Cohort admissions openGame Development Skills, Infinite Possibilities.
Skills. Opportunities. Growth.
Build real skills in the business, design, and programming of games. Then take them into technology, media, design, marketing, and business, to start a venture of your own or engage with industry.
Venture path
Build your own business
Industry path
Build capabilities, engage with industry
AED 30,000
seed funding for eligible ventures*
About the programme
The Khalifa Fund Gaming Programme helps creative Emiratis get into gaming, then go further. It connects talent with skills development, recognised industry experts, mentoring, and real industry opportunities.
By
Khalifa Fund
The not-for-profit economic development fund of the Government of Abu Dhabi.
For
Emiratis aged 18 and above
Recent graduates, students graduating soon and aspiring founders.
Where
Abu Dhabi & Al Dhafra
At MZN Hub, across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Two paths
Everyone gets the same strong foundation. After the programme, you move onto the path that fits you.
GamingP1
Selected
Choose this if you are:
Loadout
*Subject to programme conditions, technical milestone audit, and selection. Not awarded automatically.
P2
Press to select
Choose this if you are:
Loadout
*Opportunities are subject to availability and selection and are not guaranteed.
Benefits
Everyone gets the same foundation. Each path adds its own support.
For everyone
Intensive skills development
Practical professional and entrepreneurial skills
Recognised industry experts
Learn from experienced practitioners
Mentoring
Guidance on your venture or your industry path
Workshops and practical learning
Hands-on sessions
Networking and connections
Industry professionals, founders, and partners
Access to major events
Gaming, technology and entrepreneurship
Venture path
Includes the full foundation
Intensive skills development, recognised industry experts, mentoring, hands-on workshops, networking, and access to major events.
Seed funding
For eligible ventures, subject to conditions
AED 30,000*
Venture development
Business model, plan and testing
Entrepreneurship skills
Starting and running a business
*Seed funding is not awarded automatically. Eligibility and award criteria will be published.
Industry path
Includes the full foundation
Intensive skills development, recognised industry experts, mentoring, hands-on workshops, networking, and access to major events.
Industry connections
Meet partners in gaming and related industries
Project-based work
Practical briefs with industry partners
Market access
Routes into the wider gaming and creative tech ecosystem
Portfolio and profile support
Profile, direction and introductions to industry partners
Where it leads
Gaming sits at the centre. Each branch is an industry the same skills lead into. Select one to see the roles behind it.
Build products, tools and platforms.
Skills travel to Fintech and consumer apps, simulation, AI products.
Create content that moves people.
Skills travel to Film, broadcast, music and streaming platforms.
Shape worlds, characters and experiences.
Skills travel to Product design, advertising, architecture visualisation.
Grow audiences and communities.
Skills travel to Any consumer brand that lives online.
Bring players and fans together.
Skills travel to Live events, sport, hospitality and tourism.
Turn ideas into businesses.
Skills travel to Startups, e-commerce and consulting.
Cycle 04 schedule
Now open
Oct 2026
Applications
Open
Public portal and briefing webinars commence.
Nov 2026
Selection &
Onboarding
Submission review, assessments and cohort invitations.
25 Nov 2026
Applications
Close
Final deadline, coinciding with the programme launch.
Nov 2026 – Jan 2027
Skills
Development
Hands-on tracks delivered by top international trainers.
Feb–Apr 2027
Venture Support &
Industry Connections
Two pathways: venture mentoring or industry internships.
*Subject to sovereign scheduling.
Emirate coverage
A programme for talent across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, hosted at Khalifa Fund’s MZN Hub in Abu Dhabi and Al Dhafra.
Where you’ll build
Khalifa Fund’s home for Emirati founders and talent. The programme brings participants together at MZN Hub in Abu Dhabi and Al Dhafra for training, workshops, mentoring and Demo Day.
MZN Hub · Abu Dhabi
MZN Hub · Al Dhafra
MZN Hub Abu Dhabi
In the UAE capital. A home base for the programme’s training, workshops and mentoring.
MZN Hub Al Dhafra
In the western region, bringing the programme closer to talent across Al Dhafra.
Venues & Formats
High-spec lab spaces and hybrid digital studio environments shared with admitted candidates.
Cohort criteria
Applications are rigorously reviewed by an admissions council and participants are selected based on merit and passion.
UAE Nationals
Open to Emirati citizens passionate about spearheading the local interactive entertainment economy and digital IP creation.
Graduates & Final-Year Students
Recent university alumni or current students graduating soon with creative, technical, or business backgrounds.
Based in Abu Dhabi or Al Dhafra
Residents situated across the emirate who are available to engage in scheduled on-site and collaborative milestones.
Future Creators & Founders
Looking for a high-impact role in game production, or ready to incubate and scale an independent interactive business.
A Khalifa Fund programme focused on skills development and industry integration. Participants build capabilities, explore entrepreneurship, engage with industry and access markets, project-based work and other ecosystem opportunities. It connects Emirati talent to the global gaming ecosystem.
No. Gaming is the starting point. The skills and connections you build open doors in technology, media, design, marketing, events and digital business.
Venture, for turning an idea into a business, with seed funding for eligible ventures. Industry, for engaging with industry through projects and ecosystem opportunities. The path is decided after the programme.
No. You do not need a business to join. The venture path is for people with an idea or an early venture.
Yes. The industry path gives access to industry connections, project-based work and other ecosystem opportunities, subject to availability and selection. Outcomes are not guaranteed.
Everyone gets skills development, experts, mentoring, workshops, networking and events access. Venture adds venture development and AED 30,000 seed funding for eligible ventures. The industry path adds industry connections and project-based work.
Eligible ventures on the venture path, subject to programme conditions. It is not awarded automatically. Criteria will be published with the application call.
The path is decided after the programme. Details will be shared with selected participants.
The programme will run over several weeks, with sessions scheduled multiple days per week. Selected participants are expected to commit to attending all sessions.
At MZN Hub in Abu Dhabi and Al Dhafra. Venue and format details are shared with selected participants.
Applications close on 25 November 2026, when the programme starts. Demo Day is on 28 January 2027, followed by the venture and internship track from February to April 2027.
Yes. Applications are reviewed and participants are selected.
Click “Apply now” and complete the short application form.
Khalifa Fund Gaming Programme
Whether you want to start a venture of your own, build skills or engage with industry, your next step starts here.
Cycle 04 Admissions · Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development
