February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development is an Abu Dhabi government entity established in 2007 to develop and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) owned by UAE nationals. The fund provides a comprehensive suite of services including direct financing, business incubation, mentorship, training programs, and market access support. Named after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the late President of the UAE, the fund aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial culture among Emiratis and reduce dependence on public sector employment by creating viable pathways into private enterprise.

UAE Context

The Khalifa Fund addresses a structural challenge in the UAE economy: the historical preference of Emirati citizens for government employment over private sector or entrepreneurial careers. The fund offers interest-free or low-interest loans to Emirati entrepreneurs launching businesses across sectors including technology, agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and services. It operates business incubators and accelerators that provide workspace, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The fund also partners with international organizations to expose Emirati entrepreneurs to global best practices and market opportunities. Since its inception, the Khalifa Fund has supported thousands of enterprises and disbursed billions of dirhams in financing.

Key Data

  • Founded: 2007
  • Initial endowment: AED 2 billion
  • Beneficiaries: Thousands of Emirati-owned SMEs
  • Services: Financing, incubation, training, mentorship, market access
  • Target sectors: Technology, manufacturing, agriculture, retail, services
  • Headquarters: Abu Dhabi

Significance for Vision 2031

The Khalifa Fund is a direct instrument of the UAE’s economic diversification strategy. By cultivating a generation of Emirati entrepreneurs who create jobs and contribute to non-oil GDP, the fund supports Vision 2031’s core objective of building a self-sustaining, innovation-driven economy. The fund’s emphasis on technology-enabled businesses and its partnerships with global innovation ecosystems position it as a key enabler of the UAE’s transition from a resource-dependent to a knowledge-based economy.