- What
- Loans; amounts not published, vary by programme.
- Who
- Businesses 100% owned by UAE nationals, operating in Abu Dhabi, owner aged 18–65.
- From abroad
- Nationals or residents of the UAE — 100% owned by UAE nationals; legally established and operating in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi All programmes open to founders from abroad →
Checked · October 2026 · khalifafund.ae · How we check ↗
In detail
Khalifa Fund is a government loan programmes in the UAE. Abu Dhabi government fund for Emirati entrepreneurs. Seven financing programmes incl. a First-time Founders Loan; loan amounts not published. Runs The Cybersecurity Accelerator Program. No equity taken.
- Amount
- Programme-dependent; loan amounts not published
- Terms
- No equity
- Eligibility
- Businesses 100% owned by UAE nationals, legally established and operating in Abu Dhabi; owner/partner aged 18–65 (site)
- Sectors
- All sectors and business activities approved under Khalifa Fund’s financing policy
- Benefits
- Mentorship and market access · Abu Dhabi SME Champions Programme
- Status
- Active
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what Khalifa Fund publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“Be 100% owned by UAE nationals.”
“Future Entrepreneur Programme 2026”
“Have an owner/partner aged between 18 and 65 years, with no open court cases.”
“Be legally established and operating in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”
“Khalifa Fund offers an integrated financing ecosystem comprising seven financing programmes designed to support Emirati entrepreneurs and Abu Dhabi-based businesses at every stage of growth, from business establishment and expansion to innovation, advanced technologies, and operational efficiency.”
“1. First-time Founders Loan For Emirati nationals looking to establish their first business”
Closing soon on the map
No published deadline in the next 30 days · All published deadlines →
Compare loans & guarantees in the UAE
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Khalifa FundLoans; amounts not published, vary by programme. | not published | No equity | Active |
| Amplify Growth FundGrowth loans from $3M (average $10M) over 3–4 years, with a warrant component. | $10M | Loan with warrants | Active |
| Emirates Development Bank (EDB)Up to AED 2M per startup with no assets required, tenors up to 72 months. | not published | No equity | Active |
| MBRIFGovernment-backed bank-loan guarantees. | not published | No equity | Active |
| Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund for SME (The Fund)Interest-free SME loans up to AED 1M; credit loans up to AED 3M via partner banks. | up to AED 3M | No equity | Open |
| Ruwad — Sharjah Foundation to Support Pioneering EntrepreneursInterest-free loans up to AED 400,000; bank Murabaha financing up to AED 2M. | up to AED 2M | No equity | Active |
| Stride VenturesVenture debt averaging $4M, repayable over 6 to 18 months. | $4M | Loan | Active |
| Partners for Growth (PFG)Growth debt and asset-backed lending to tech companies. | not published | Loan | Active |
| Ruya PartnersPrivate credit for mid-market companies in MENA. | not published | Loan | Active |
| Tenami CapitalRevenue-based growth capital for founder-led tech companies, from DIFC Dubai. | not published | Capped return, bought back from revenue | Active |
No programmes match these filters.
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
More programmes that take no equity →
Questions founders ask
What does Khalifa Fund offer?
Loans; amounts not published, vary by programme.
Does Khalifa Fund take equity?
No equity — loan, repayable.
Can founders from abroad apply?
Nationals or residents of the UAE — 100% owned by UAE nationals; legally established and operating in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · khalifafund.ae · LinkedIn · linkedin.com/company/khalifa-fund · Checked October 2026