Pearl Initiative and the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation have launched the Creative Entrepreneurship Lab, a new initiative designed to support young creative leaders by combining artistic talent with purpose, accountability and strong governance. The launch marks the third year of partnership between Pearl Initiative and Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, reinforcing their shared commitment to empowering future entrepreneurs and leaders.
The programme builds on the success of two previous editions of the Youth Impact Lab, which brought together 85 students from 10 universities, and introduces a new focus on the creative economy as a driver of social impact.
Inaugural Lab Session Brings Together Emerging Creative Leaders
The inaugural Creative Entrepreneurship Lab session took place at the end of November at the Jafar Center for Executive Education at the American University of Sharjah. The one-day experience was designed to inspire and support young cultural and creative leaders to transform artistic ideas into impactful initiatives rooted in purpose and good governance. Participants engaged in dialogue with experienced philanthropists and artists, structured mentorship sessions and a comprehensive pitch development workshop. These activities encouraged them to explore how creativity can be paired with accountability, sustainability and funding readiness to address real-world social challenges.
Leadership Perspectives on Accountability and Impact
H.E. Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation and Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, said:
“Through the Creative Entrepreneurship Lab under the Young Philanthropist programme, in partnership with the Pearl Initiative, we seek to establish a pioneering model that fosters a culture of accountability and transparency. By combining artistic creativity with social purpose, we enhance innovation in business and culture, create meaningful opportunities and nurture a culture of human impact locally and globally within the framework of a sustainable creative economy.”
H.E. added:
“We work hand-in-hand to empower young leaders to create impact, engaging community members and students from UAE universities including American University of Sharjah, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and Manipal University Dubai preparing them to exchange creative ideas and develop innovative solutions to environmental, social and humanitarian challenges.”
Exploring Governance in Creative Ventures
To open the programme, Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation hosted a Riwaq Al Fikr talk titled ‘Building Creative Ventures for Lasting Social Impact’. The session brought together cultural leaders, philanthropists and entrepreneurs to explore real-world partnerships, funding pathways and the role of governance in ensuring that arts-led initiatives deliver measurable and sustained social and environmental outcomes.
The discussion highlighted how transparent processes, clear frameworks and measurable results help build trust and enable collaborative ventures to succeed. The panellists included Dr Pradeep Sharma, Director of Arts, Culture and Heritage at the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, and Kamila Rangoonwala Ahmed, Founder of KRA Art Advisory.
Hands-On Mentorship and Pitch Development
In the next stage of the lab, participants took part in a competition supported by a diverse group of mentors including Sarah Sabbagh, Founder of 180xSarah, Dr Wasseem Abaza, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Zayed University, and Dipika Mallya, Founder of Ideation Labs.
Working closely with mentors, participants explored practical approaches to transforming creative expression into structured, fundable and purpose-driven ventures. The process provided hands-on experience in designing, pitching and presenting projects focused on social impact, with guidance on governance, partnerships and financial sustainability.
Creative Solutions to Social Challenges
Participating teams addressed a range of social challenges, with pitch presentations reflecting a strong commitment to positive change within their communities. Their projects demonstrated an understanding of how artistic vision, business acumen and governance must work together to build ventures that are both impactful and sustainable.
Internships to Support Continued Development
Commenting on the success of the programme, Ralph Choueiri, Executive Director of Pearl Initiative, stated:
“This year’s competition is another demonstration of our commitment at Pearl Initiative to integrating governance principles into the creative economy. This year, we have worked closely with ADMAF to refine the programme to enable the creative entrepreneurs translate their ideas into impactful projects. The ideas presented this year show that when creativity is guided by vision and strong governance, it can deliver meaningful and lasting social impact in UAE, and across the region.”
Participating teams were awarded one-month internship opportunities at Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation. During this period, they will work alongside ADMAF’s professional team to further develop their project ideas and gain practical insight into structuring and governing creative ventures for long-term social impact.
Strengthening the Creative Economy Across the Gulf
The Creative Entrepreneurship Lab reinforces Pearl Initiative’s commitment to nurturing young leadership and entrepreneurship across the UAE and the wider Gulf region. By embedding principles of social impact and strong governance within the creative economy, the initiative aims to strengthen a growing ecosystem of young philanthropists and changemakers driving innovation with integrity.
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