The Al Ghadeer Emirati Crafts Project and Al Foah formalized an agreement to empower Emirati women artisans during a recent signing event in the UAE. The deal centers on skill development and market expansion for participants engaged in heritage crafts. The Emirates News Agency reported that the partnership seeks to connect traditional techniques with commercial networks maintained by Al Foah in the date and heritage products sector.
According to the Emirates News Agency the collaboration will deliver targeted training that merges Emirati craft methods with contemporary applications while opening distribution avenues for artisan goods. Both entities will coordinate on workshops and product development initiatives that incorporate local materials. The framework also includes mechanisms to evaluate progress and adjust support measures for the women involved.
The Al Ghadeer Emirati Crafts Project has operated for years to sustain traditional skills among local communities. Project representatives described the new tie-up as an extension of prior programs that have equipped women with tools for economic self-reliance. Ministry of Community Development records indicate similar heritage initiatives have enabled hundreds of Emirati women to transform craft expertise into sustainable enterprises.
Al Foah maintains a leading position in premium date processing and has increasingly directed resources toward community-linked ventures in the Al Ain area. The company outlined in its announcement how the agreement complements its existing social programs by linking artisans to established supply chains. Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism assessments have shown that the crafts domain forms a notable element of the emirate’s cultural tourism offerings.
Ministry of Economy figures show that Emirati women own or co-own 114,050 small and medium-sized enterprises as of early 2026 with the number of Emirati women entrepreneurs standing at 48,257. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation separately placed more than 123,000 Emirati women in private-sector roles where many occupy skilled and leadership positions. These statistics illustrate the wider environment into which the Al Ghadeer and Al Foah agreement fits.
Gender Balance Council documentation has tracked rising female participation in creative sectors including those tied to cultural preservation. The current partnership adds another layer to programs that have registered thousands of new business licenses for Emirati women in Abu Dhabi alone over the past year. Updates from the involved organizations indicate that additional women from other emirates could join expanded phases of the crafts empowerment effort.
