The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development has announced the winners of its second “Khalifa Fund Entrepreneurship Competition,” an initiative designed to recognize and support promising startups in Abu Dhabi. The competition drew significant interest, with 509 entrepreneurs and young talents participating. From this pool, 57 startups qualified for an intensive training and mentorship camp before the final selection.
Quick Facts
- Over 500 entrepreneurs and startups participated.
- Winners were selected across multiple innovation categories.
- The competition aims to boost Abu Dhabi’s startup ecosystem.
A Spotlight On Sector-Specific Innovators
In the main Entrepreneurs Awards category, several founders were recognized for developing practical solutions to market needs.
Hadef Al Hamli won the agriculture sector award for an AI application that evaluates the quality of dates, processing up to 80 per second. The financial technology prize went to Mohammed Al Nasseri for creating a virtual platform to teach investment principles. In healthcare, Dr. Omar Najm was awarded for his work in advancing genomic medicine and life sciences in the UAE.
The energy sector prize was awarded to Ali Al Hashemi and Abdulrahman Al Hashemi for their electric vehicle charger capable of charging multiple vehicles simultaneously. Mohammed Al Muhairbi secured the tourism award for an integrated platform designed to manage events, registration, and ticketing.
AI and Robotics Take Center Stage
The Innovation Awards highlighted founders leveraging deep tech to solve complex problems.
The AI innovation award was shared by Afra Al Ahbabi, who developed an Arabic-language AI assistant to automate medical record documentation, and Hind Al Junaibi, for an AI assistant that automatically grades student assignments.
Mohammed Al Mahrezi won the sustainability innovation award for a smart irrigation solution using solar-powered sensors and an AI platform to reduce water consumption by 20% to 50%. In robotics, Fahd Al Alili and Mohammed Shajo were awarded for their concept of using AI-powered autonomous drones to clean solar panels without human intervention.
Cultivating The Next Generation
The competition also focused on nurturing younger talent. In the Game Development Program, Huda Hilal Al Hinai and Al Rayan Hilal Al Hinai won for “Legends of Al Ain,” a cultural adventure game inspired by Emirati heritage. The game offers an interactive journey through Al Ain’s landmarks, including its oases and historical palaces.
In the “Future Entrepreneur Program,” student Abdullah Abdulkarim Al Blooshi won for his project “Eco Drive,” a solar-powered car designed as a sustainable transportation solution. The project features an integrated system of solar panels, a charge controller, and a lightweight chassis for high efficiency.
About Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development
The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development is an Abu Dhabi government entity established to support and develop the local small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. Through various initiatives, including the Abu Dhabi SME Champions program, the SME Export Empowerment program, and a Light Industrial Accelerator, the Fund aims to enhance the business environment’s competitiveness in the emirate and foster a culture of entrepreneurship.
Source: Al Khaleej
