The ‘Rowad Al Ghad’ (Pioneers of Tomorrow) program, a national initiative by Dubai SME and INJAZ UAE, has concluded its latest cycle, showcasing nine startups developed by university students and entrepreneurs. The event culminated in the announcement of four winning ventures that presented solutions to real-world challenges posed by major public and private sector entities.
Quick Facts
- Program connects universities directly with the business sector.
- 9 startups presented solutions to industry-specific challenges.
- Four winners announced in HealthTech, AI, and Aviation.
Bridging Academia and Industry
The program is designed to create a direct pipeline from academic concepts to commercially viable UAE-based businesses. “The program aims to build a direct path connecting universities to the business sector by transforming academic ideas into scalable Emirati projects, thereby strengthening the country’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem,” stated Abdulaziz Al-Mazmi, Director of Business Incubation at Dubai SME, in a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Participants developed solutions for challenges presented by organizations including Emirates Flight Catering, du, Dubai Air Navigation Services, American Hospital Dubai, and Dubai Police. Al-Mazmi confirmed that Dubai SME will continue to work with all participating teams to turn their ideas into operational businesses, extending support beyond just the winning teams.
The Winning Cohort
After evaluating the nine pitches, the judging committee selected four standout projects:
ClaimGuard: An AI-powered solution for the health sector that improves insurance claims management by predicting which claims are likely to be rejected before submission. The system aims to increase operational efficiency and revenue for healthcare providers.
Rowadna: A unified digital platform for Emirati entrepreneurs and SMEs. It connects them with a trusted network of suppliers, partners, investors, and business opportunities to simplify the process of establishing and scaling a business.
RIAYA: An integrated patient journey management system that connects all stages of healthcare on a single platform. It covers everything from appointment booking and insurance verification to in-hospital navigation and post-treatment follow-ups, without requiring hospitals to replace their existing systems.
SkyNova: An intelligent platform for training pilots, aviation students, and air traffic controllers in air communications. It uses AI to analyze speech, aviation terminology, and fluency, helping to enhance the professional communication skills of aviation personnel.
Comprehensive Support Beyond the Competition
A key feature of the program is the extensive support offered to all nine participating teams. Al-Mazmi highlighted that every team, regardless of winning status, will have access to a comprehensive support system. This includes a five-year business license, access to business incubators and funding programs, and opportunities for contracts with the government and semi-government entities involved in the program.
About Rowad Al Ghad (Pioneers of Tomorrow)
Rowad Al Ghad is a sustainable national program launched by Dubai SME, an agency of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, in collaboration with INJAZ UAE. The initiative tasks university students and entrepreneurs with developing innovative and practical solutions to real-world challenges presented by government, semi-government, and private sector partners, fostering a new generation of Emirati-led businesses.
Source: Al Khaleej
