Over AED 33 Billion Directed to Tourism Jobs Through UAE Programmes

More than AED 33 billion is being channelled through national funding programmes to support job creation and entrepreneurship linked to the tourism sector, according to figures highlighted under the World’s Coolest Winter campaign, themed ‘Our winter is entrepreneurial’. The initiative underscores the role of government-backed finance, training and incubation in enabling start-ups and small businesses to participate in the tourism economy.
Key contributors include the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, established in Abu Dhabi in 2007, which has supported more than 1,200 companies with over AED 1.4 billion in funding and helped create around 15,000 jobs. Its start-up and expansion programmes can cover up to 80% of project costs, with flexible repayment terms and grace periods. Support spans sectors including tourism, information and communications technology, healthcare, agri-tech and other innovation-led fields.
In Dubai, the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprise Development has funded 168 projects worth AED 137 million since 2015 and is targeting support for 27,000 Emirati businesses by 2033. Its services include business planning, accelerators, training, marketing, licensing, financing and access to government procurement. In 2024, the Hamdan Innovation Incubator assisted 66 entrepreneurs, bringing the total number of supported start-ups to 826.
Sharjah’s RUWAD Foundation, operating under the Sharjah Economic Development Department, has trained 9,724 participants, financed 106 projects and introduced digital platforms to improve access to financing, events and innovation initiatives. At the federal level, the Emirates Development Bank, operational since 2015, has disbursed AED 30 billion to more than 13,500 companies and contributed AED 10 billion to national GDP. Its EDB360 digital platform allows entrepreneurs to open accounts, apply for financing and connect with incubators and mentors through a streamlined process.