Abu Dhabi’s New Athar+ Hub Empowers Social Enterprises to Grow Now 2025

Lifestyle3 weeks ago

Abu Dhabi, UAE – June 2025: The Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an has officially launched the Athar+ Hub, a pioneering platform designed to support and scale social enterprises across Abu Dhabi. This new initiative reflects the UAE’s growing focus on impact-driven innovation, empowering changemakers who want to solve societal challenges through sustainable businesses.

With this launch, Ma’an is strengthening the emirate’s social economy, making it easier for entrepreneurs, startups, and community-focused organisations to build and grow ideas that bring long-term positive impact.

What is the Athar+ Hub?

The Athar+ Hub is a collaborative and inclusive space that aims to become a central point for social enterprises. Whether someone is at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey or already running a social business, the Hub provides tools, mentorship, and a supportive ecosystem tailored for social impact initiatives.

The Hub offers:

Training programs on business development and impact measurement
Networking opportunities with investors, policymakers, and NGOs
Co-working spaces for collaboration and creativity
Workshops and bootcamps to accelerate early-stage ideas
Access to funding avenues and expert guidance

Located in Abu Dhabi, the Hub is part of a broader plan to boost the social entrepreneurship landscape in the UAE, in line with the country’s goals for a diversified and inclusive economy.

In her remarks at the launch event, Her Excellency Salama Al Ameemi, Director General of Ma’an, highlighted the Hub’s role in turning good intentions into impactful businesses.

“With the launch of Athar+ Hub, we are unlocking a space for social innovators to grow, collaborate, and bring meaningful solutions to life,” Al Ameemi said. “Our goal is to build a society where doing business also means doing good.”

The name “Athar+”, which means “impact” in Arabic, represents Ma’an’s core mission — to leave a lasting mark by empowering people who are tackling pressing issues like education gaps, environmental sustainability, healthcare access, and more.

What makes Athar+ unique is its tiered approach to supporting social businesses. Whether you’re still refining your idea or are already delivering services, the Hub provides customised support based on your stage of development.

Idea Stage: Entrepreneurs with early concepts can join ideation labs and innovation bootcamps.
Growth Stage: Businesses that already operate can access funding options and partnerships through social impact accelerators.
Scale-Up Stage: For mature enterprises, Athar+ offers strategic support and global connections to expand operations and increase reach.

This model ensures that entrepreneurs do not feel left out, regardless of where they are on their journey.

Aligning with Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030

The Athar+ Hub is more than a physical space. It is part of Abu Dhabi’s long-term strategy to invest in a knowledge-based, diversified economy that prioritizes social responsibility and inclusive development.

It aligns directly with Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s national efforts to:

Foster a strong third sector (non-profit and social business)
Reduce inequality and improve wellbeing
Strengthen youth engagement and participation in civic life
Encourage private sector collaboration on social issues

By helping social entrepreneurs grow sustainable business models, the Hub is expected to create jobs, solutions, and hope across underserved communities.

Collaborations and Future Goals

Ma’an plans to collaborate with local and international partners, including:

Universities and research centers
Social innovation networks
Government entities focused on economic and human development
Philanthropic investors and venture capitalists

Already, the Hub has signed several MOUs with academic institutions and private sector players, signaling its serious intent to become a regional leader in social innovation.

In the next 12 months, the Athar+ Hub aims to:

Support 100+ social entrepreneurs
Host over 50 workshops and mentorship sessions
Launch a Social Enterprise Challenge to discover untapped talent
Publish impact reports to track progress and inspire others

Real Stories, Real Impact

One of the early members of the Hub is GreenHope UAE, a youth-led enterprise focused on turning food waste into compost. Founder Sara Al Qassimi shared her experience at the launch event:

“Before Athar+, I didn’t know how to take my project to the next level. But the mentors here helped me build a clear plan, measure my impact, and connect with like-minded people.”

Stories like Sara’s are why the Hub exists. It’s a place where ideas meet execution, and where empathy meets enterprise.

Final Thoughts: A New Era of Changemaking in the UAE

As the UAE continues to diversify its economy and promote inclusive growth, initiatives like the Athar+ Hub are essential bridges between policy and people.

By providing the right tools and environment, Ma’an is not only empowering individuals — it’s changing the way the world sees social innovation in the Arab region.

With the launch of Athar+ Hub, the message is clear: Social impact is not just a trend — it’s the future of business.