Today's Edition
MUDHI ALOBTHANI (ABU DHABI)
The UAE is actively building an ecosystem that empowers startups through opportunity, structured support, and real market access, according to young entrepreneurs at the recently concluded Abu Dhabi Entrepreneurship Festival.
Held from April 20 to 22 at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre, the event brought together government entities, investors and entrepreneurs, with a focus on expertise exchange and partnership building.
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the event, they said that entrepreneurship in the UAE is not built in isolation - it is supported, guided, and continuously strengthened by a system designed to help young founders turn ideas into real impact.
Mansour Hamad Amer Al Suwaei, founder of Kafa Specialty Coffee, described how his journey began with identifying a gap in the market for high-quality coffee at events.
“I started my entrepreneurial journey by benefiting from the ease of obtaining a trade licence in Abu Dhabi, where I launched my project through a ‘Trader’ licence. The idea came from noticing a gap in the market for specialty coffee at events, especially in terms of quality and consistency.”
He also highlighted early operational challenges, mainly finding suitable suppliers and manufacturers willing to work with startups at reasonable costs. Despite this, he emphasised how the ecosystem supports learning and development.
“I overcame these challenges through continuous research, trial and error, and learning from experience, in addition to exchanging knowledge with other entrepreneurs.”
On the wider environment, he said the entrepreneurial environment in the UAE is very positive and encouraging. “It motivates young people to try, learn from mistakes, and continue despite challenges.”
Mahra Al Qubaisi, Founder and CEO of Elevation, shared her perspective on how entrepreneurship in the UAE is supported through structure and belief.
Her startup connects university students with the job market through short-term projects, giving them experience and income while helping companies access flexible talent.
“My idea is to connect education with the job market, so students can gain experience and income through short-term tasks, while also helping startups and companies grow without needing full-time employees.”
For Mahra, the most important factor is having people who believe in one’s vision. “Having support from family, friends, and even people who take the time to listen and believe in your idea is one of the biggest reasons I was able to continue.”
On the impact of the ecosystem, she said: “The UAE makes entrepreneurs feel they are not alone, and that there is a system around them that genuinely wants them to succeed.”
Mohammed Saad, founder of the fragrance brand Departure, reflected on a more personal and evolving journey into entrepreneurship. “My start in entrepreneurship was not 100% planned. I’ve always had a passion for business, and I kept thinking about how to increase my income and build something of my own,” Saad said.
He described his early challenges with uncertainty.”Sometimes I would get excited about an idea and then change it later. I also didn’t have strong capital or a fixed team in the beginning.”
However, Saad emphasised persistence as the key factor in setting your entrepreneurship idea takes off. “What helped me was that I didn’t stop. I kept trying, learning, and improving myself each time, and over time things started to become clearer.”
He credited Abu Dhabi’s strong startup ecosystem with empowering entrepreneurs, noting that the emirate’s diverse initiatives provide young entrepreneurs with exposure, connections and opportunities to learn from people who have already succeeded.
Saad also noted that the Abu Dhabi Entrepreneurship Festival offers a vital platform for young entrepreneurs to network and share expertise. “The most valuable part was hearing real stories from entrepreneurs about challenges, not just success. It gave me a different perspective and showed that opportunities exist, but you have to take action.”
