Emirates Foundation Announces the Top 15 Competitors for 2019 Emirates Award for Arabian Gulf Youth

Emirates Foundation, the national organization set up by the Abu Dhabi Government to facilitate public-private funded initiatives for the empowerment of youth across the UAE, announced today that it has received over 200 submissions and short-listed 15 enterprises in the fourth edition of the Emirates Award for Arabian Gulf Youth competition.

Launched under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of Emirates Foundation, Emirates Award for the Arabian Gulf youth is one of the Foundation’s key initiatives, a competition aimed at encouraging young entrepreneurs from across the GCC to develop innovative solutions to regional social issues, and empowering them with a solid platform to deliver sustainable social impact for their communities and countries.

The top 15 entries for the 2019 Emirates Award for Arabian Gulf Youth were shortlisted by a senior panel of entrepreneurs and experts, who selected the most promising social enterprises from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.

Judging panel members are Dr. Adeeb Al Afeefi, Director of the National Program for SMEs; Nabra Al Busaidi, Executive Director of Young Arab Leaders; and Abdulla Al Shimmari, project manager at Abu Dhabi Police and Dr. Saif Alshaali Executive Director – Social Incubator and Contracting Authority for Social Contributions (Ma’an).

Mohamed Al Hosani, Head of Programs at Emirates Foundation said: “Social entrepreneurship is gaining a lot of momentum in the GCC and we have seen its potential emerge across the Arab World driven by young social entrepreneurs’ socially responsible and focused on impact driven socio-economic growth.”

Today, Emirates Award for Arabian Gulf Youth is part of Emirates Foundations’ overall commitment and social entrepreneurship strategy aimed at supporting the national agenda by unlocking the potential of youth and enabling them to become the driving force of the UAE’s economic development.” Al Hosani added.

“The award provides a unique opportunity for social entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and to work closely with trained professionals who can help them transform their ideas into successful projects.” Al Hosani concluded.

Short-listed participants will undergo a mentorship bootcamp for 5 days in Abu Dhabi, led by industry experts, to prepare them for their final pitch in front of the judging panel in November 2019. The panel will then select three winners who will be recognized at the EAAGY Recognition event, which takes place on November 5 in Abu Dhabi.

The top three teams will receive grand prizes of AED70,000, AED50,000, and AED25,000, respectively, as well as receiving a one-year membership with waived fees on all services and the chance to attend national and international training and exhibitions, easy access to federal government tenders, and the privilege of setting up private office space for a period of three months by the National Program for Small and Medium Enterprises and Projects run by the Ministry of Economy. The award winners will also be trained and mentored by leading UAE based organisation Young Arab Leaders.

The 15 shortlisted social enterprises teams and projects are:
1- Eisa Mohamed Alharthi and Muhammad Taha Ansari - Solar Smart Cell
2- Edgar Brian Mejia and Fahed Hasan Albreiki - IDEA 1.61
3- Moza Salim Al Naimi, Shaima Husain Alawadhi, Dana Ali Alameri and Asma Mohammed Alshehhi – Khadar
4- Fatima Ahmed Alshaali – My lab.
5- Fatima Ibrahim Alhammadi- Edge of Graduation Projects.
6- Ahmed  Yaqoob Al Balushi – Tamkeen.
7- Noora Saed Alawadi - Mend Hero Academy.
8- Mohammed Abdulla Alharsousi- Entrepreneurs Enablement & Development Center.
9- Rami Khaled Abdullah, Lahej Thani Alhelli and Ahmed Ahmed Mahmoud- Helpy.
10- Meera Ateeq Aldhaheri, Ezdehar Musaed Gamil and Fatema Abdulla Alshehhi - Palm Trees Paper.
11- Fatima Theyab Abdull, Maitha Othman Al Zaabi and Ruaa Fadhl Al Ahmadi - Hayat Platform.
12- Jawaher Ali Al Balushi- Gasoline evaporation
13- Alanood Abdulla Alqubaisi and Mezna Awadh Al Nuaimi - Determination Store.
14- Mahrah Mohammed Alshemeili, Aaesha Hurooz Alshehhi and Asma Mohammed Alshemeili.
15- Fatma Ahmad Almoosawi - Absorption of heavy metals using tea wastes.