Ra'idah Opens Second Programme for Women-Led SMEs in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council, in partnership with Publicis Groupe Middle East, has announced the second edition of Ra'idah, a programme designed to support the growth of women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Abu Dhabi.

Launching in September 2026, the programme will select participants through a competitive application process before guiding them through a two-day, in-person academy, one-to-one mentoring sessions and Falcon Tank, a pitch competition where winning campaign ideas receive paid media funding.

The second edition expands its curriculum to include marketing and leadership, artificial intelligence tools, content creation, personal branding, paid media strategies and campaign development. Sessions will be delivered by specialists from Publicis Groupe across communications, media, technology, creativity and AI.

The programme is intended to help women founders strengthen their businesses while building practical skills that can support long-term growth. Participants will also join a curated cohort of entrepreneurs from across Abu Dhabi, creating opportunities for peer learning, collaboration and professional networking.