The UAE’s Ministry of Education has announced the launch of the Little Merchant project, a significant new initiative designed to embed an entrepreneurial mindset within the nation’s youth. The program is a key component of the broader national campaign, “UAE, Capital of World Entrepreneurs,” aiming to build a sustainable pipeline of future business leaders and innovators directly from the country’s school system.
A Nationwide Push For Youth Entrepreneurship
The ambitious program is set to engage over 100,000 students from both public and private schools across the UAE. The core objective is to equip the next generation with the practical skills and creative thinking required to transform their ideas into viable and sustainable business ventures. By targeting students at a foundational stage of their education, the ministry aims to make entrepreneurship a core cultural value for the country’s future workforce.
From Classroom Idea To Investor Pitch
The “Little Merchant” project will create a competitive and collaborative platform for students to develop and showcase their business concepts. The program aims to attract over 2,000 innovative student projects and ideas. From this pool, the top 100 projects will be selected to participate in a national exhibition, providing them with significant exposure. In a crucial step to bridge the gap between education and the startup ecosystem, the top 10 projects will be given the unique opportunity to present their ideas directly to a panel of investors and established entrepreneurs, creating pathways for potential funding and mentorship.
Key Dates And Timeline
The Ministry of Education has outlined a clear timeline for the initiative’s rollout. Registration for interested students and schools will open in November 2025. The national exhibition showcasing the top 100 student projects is scheduled to take place in February 2026.
About The Little Merchant Initiative
The Little Merchant initiative is a project by the UAE’s Ministry of Education aimed at instilling a culture of entrepreneurship among school students. As part of the “UAE, Capital of World Entrepreneurs” campaign, it targets over 100,000 students, guiding them to develop business ideas and providing the most promising projects with a platform to connect with real-world investors and business leaders.
Source: Twasl News
