The following listing highlights NEXUS, a 10-week AI-first incubation program at MZN Hub Al Qana for Emirati founders. The program is designed to help participants validate ideas, build products, and launch investment-ready startups through an equity-free, no-cost model. It includes structured phases, AI training, mentorship, investor access, and post-program support.
Program at a Glance
• Program name: NEXUS
• Tagline: Building the next generation of AI-enabled Emirati startups
• Applications open; deadline: September 20, 2026
• Location: MZN Hub Al Qana, Abu Dhabi
• Format: 10-week AI-first incubation program
• Cohort size: 30 startups selected
• Duration: 10 weeks of incubation
• Cost to join: AED 0
• Equity taken: 0%
• Model: Free, non-dilutive; no cost at any stage
Program Model and Benefits
• Positioned as more than an incubator: a launchpad for AI-native ventures
• Selected founders work on-site at MZN Hub Al Qana for ten weeks
• Includes an entrepreneurship curriculum, embedded AI training, weekly OKR reviews, and direct access to Abu Dhabi corporations, government entities, and investors
• One onboarding week, ten weeks of core programming, a dedicated Demo Week, and four weeks of virtual post-program support
• One program, two founder journeys: startups attend the same core workshops, with mentoring, exercises, and deliverables tailored to maturity and own OKRs
• Complete the AI curriculum to earn a certificate recognizing practical capability in agentic workflows, prompt engineering, AI tool stack implementation, and AI-driven product development
• Exclusive immersion visits to Innovation Alliance partners, an invitation-only Government Innovation Majlis, and curated investor introductions matched to stage, not just at Demo Day
• Every startup leaves with two roadmaps: one built at onboarding to set direction, and one built at close translating outcomes into a concrete six-month plan
• Up to five startups are selected to attend the Silicon Valley Summit, covering 3 days of exposure to leading AI companies, researchers, and investors across 25 industries with more than 3,000 attendees
• Selected startups receive access to MZN Hub Al Qana in Abu Dhabi as residents, including coworking space and services such as startup enablement, professional development, commercialization support, growth and market access, and community engagement
Focus Areas
• NEXUS is anchored to the innovation priorities defined by corporate and government partners but is not limited to any specific industries
• Startups should address a real market gap in any chosen focus area
• AI & Frontier Tech
• HealthTech & Wellness
• AgriTech & Food Security
• FinTech & Smart Services
• Climate & Sustainability
• Creative & Cultural Tech
Program Phases
• Phase 1 | Applications Open: Closes September 20. Submit an application online. The program is looking for majority Emirati-owned startups, defined as 51% or higher Emirati ownership, at any stage interested in validating ideas, building products, and launching investment-ready startups enabled through AI. First-time founders are highly welcome. Applications are scored on team, market, product, and innovation potential.
• Phase 2 | Screening, Interviews & Selection: September 20 – October 9. Eligibility checks and structured scoring, followed by founder interviews, a joint validation panel, and a final Selection Day. Thirty startups are admitted.
• Phase 3 | Onboarding Week: Week 1. Kick-off and stakeholder welcome, intake interviews, an OKR and KPI workshop with 1:1 alignment, founder pods, and the first roadmap. Founders leave the week with a clear 10-week execution plan.
• Phase 4 | Core Incubation: Weeks 2–9. Weekly core workshops, AI workshops and implementation clinics, weekly OKR reviews, bi-weekly founder pods, and 1:1 office hours. Mentor matchmaking, corporate introductions, and investor readiness support are delivered on demand as readiness develops.
• Phase 5 | Demo Week & Demo Day: Week 10. Pitch to investors, corporates, government entities, and ecosystem leaders at MZN Hub Al Qana, alongside a startup showcase of products and prototypes.
• Phase 6 | Transition & Follow-Up: Post-program. Four weeks of virtual support, including a second roadmap with six-month milestones, founder office hours, pitch and partnership support, and continued commercialization follow-up.
Eligibility Criteria
• Majority Emirati ownership: startup must be majority Emirati-owned, with 51% or more Emirati ownership
• Age requirement: applicant must be aged 18 or above at the time of application
• Abu Dhabi residency: must reside in Abu Dhabi
• Development ready: startup must have a structured idea or a working prototype/minimum viable product
• Scalable business model: startup should demonstrate a clear path to scaling and creating value beyond a single market
• Availability commitment: must be available to participate on-site at MZN Hub Al Qana for the full duration of the 10-week program
Selection Preferences
• Beyond eligibility, the selection process rewards founders who show clarity of thought, real understanding of their market, and evidence of execution
• The process does not only look for pitch polish
• Valued teams can clearly articulate what problem they solve, for whom, and why their approach is different
• Applicants should show what has been built, not just what is planned
Evaluation Criteria
• Team Strength & Commitment: founder capability, domain expertise, availability and commitment to participate fully
• Market Opportunity: size and urgency of the problem, customer clarity, room to scale beyond a single market
• Product Readiness: working prototype or MVP, technical viability, evidence of execution to date
• Strategic Fit: alignment to program focus areas and to Abu Dhabi innovation priorities
• Business Model: clarity of revenue logic, route to market, competitive differentiation
• Innovation Potential: originality of approach, use of AI, defensibility of what is being built
Frequently Asked Questions
• Is there a cost to participate? No. NEXUS is entirely free. There is no application fee, no program fee, and no cost at any stage of the ten weeks.
• Does Khalifa Fund take equity in the startup? No. NEXUS is completely non-dilutive. Khalifa Fund takes no equity, no ownership, and no financial stake in any participating startup. Everything received is equity-free.
• Who can apply? NEXUS is open to founders aged 18 or above who reside in Abu Dhabi, with a majority Emirati-owned startup and a scalable business model aligned to one of the program focus areas.
• What stage does the startup need to be at? Idea stage founders, early-stage and pre-revenue startups, and more mature startups with a working product or early traction are all welcome. Both experienced and first-time founders are eligible.
• Is a technical founder required? No. The AI curriculum starts with practical tools and workflows any founder can use and goes deeper for teams whose product itself is AI.
• Does the startup have to be an AI startup? No. Every founder takes the 'Building With AI' track, focused on running leaner and moving faster with AI in operations. Startups whose product is AI take a second, deeper track, 'Building AI', focused on shipping something defensible.
• Where does the program take place? At MZN Hub Al Qana in Abu Dhabi. Participation is on-site, and campus access is part of the program perks.
• How much time does it require? NEXUS is a full-time commitment across ten weeks, including one onboarding week, ten weeks of core programming, and Demo Week. Attendance is tracked, and founders below 75% participation are followed up with directly.
• What is the AI Venture Practitioner certificate? On successful completion of the AI curriculum, founders are awarded a certificate recognizing practical application of modern AI tools and workflows in startup development, covering agentic workflows, prompt engineering, prototyping with AI, AI automation, and AI-driven product development. Eligibility requires sufficient attendance across the AI sessions.
• How does the international immersion work? Up to five startups are selected from the cohort to attend the Silicon Valley Summit, chosen as the teams positioned to benefit most from international exposure to leading AI companies, researchers, and investors. Tickets to the 3-day conference will be covered.
• What happens at Demo Day? Demo Day is held at MZN Hub Al Qana in front of investors, corporates, government entities, and ecosystem partners. All 30 founders pitch, with an exhibition area showcasing products and prototypes, followed by facilitated networking.
• What support is there after the program ends? Four weeks of virtual post-program support are provided, including a second tailored roadmap covering the next six months, founder office hours, pitch and partnership support, and continued follow-up on commercialization and pilot discussions initiated during the program.
• Can applications be submitted in Arabic? The application form accepts responses in both English and Arabic. Program events and sessions will be conducted primarily in English, with bilingual support available where possible.
• What if the startup is not selected? Applicants are welcome to apply to future cohorts. They are encouraged to use the cycle to strengthen the startup and reapply. They will also be informed of other programs or initiatives that Khalifa Fund can support.
NEXUS positions itself as an equity-free, no-cost incubation pathway for majority Emirati-owned startups in Abu Dhabi. Applications close September 20, 2026, with thirty places available and an on-site program at MZN Hub Al Qana for founders ready to build, validate, and launch AI-enabled ventures.