37 Emirati Businesses Embark to Drive New Opportunities for Empowerment and Entrepreneurship at the "971 From the Community" Pavilion

As Part of the Global Village Season 31, 2026–2027
37 Emirati Businesses Embark to Drive New Opportunities for Empowerment and Entrepreneurship at the "971 From the Community" Pavilion

• The pavilion embodies the Ministry of Community Empowerment’s vision to support entrepreneurs from Emirati families and strengthen their social and economic independence.

The 18th edition of the “971 From the Community” Pavilion, organized by the Ministry of Community Empowerment as part of the Global Village Season 31, 2026–2027, has launched with the participation of 37 businesses owned by entrepreneurs from Emirati families. The pavilion provides participants with distinctive, hands-on market experience, enabling them to showcase and market their products and engage with visitors from diverse cultural backgrounds. This helps them expand their customer base and develop their businesses in ways that support their growth, sustainability, and economic independence.
Social and Economic Empowerment
Ahlam Al Ahmad, Director of the Social and Economic Empowerment Department at the Ministry of Community Empowerment, said: “The pavilion is part of a clear approach led by the Ministry to help entrepreneurs move from receiving support to building businesses that can grow and achieve long-term sustainability. This is achieved by providing real opportunities to enter the market, reach a wider audience, and develop the skills and tools that enable business owners to make better decisions and grow and diversify their sources of income.
She explained that Entrepreneurs from Emirati Families program is one of the key pathways under the national empowerment program, "Madar," launched by the Ministry to shift "from care to social and economic empowerment." She noted that "Madar – Entrepreneurs from Emirati Families" supports business owners in developing their businesses and turning them into sustainable success stories, thereby strengthening their economic independence and the stability of their families.
She added: "The 971 From the Community Pavilion is supported by the Global Village management and offers an experience that combines product showcasing with direct engagement with visitors. It also features Madar Space, dedicated to arts and entertainment events and activities throughout the season, making the pavilion a space for experience and interaction."

Growing Participation
She noted that this season has seen an increase in the number of participating businesses, with the number of shops rising to 37 including 24 registered brands. She highlighted the diversity of businesses participating from across the UAE, which have been classified into more than 10 categories, including food and beverages, perfumes and incense, fashion, abayas and tailoring, food manufacturing, creative industries, and beauty, among others.  Each business is given a dedicated space to showcase its identity and products while enriching the experience of pavilion visitors.
As part of its efforts to support businesses and enhance their competitiveness, the Ministry has supported a number of participating brands in developing and refining their visual identities, in collaboration with designers, artists, and specialized entities. This helps align their branding with modern marketing practices and strengthen the businesses’ market presence.
Training and Capacity Building
Al Ahmad explained that participants for the 31st season were selected through a multi-stage evaluation process covering the 527 applications received by the Ministry. The process was conducted by a specialised project evaluation committee comprising nine experts and entrepreneurs. 
She noted that, as part of the Ministry’s plan to train 1,000 entrepreneurs from Emirati families, under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, pavilion participants have received training and capacity-building programs in collaboration with a number of strategic partners, including the Central Bank of the UAE, the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation, the New Economy Academy, the Emirates Foundation, and the Neol platform. The training covered financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and mentoring, as well as communication and problem-solving skills, resource management and financial obligations, and the use of artificial intelligence tools. These programs enhance participants’ readiness to manage their businesses efficiently and sustainably.
The 971 From the Community Pavilion also features the participation of three entities as part of the Ministry’s vision to strengthen community partnerships: Ghars Center for Social Empowerment, affiliated with the Fujairah Charity Association; the Zayed Authority for People of Determination; and the Emirates Council for Balanced Development. Their participation reflects the diversity of groups and businesses benefiting from the support and empowerment opportunities offered by the pavilion.