Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 11 September 2026: The Federal Youth Authority (FYA) and Al-Futtaim today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the growth of youth‑led Emirati businesses, expanding access to markets and customers, and enhancing their contribution to the national economy.

The partnership brings together the Federal Youth Authority’s youth entrepreneurship ecosystem, including its ‘Done by Youth’ and ‘Youth Launchpad’ initiatives, with Al-Futtaim’s extensive private-sector reach to create practical growth opportunities for youth-led Emirati businesses.

Through Al-Futtaim’s destinations and Blue’s digital platform and loyalty ecosystem, participating SMEs will be able to reach a wider customer base, increase visibility and commercial opportunities designed to support sustainable business growth.

Supporting the goals of the UAE National Youth Agenda 2031, the partnership aims to empower more than 100 youth‑led Emirati SMEs by connecting them to commercial opportunities across Al-Futtaim’s selected destinations, in addition to leveraging Blue’s community of more than 7.7 million members.

His Excellency Khaled Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Federal Youth Authority, said: “Empowering Emirati youth to participate in the economy is central to the National Youth Agenda 2031. Achieving that ambition requires an integrated ecosystem that not only supports the establishment of enterprises but also opens real pathways for entrepreneurs to access markets and customers, providing them with practical opportunities for expansion, growth and long‑term sustainability.”

HE Al Nuaimi added: “Our partnership with Al‑Futtaim reflects the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in creating an environment that supports Emirati entrepreneurship, transforming available opportunities for youth into sustainable economic impact. Through such partnerships, we aim to increase youth participation across economic sectors, strengthen their role in creating new opportunities, and support the development of competitive national businesses capable of contributing effectively to the economy of the future.”

Mira Al Futtaim, Chief Future Education Officer, Al-Futtaim Education Foundation and Chairwoman of Emiratisation, Al-Futtaim said: “The private sector plays an important role in supporting the UAE’s national priorities and creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation of entrepreneurs. Through this partnership, we are helping youth-led Emirati businesses access the customers, platforms and commercial opportunities they need to grow, contributing to a stronger and more competitive national economy.”

Dany Karam, Chief Marketing and Partnerships Officer at Al-Futtaim Blue said: “At Blue, we believe that giving entrepreneurs access to customers is just as important as giving them access to funding or mentorship. By connecting youth-led Emirati businesses to our digital platform and loyalty ecosystem, we are helping them increase their visibility, build lasting customer relationships, supporting long‑term business growth. We are proud to support the Federal Youth Authority in creating practical opportunities that enable the next generation of Emirati entrepreneurs to thrive.”

Eligible SMEs will get preferential support to onboard onto Blue’s platform, giving them access to digital marketing opportunities, loyalty-led customer engagement and commercial insights. Participating businesses will also be able to apply for retail activation opportunities across selected Al-Futtaim malls, subject to applicable criteria, approval processes and availability within the agreed activation period.

This partnership represents a model of public-private collaboration in strengthening the national entrepreneurship ecosystem, moving businesses beyond the establishment phase towards expanded market access, enhanced growth potential, and long-term sustainability. It also reflects the UAE’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for entrepreneurship through effective partnerships that build scalable models supporting the long‑term objectives of the UAE National Youth Agenda 2031.