their strengths and areas for improvement.'She added that the PFL team also connects organisations with experts and peers to help refine existing policies or develop new ones that align with both the programme's criteria and the unique culture of the 3 honoured 12 national and international organisations, including three earning the PFL+ for meeting or exceeding global standards in parent-friendly policies — HSBC, Ethara, and TAQA Transmission. The remaining nine — ADNOC, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Miral, DP World, The Developing Child Centre, Procter & Gamble, Strategy& Middle East, Kraft Heinz, and SLB — earned the PFL for exceeding local best said the ECA will continue to benchmark against leading global models to ensure the programme's evaluation criteria align with international standards, while remaining contextually relevant to the UAE. This ongoing refinement, she explained, is key to sustaining progress and widening the adoption of parent-friendly policies across sectors. 'Looking ahead, we will continue expanding the programme's reach to all sectors across the UAE and drive a nationwide shift to parent-friendly work culture across all industries.'
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
RSDI builds global bridges while advancing regional security dialogues
15 Aug 2025 00:35 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Aiming to connect the Gulf region with its global security partners, Rabdan Security and Defence Institute (RSDI) has been building its influence through high-level dialogues, tailored policy briefs, and its pilot projects in the pipeline. RSDI, a UAE think tank focused on the ever-evolving landscapes of defence and security, is committed to enhancing regional understanding and fostering long-term collaboration. It produces nuanced analyses grounded in Middle Eastern perspectives, delivering actionable insights to policymakers and the international community. Explaining its strategies in an interview with Aletihad , Dr. Wan Zokhri Bin Wan Idris, Interim Manager of RSDI, said the institute positions itself as 'a neutral and trusted convenor.' 'RSDI can present findings and results in ways that acknowledge different narratives, without taking sides, especially in sensitive geopolitical matters,' Idris said. He stressed the importance of recognising diverse perspectives and encouraging open dialogue. This approach, he added, is supported by a knowledge base built on collaborative research and data-sharing platforms. Given the UAE's partnerships with both Western and Asian powers and its role in humanitarian and conflict mediation, the institute is well-positioned to serve as a bridge between regional stakeholders and the global community, Idris said. Central to this strategy is RSDI's collaboration with reputable institutions such as the Middle East Institute in Washington, he added. As part of its engagement efforts, RSDI recently hosted a high-level panel examining the possible impact of US President Donald Trump's return on US-China dynamics and regional security frameworks. Discussions pointed out that the renewed Trump presidency would open new avenues for US–East Asia cooperation, particularly in sectors like semiconductors and renewable energy. Building on its foundation of dialogue and collaboration, RSDI is expanding its impact through a series of pilot initiatives designed to deepen regional security cooperation. 'In 2025, we are set to launch the Annual Middle East Security (AMES) Conference, a collaboration with TRENDS Advisory and Research. Then in 2026, we plan to launch the Middle East Defence Outlook Conference (MEDOC) as an avenue for researchers, policymakers, decision-makers to convene and discuss defence modernisation in the region.'
What's On
2 days ago
- What's On
Emiratis can now renew their UAE passport up to one year before expiry
Starting August 18, 2025, Emiratis can renew their UAE passport up to one year before the expiry date. Previously, the limit was just six months. How it works The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) says the new rule applies to any passport with 12 months or less left. Renewals can be done easily through the ICP smart services platform, without visiting a service centre in person. The digital process makes it faster and more convenient for everyone. Why this change? Ali Mohammed Al Shamsi, chairman of the authority, says the move is all about making life easier for citizens. With the new rule, people can plan trips well in advance, avoid last-minute passport problems, and complete official paperwork more efficiently. It also encourages the wider use of digital identity services. Al Shamsi adds that this step strengthens the UAE's reputation for efficient government services and sets a benchmark for the region. UAE passport power The UAE passport is ranked one of the 10 strongest in the world in 2025, reflecting the country's growing influence on the global stage. It allows Emirati citizens to travel to 184 countries without a visa or with a visa-on-arrival, making international travel faster and more convenient. This is a significant improvement from previous years and highlights the passport's increasing strength and value. Here's the recent progress in global rankings: 2022 and 2023: Ranked 15th 2024: Ranked 11th 2025: Ranked 8th The steady rise in ranking shows how the UAE has invested heavily in improving mobility for its citizens, making it easier for them to travel for business, education, or leisure. It also reflects the country's strong diplomatic relations worldwide, which continue to open doors for Emiratis across the globe. Experts say this trend is likely to continue, further solidifying the UAE passport as a symbol of national pride and global connectivity. This move makes UAE passport renewal easier, quicker, and more efficient, while also highlighting the country's commitment to high-quality government services and improving citizens' everyday lives. Image: What's On Archive > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
