The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) has partnered with 10 international startups specializing in early childhood development to provide UAE-based families with practical tools and services. The initiative, part of the ECA’s “Anjal Z” program, aims to support children’s learning and cognitive development while strengthening family bonds.
Quick Facts
- Partnership with 10 global childhood development startups.
- Services delivered through ECA’s “Anjal Z” program.
- Solutions are offered for free or at discounted rates.
Bridging Global Innovation with Local Needs
Over the past five years, the ECA’s “Anjal Z” program has focused on identifying and backing early-childhood startups with real-world applications for families. This latest move makes those solutions directly available to parents and caregivers across the Emirates, focusing on learning continuity, emotional well-being, and sleep patterns.
“When a family’s daily routine is affected, it directly impacts the children, and the pressure on parents and caregivers increases rapidly,” said Salha Al-Azri, Director of Research and Knowledge Solutions at ECA. “We carefully selected these startups based on solutions that are practical, reliable, and easy to use at home. The goal is to provide families with trusted tools to support their children’s health and learning.”
The Anjal Z Startup Portfolio
The ECA has structured the offerings into two tiers: free access and discounted access. Families in the UAE can access the services via the Anjal Z offers page using the promo code “FAMILYTIME” where applicable.
Free Access Services:
- Cubtale: A parenting app for tracking daily routines and key growth indicators for infants and children.
- Peekapak: A social-emotional learning platform for children aged 3-8, designed to build empathy, resilience, and emotional awareness.
- Jade: An award-winning developmental learning platform for children aged 6-12 that enhances cognitive, emotional, and social skills, with comprehensive support for children of determination.
- Enrichly: A digital platform for children aged 6-12 that promotes emotional resilience, self-confidence, and mental health.
Discounted Access Services:
- MonkiBox: A Montessori-inspired interactive toy kit for children aged 0-3 that supports early development.
- Raising Superstars: An educational program for children aged 0-6 that develops skills through joint parent-child activities.
- Cali’s Books: A collection of interactive books for children aged 0-5 supporting early learning and language skills.
- Kokoro Kids: A play-based platform for social-emotional learning for children aged 3-8.
- WonderTree: A movement-based educational platform for children of determination aged 4 and up, combining physical activity with educational games.
- Zenimal: A screen-free mindfulness device with a companion app to help children and families manage emotions and improve sleep quality.
Strengthening the Ecosystem Through Collaboration
To ensure the solutions reach families most in need, the ECA is working with a wide range of strategic partners. Collaborators include the Authority of Social Contribution (Ma’an), Hub71, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), the Department of Community Development, the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination (ZHO), the Family Care Authority, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).
About Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA)
The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) is a government entity in Abu Dhabi responsible for promoting optimal early childhood development. The authority develops and implements strategies and services to ensure every young child in the emirate is healthy, confident, curious, and able to learn and develop strong social and emotional skills.
Source: Ajman News
