ADBWC, Emirates Foundation Launch Kids Entrepreneurship Camp

Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council and Emirates Foundation have successfully delivered the inaugural Future Entrepreneurs Summer Camp 2026, an interactive programme created specifically for children aged 7 to 10. Organised as part of a shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators and community contributors, the camp offered young participants a structured yet playful introduction to the world of entrepreneurship.

Held from 3 to 13 August 2026, the programme focused on practical, age-appropriate activities that guided children through every stage of turning an idea into something tangible. Participants began by exploring what it means to be an entrepreneur, then moved on to developing their own business concepts, learning basic marketing techniques, creating simple digital content, strengthening communication and teamwork abilities, and building foundational financial literacy. Additional sessions covered community safety, artificial intelligence and innovation, smart money management, and social responsibility, ensuring the experience went beyond business skills to include a broader sense of civic awareness.

H.E. Asma Al Fahim, Chairwoman of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council, emphasised the long-term value of early exposure. “The skills that shape successful entrepreneurs, including curiosity, resilience, creativity, and initiative, are developed long before an individual enters the business world. By introducing entrepreneurship at an early age, we can help young people build the confidence to explore ideas, embrace challenges, and think differently about the opportunities around them.”

She highlighted the strength of the partnership: “Our partnership with Emirates Foundation brings together a shared commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom. Through the Future Entrepreneurs Summer Camp, children will have the opportunity to learn by doing, explore new interests, and gain early exposure to concepts that encourage creativity, responsibility, and collaboration.”

Mohammed Al Hosani, Director of Leadership and Empowerment at Emirates Foundation, underlined how the camp aligned with the organisation’s wider goals. “We are proud to partner with the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council on this initiative, which aligns with the Emirates Foundation’s strategy of empowering individuals and promoting community engagement. Through the ‘Takatof’ initiative, children were introduced to the concept of volunteering and participated in a volunteer project to encourage them to give back, while the ‘Sanad’ initiative introduced them to the fundamentals of emergency response, fostering a spirit of teamwork and social responsibility.”

The programme was designed for children who showed interest in creative learning, teamwork and entrepreneurship. Over the course of the camp, participants engaged in five days of intensive practical activities and interactive experiences. They progressed systematically from understanding core entrepreneurial concepts to generating original ideas, building simple brands, preparing product presentations and practising customer service. The structured journey helped them experience the full cycle of turning a concept into a marketable offering in a safe, supportive setting.

A highlight of the camp was the Young Entrepreneurs Exhibition that closed the programme. In a simulated commercial market environment, the children showcased, marketed and sold the products they had developed. This hands-on marketplace experience gave them direct practice in product presentation, customer interaction and the process of converting ideas into viable small projects. The exhibition allowed participants to apply the marketing, communication and financial concepts they had learned earlier in the camp while receiving real-time feedback in a controlled setting.

Throughout the sessions, facilitators maintained a balance between educational content and enjoyable, collaborative activities. Children practised digital content creation techniques suitable for their age, explored how artificial intelligence can support innovation, and learned practical approaches to managing money wisely. Community safety and social responsibility modules reinforced the idea that successful entrepreneurship includes contributing positively to society. The combination of ‘Takatof’ volunteering and ‘Sanad’ emergency-response elements further strengthened participants’ sense of teamwork and civic duty.

By embedding these elements into an engaging summer format, the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council and Emirates Foundation created an environment where young learners could experiment, fail safely, iterate and celebrate small successes. The camp’s design recognised that the foundations of entrepreneurial thinking curiosity, resilience, creativity and initiative are best cultivated early, long before formal business education begins.

The inaugural Future Entrepreneurs Summer Camp 2026 therefore represents more than a short-term activity. It forms part of a broader effort to equip UAE children with practical life skills, a growth mindset and an early understanding of their potential role as future innovators and responsible community members. Through carefully structured experiences that blend idea generation, branding, marketing, financial awareness, technology exposure and social contribution, the programme has given a new cohort of 7- to 10-year-olds a memorable and meaningful introduction to entrepreneurship.

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As the children returned home after the exhibition, many carried not only the products they had created but also new confidence in their ability to generate ideas, work with others and take thoughtful action. The collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council and Emirates Foundation demonstrates how targeted, age-appropriate programmes can plant the seeds of entrepreneurial capability and social responsibility at the earliest stages of a child’s educational journey.

This model of interactive, multi-dimensional learning spanning business fundamentals, digital skills, financial literacy, artificial intelligence awareness, volunteering and emergency preparedness offers a clear pathway for similar initiatives that seek to prepare the next generation for an evolving economic and social landscape. The success of the 2026 camp sets a foundation for continued investment in early entrepreneurship education across the UAE.