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The Student Activities Department at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), in collaboration with the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, organized a seminar on support programs available through the Khalifa Fund on the morning of Wednesday 11^th March, 2015. It was held in the College of Information Technology on the male campus.

This seminar is part of the strategic partnership between the university and other national institutions that seeks to support the development of the business sector and young talent.

Professor Yaqoub Al Ahmadi, Head of Student Activities Department, stressed the importance of this seminar in attracting the attention of people with creative ideas that have economic and social benefits. He urged them to choose an appropriate vocational specialization and seek financial support. Such initiatives are targeted at the next generation and encourage responsibility and leadership as they seek to serve the country.

Mr. Khaled Al Marzooqi, Senior Manager of the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development in Al Ain clarified the types of support offered, such as finance programs. These are divided into smaller programs where the amounts can reach 50,000 dirhams (the Khutwa program), to a range of between 50,000 to a quarter of a million dirhams, and finally to the Bedaya program where the limit is three million dirhams in support of innovative projects. Additionally there is the Zayada program that supports the expansion of small and medium enterprises, with loans of up to five million dirhams.

Professor Mariam Al Hallami, Senior Business Consultant at the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, explained that there are several steps prior to the approval of any project. The applicant is interviewed and discusses their idea; they then prepare a feasibility report and a financial study. She called on students to take on innovative ideas that can contribute to the development of the community.