The Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund and National Bonds have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote financial literacy, strengthen entrepreneurial thinking and empower young people across the UAE. The agreement focuses on education, capacity building and knowledge sharing, according to a joint statement from the two organizations. It aligns with national priorities in innovation, financial awareness and youth development as both parties seek to build a generation equipped for economic contributions.
Fatima Yousif Alnaqbi, acting assistant undersecretary for the support services sector at the UAE Ministry of Finance and the ministry’s representative at the fund, highlighted the importance of comprehensive support for innovators. “We are committed to providing our innovators with the comprehensive support they need to scale successfully and sustainably,” Alnaqbi said in the statement. She noted that integrating financial literacy into entrepreneurship initiatives provides founders and youth with tools to create resilient businesses that support long-term economic growth.
Under the memorandum, National Bonds will host workshops and interactive sessions for fund members and stakeholders that cover financial principles including investment awareness, wealth-building strategies and practical financial planning. In exchange the fund will supply entrepreneurship-focused educational content such as awareness sessions, founder success stories and innovation-driven knowledge-sharing initiatives. The organizations said these activities will inspire aspiring business owners while delivering practical skills.
Rehab Lootah, group deputy chief executive officer for National Bonds, stressed the role of financial awareness in personal and business success. “Financial awareness is a critical pillar of both sustainable business and personal success,” Lootah said. “Through our collaboration with the fund, National Bonds is proud to extend our expertise to some of the brightest entrepreneurial minds in the nation.”
The partnership will explore opportunities to bolster National Bonds’ existing financial literacy and Young Investor programmes that aim to equip youth with skills to navigate global economic changes. It will also feature dedicated capacity-building initiatives and train-the-trainer sessions designed to improve program delivery and impact. The statement indicated these efforts will ensure educators and mentors receive updated tools to guide future generations.
The fund, launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Finance and operated by Emirates Development Bank, has supported innovators through a government-backed guarantee scheme that provides affordable funding without taking equity. Its accelerator program, introduced in December 2018, offers coaching and services to help innovative businesses scale while aligning with the UAE National Innovation Strategy. The organizations said the new collaboration builds on this foundation to combine innovation financing with practical financial education.
