Athar+, Abu Dhabi’s dedicated hub for accelerating social impact, has named 15 social enterprises as winners of its ‘Impact Makers Challenge’, distributing a total grant of AED 1 million. The announcement was a key event at the Abu Dhabi Global Entrepreneurship Festival 2026, underscoring the emirate’s growing focus on building an impact-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Quick Facts
- Total grant value of AED 1 million.
- 15 social enterprises selected as winners.
- Initiative by the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an.
Fostering an Impact-Driven Ecosystem
The initiative was created to identify and scale ventures that are developing solutions for pressing social needs in Abu Dhabi. Participants underwent several evaluation rounds, culminating in a pitching stage for the shortlisted ventures.
The selection process was overseen by Athar+, an initiative of the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, with support from Majra, the National CSR Fund. Winners were chosen based on criteria including innovation, scalability, sustainability, and their ability to demonstrate measurable social impact.
Empowering Youth Entrepreneurs
In a move to activate the next generation of founders, the challenge was organized in collaboration with the Emirates Youth Council for Entrepreneurship. The partnership aimed to empower young social entrepreneurs by providing a platform for them to share experiences and strengthen their position within the broader social entrepreneurship community.
A Commitment to Community Development
His Excellency Salem AlShamsi, Executive Director of Social Incubation and Contracting at the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, commented on the initiative’s goals.
“We believe that the growth of social enterprises is key to driving community development. Through Athar+, we are enabling purpose-driven entrepreneurs to scale solutions that directly addresses community priorities and aligned with Abu Dhabi’s social priorities. By providing tools and initiatives such as this grant, we are ensuring that innovation has a tangible, lasting impact on the community of Abu Dhabi.”
About Athar+
Athar+ is Abu Dhabi’s first purpose-driven hub dedicated to accelerating social impact. As an initiative of the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, it works to enable and support social enterprises and high-impact ventures. Ma’an was established in 2019 by the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi and serves as the official government channel to receive social contributions, aiming to build a collaborative and active community.
Source: My Startup World
