The Federal Youth Authority (FYA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Al-Futtaim to create new commercial pathways for young Emirati entrepreneurs. The partnership aims to support the growth and long-term sustainability of youth-led small and medium-sized enterprises while advancing the objectives of the National Youth Agenda 2031.
The agreement was signed by His Excellency Khalid Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Federal Youth Authority, and Mira Al Futtaim, Chief Future Education Officer at Al-Futtaim Education Foundation and Chairwoman of Emiratisation at Al-Futtaim. Senior officials from both organisations attended the signing ceremony in Dubai.
Under the MoU, the two parties will work together to empower more than 100 youth-led Emirati SMEs. Participating businesses will gain practical opportunities to reach wider customer segments, use digital marketing and loyalty tools, and explore commercial activation across selected Al-Futtaim destinations. A key element of the partnership is access to the ‘Blue’ ecosystem, which serves a customer base of more than 7.7 million members.
His Excellency Khalid Mohammed Al Nuaimi emphasised the importance of practical support for young entrepreneurs. He stated that empowering Emirati youth to participate in the economy sits at the heart of the National Youth Agenda 2031. Achieving this goal, he noted, requires an integrated ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs at every stage of development by offering clear pathways to markets and consumers while strengthening their competitive position and commercial resilience.
He added that the collaboration with Al-Futtaim highlights the value of public-private partnership in advancing Emirati entrepreneurship. By combining the Authority’s youth-focused programmes with Al-Futtaim’s established capabilities, the partnership opens new commercial avenues for youth-led ventures and helps build enterprises that can contribute meaningfully to the future economy.
Mira Al Futtaim underlined the private sector’s role in supporting national priorities. She said the partnership connects youth-led Emirati businesses with new platforms, channels and commercial prospects that support their expansion and strengthen their contribution to the national economy. The collaboration also reflects Al-Futtaim’s broader commitment to fostering an environment in which the next generation of entrepreneurs can develop their ventures and capitalise on market opportunities.
Dany Karam, Chief Marketing and Partnerships Officer at Al-Futtaim Blue, noted that access to customers is as important for entrepreneurs as access to funding or mentorship. By linking youth-led Emirati businesses to the Blue digital platform and loyalty ecosystem, the partnership helps increase visibility, build lasting customer relationships and support long-term business growth.
The initiative brings together the Federal Youth Authority’s entrepreneurship programmes, including ‘Done by Youth’ and ‘Youth Launchpad’, with Al-Futtaim’s extensive private-sector reach. Eligible SMEs will receive preferential support to onboard onto the Blue platform, giving them access to digital marketing opportunities, loyalty-led customer engagement and commercial insights. Participating businesses will also be able to apply for retail activation opportunities across selected Al-Futtaim malls, subject to applicable criteria, approval processes and availability.
This partnership offers a practical model of public-private collaboration designed to help youth-led businesses move beyond the establishment phase into sustained market presence. By combining institutional support with commercial platforms and customer access, the agreement seeks to enhance the growth potential and sustainability of participating enterprises.
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The Federal Youth Authority was established in 2018 to serve as an incubator for Emirati youth talent. It works to nurture skills, support creative ideas and encourage active participation in national development through a range of initiatives, programmes and services.
Al-Futtaim, founded in the 1930s, is one of the region’s most diversified privately held businesses. Headquartered in Dubai, the group operates across more than 20 countries and employs more than 40,000 people. It represents a portfolio of over 200 international brands and maintains a strong focus on digital innovation, sustainable growth and strategic partnerships.
The new MoU aligns the Authority’s youth development mandate with Al-Futtaim’s commercial reach and digital capabilities. Together, the partners aim to create tangible opportunities that help young Emirati entrepreneurs expand their businesses, reach larger audiences and contribute to a more competitive and diversified national economy in line with the National Youth Agenda 2031.
The agreement reflects a shared commitment to practical empowerment. Rather than limiting support to training or advice alone, the partnership prioritises market access, customer engagement tools and commercial activation opportunities. These elements are intended to help youth-led SMEs build resilience, increase visibility and achieve sustainable growth in the UAE market.
