Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development has expanded its support for national entrepreneurs at Make it in the Emirates 2026, using the Abu Dhabi industrial platform to connect small businesses with finance, procurement channels, technical support and new market access.
The fund’s participation at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, from 4 to 7 May, places seven beneficiary small and medium-sized enterprises at the centre of a broader national drive to deepen manufacturing capacity, strengthen supply chains and accelerate the role of technology-led ventures in the UAE’s industrial economy.
The showcased businesses operate across agricultural technology, artificial intelligence in healthcare, machinery and equipment manufacturing, distribution and supply chains, and food and beverage processing. Their presence reflects a policy shift in which entrepreneurship is being positioned not only as a job-creation tool, but as a direct contributor to industrial resilience, localisation and export potential.
KFED is presenting an integrated support model that follows entrepreneurs from membership and advisory services to funding, acceleration and procurement opportunities. Its “We Listen” service offers one-to-one advisory sessions tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs and SMEs, while “Funding on the Spot” allows business owners to apply for finance during the event, receive instant eligibility checks, obtain guidance and secure preliminary approvals for qualifying projects.
The initiative is aimed at reducing one of the most persistent barriers facing SMEs: the gap between ambition and bankable growth. Access to credit, buyer networks and technical support often determines whether small manufacturers remain local suppliers or become scalable participants in industrial value chains.
Mouza Obaid Al Nasri, chief executive of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said the fund was working to build “an integrated empowerment ecosystem” linking finance with talent, specialised skills, knowledge, innovation and market access. She said partnerships with public and private institutions, as well as academic bodies, were central to helping SMEs become competitive businesses capable of contributing to the UAE’s industrial economy.
The fund is also highlighting its Light Manufacturing Accelerator, a programme designed to turn product ideas into commercially viable ventures. The accelerator provides funding support, technical enablement and connections to supply chains and industrial partners, giving smaller companies a route into sectors where scale, certification and procurement readiness are critical.
KFED is due to sign five strategic memoranda of understanding during the event. The agreements cover Etihad Airways, TAQA Distribution, United Arab Emirates University, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation and the Higher Colleges of Technology. The proposed partnerships are designed to open logistics, utilities, hospitality procurement, research, incubation and entrepreneurship development channels for businesses supported by the fund.
The agreement with Etihad Airways is expected to help SMEs access transport and logistics opportunities, while the partnership with TAQA Distribution is intended to link entrepreneurs with the utilities and energy sector. The tie-up with United Arab Emirates University is aimed at leveraging academic and research capabilities for accelerator and incubator programmes, while Rotana’s involvement focuses on procurement from KFED-supported suppliers serving hospitality. The Higher Colleges of Technology partnership is expected to support innovation, entrepreneurship and business growth.
Make it in the Emirates 2026 is being held under the theme “Emerging Stronger” and is the fifth edition of the national industrial platform. Hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in collaboration with key Abu Dhabi and federal partners, the event brings together manufacturers, investors, startups, job seekers and public-sector decision-makers.
This year’s edition includes more than 1,100 exhibitors across 12 industrial sectors, with SMEs accounting for 61 per cent of participants. The platform is expected to draw more than 120,000 visitors, including investors, manufacturers and industry leaders. It also introduces procurement opportunities aimed at localising the production of about 5,000 products within the UAE.
The SME focus comes as the UAE moves to turn industrial strategy into measurable commercial outcomes. Cabinet-approved measures linked to industrial resilience include a Dh1 billion national industrial resilience fund to support localisation of vital industries, supply-chain security and strategic stockpiles across sectors such as food, manufacturing, base metals, pharmaceuticals, advanced technology and construction.
The expansion of the National In-Country Value Programme into a mandatory framework for all federal government entities, as well as companies with at least 25 per cent direct or indirect federal ownership, is expected to redirect more procurement spending towards domestic production. That shift gives SME manufacturers a stronger incentive to improve certification, governance and production capacity.
A new policy to strengthen the presence of UAE-made products in retail outlets and e-commerce platforms adds another market-facing layer to the industrial programme. Essential goods such as bottled water, dairy products, eggs, poultry, bread, flour, packaged vegetable oils and seasonal agricultural products are among the categories identified for stronger local representation.
The fund’s participation at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, from 4 to 7 May, places seven beneficiary small and medium-sized enterprises at the centre of a broader national drive to deepen manufacturing capacity, strengthen supply chains and accelerate the role of technology-led ventures in the UAE’s industrial economy.
The showcased businesses operate across agricultural technology, artificial intelligence in healthcare, machinery and equipment manufacturing, distribution and supply chains, and food and beverage processing. Their presence reflects a policy shift in which entrepreneurship is being positioned not only as a job-creation tool, but as a direct contributor to industrial resilience, localisation and export potential.
KFED is presenting an integrated support model that follows entrepreneurs from membership and advisory services to funding, acceleration and procurement opportunities. Its “We Listen” service offers one-to-one advisory sessions tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs and SMEs, while “Funding on the Spot” allows business owners to apply for finance during the event, receive instant eligibility checks, obtain guidance and secure preliminary approvals for qualifying projects.
The initiative is aimed at reducing one of the most persistent barriers facing SMEs: the gap between ambition and bankable growth. Access to credit, buyer networks and technical support often determines whether small manufacturers remain local suppliers or become scalable participants in industrial value chains.
Mouza Obaid Al Nasri, chief executive of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said the fund was working to build “an integrated empowerment ecosystem” linking finance with talent, specialised skills, knowledge, innovation and market access. She said partnerships with public and private institutions, as well as academic bodies, were central to helping SMEs become competitive businesses capable of contributing to the UAE’s industrial economy.
The fund is also highlighting its Light Manufacturing Accelerator, a programme designed to turn product ideas into commercially viable ventures. The accelerator provides funding support, technical enablement and connections to supply chains and industrial partners, giving smaller companies a route into sectors where scale, certification and procurement readiness are critical.
KFED is due to sign five strategic memoranda of understanding during the event. The agreements cover Etihad Airways, TAQA Distribution, United Arab Emirates University, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation and the Higher Colleges of Technology. The proposed partnerships are designed to open logistics, utilities, hospitality procurement, research, incubation and entrepreneurship development channels for businesses supported by the fund.
The agreement with Etihad Airways is expected to help SMEs access transport and logistics opportunities, while the partnership with TAQA Distribution is intended to link entrepreneurs with the utilities and energy sector. The tie-up with United Arab Emirates University is aimed at leveraging academic and research capabilities for accelerator and incubator programmes, while Rotana’s involvement focuses on procurement from KFED-supported suppliers serving hospitality. The Higher Colleges of Technology partnership is expected to support innovation, entrepreneurship and business growth.
Make it in the Emirates 2026 is being held under the theme “Emerging Stronger” and is the fifth edition of the national industrial platform. Hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in collaboration with key Abu Dhabi and federal partners, the event brings together manufacturers, investors, startups, job seekers and public-sector decision-makers.
This year’s edition includes more than 1,100 exhibitors across 12 industrial sectors, with SMEs accounting for 61 per cent of participants. The platform is expected to draw more than 120,000 visitors, including investors, manufacturers and industry leaders. It also introduces procurement opportunities aimed at localising the production of about 5,000 products within the UAE.
The SME focus comes as the UAE moves to turn industrial strategy into measurable commercial outcomes. Cabinet-approved measures linked to industrial resilience include a Dh1 billion national industrial resilience fund to support localisation of vital industries, supply-chain security and strategic stockpiles across sectors such as food, manufacturing, base metals, pharmaceuticals, advanced technology and construction.
The expansion of the National In-Country Value Programme into a mandatory framework for all federal government entities, as well as companies with at least 25 per cent direct or indirect federal ownership, is expected to redirect more procurement spending towards domestic production. That shift gives SME manufacturers a stronger incentive to improve certification, governance and production capacity.
A new policy to strengthen the presence of UAE-made products in retail outlets and e-commerce platforms adds another market-facing layer to the industrial programme. Essential goods such as bottled water, dairy products, eggs, poultry, bread, flour, packaged vegetable oils and seasonal agricultural products are among the categories identified for stronger local representation.
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