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The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development detailed that the ‘Future Entrepreneur’ programme will operate as a four-session pathway with each session running three hours and featuring interactive workshops, business simulations, mentoring and graduation showcases. Sessions will be delivered free of charge in both Arabic and English at locations in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra between July 13 and August 21. The fund’s announcement outlined age-appropriate cycles to match developmental stages, ensuring all material remains accessible and relevant for participants from early childhood through late teens. Applications require a parent or guardian signature for younger entrants.
Four distinct learning cycles have been created to address specific needs across the 4-18 age range, according to the fund. Children aged 4 to 6 will engage in play-based entrepreneurship that includes storytelling, teamwork exercises and introductory concepts of exchange. The 7-9 cycle introduces financial literacy, branding, pricing and customer interaction through hands-on mini-market simulations. Participants aged 10 to 14 will tackle business ideation, prototyping, branding, basic financial modelling and initial pitching skills while those aged 15 to 18 advance to full business planning, investor simulations, pitch deck development and market-readiness mentoring.
KFED listed five main objectives for the 2026 summer cohort that focus on building an entrepreneurial mindset driven by creativity, curiosity, confidence and innovation. The curriculum develops practical abilities in ideation, branding, financial planning, sales and presentation while strengthening financial literacy through direct experience with saving, pricing, budgeting and value creation. Real-world exposure arrives via graduation day events where students present projects and receive feedback in a simulated business environment. The structure incorporates bootcamp challenges to reinforce lessons through repeated application.
Organisers project the programme will attract 5,000 participants and support the creation of 2,500 entrepreneurial projects together with 1,000 small ventures, KFED figures show. Earlier editions have drawn more than 1,000 applications in a single cycle with 948 young people ultimately joining training sessions that emphasised similar practical components. Certificates will be awarded to all who complete the pathway and special recognition will go to those who demonstrate outstanding performance during showcases. The fund reported that such outcomes have consistently helped build participant confidence and idea-generation capacity.
In its launch statement the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development said, “Together, let us empower the next generation of innovators, business leaders, and entrepreneurs who will contribute to the UAE’s future growth and prosperity.” The entirely free initiative concludes with a dedicated graduation day that allows families and stakeholders to view completed student projects. Mentoring from expert facilitators runs throughout all cycles to guide idea refinement and skill application.
