UAE Strengthens Its Position As The Startup Capital Of The World Through Athar+ Initiative

The UAE government is promoting Abu Dhabi as a global leader in social entrepreneurship through initiatives like Athar+. This hub, established by the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, aims to enhance social impact. Athar+ is part of the "From the Community to the Community" initiative, launched in 2025 during the Year of Community to celebrate community involvement.

Athar+ serves as Abu Dhabi's first hub focused on accelerating social impact. It unites social enterprises, non-profits, and impact makers into a collaborative ecosystem. The hub is funded by community contributions and supports organisations driven by social impact. It provides workspaces, expert mentorship, tailored programmes, and business support services to help these organisations thrive.

The Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an has taken a strategic step with Athar+ to empower the social sector and promote entrepreneurship. This initiative builds on the success of the Ma’an Social Incubator (MSI), which began in 2019. MSI supported start-ups with business models addressing social priorities directly.

Athar+ offers specialised programmes in social entrepreneurship that position it as a launchpad for purpose-driven ideas. These programmes empower changemakers to create practical solutions with tangible impacts. Additionally, the Athar+ Hackathon provides students and aspiring entrepreneurs opportunities to develop innovative solutions for pressing social challenges.

During its participation at Expand North Star, part of GITEX Global, Athar+ highlighted its efforts in advancing social entrepreneurship. Twelve social enterprises showcased their businesses and impact-driven initiatives on this platform. The event also featured The Social Impact Challenge, attracting over 100 applications. Eight shortlisted entrants pitched their solutions for financial grants and access to Athar+ services.

Salem AlShamsi, Executive Director of Social Incubation and Contracting at Ma’an, stated: "Since the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an’s inception in 2019, start-ups that have impact on communities have been in the forefront. The impact social start-ups have on our community can be limitless with the right support which we consistently aim to provide."

Building a Thriving Ecosystem

Since its launch in May 2025, Athar+ has successfully built a community of 27 active member organisations across its programmes. It has supported 33 third-sector organisations and launched three impactful programmes. These initiatives delivered over 36 hours of training with participation from 32 experts.

Athar+ has also established collaborations with five service providers and five strategic partners. These partnerships are strengthening Abu Dhabi's growing ecosystem of social entrepreneurship.

With inputs from WAM