UAE to Establish an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center in Kenya

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to establish an innovation and entrepreneurship center in Kenya.

The announcement follows last week’s bilateral talks between President Kenyatta and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces in Abu Dhabi.

Following the talks held during Kenyatta’s working visit to the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed has directed the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development to establish an innovation and entrepreneurship centre in Kenya.

“Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development has announced its plan to establish an innovation and entrepreneurship centre in the Republic of Kenya,” a news release by the official Emirates News Agency said.

The innovation and entrepreneurship centre will focus on launching programs, workshops and initiatives geared towards providing aspiring and established Kenyan entrepreneurs with guidance on how they can inject innovation into their entrepreneurial endeavors to boost the national economy.

The directive of Sheikh Mohamed to establish a centre for innovation and tech-focused entrepreneurism in Kenya is part of the UAE’s ongoing commitment to contribute towards empowering talented innovators and entrepreneurs around the world.

“With centres such as these, we provide entrepreneurs with resources, support and guidance to contribute to their local and global economy, bringing about positive economic implications and security," said Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, the Chairman of Khalifa Fund and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.

He added: "This collaboration between the UAE and Kenya will see the two respective nations implement Khalifa Fund’s successful model to the new innovation and entrepreneurism centre with the aim of reflecting the same levels of achievement in Kenya as has been experienced in the UAE.”

Al Hammadi said the Khalifa Fund is committed to enhancing and elevating Kenya in a similar fashion to assist in creating job opportunities for Kenyans.