ADBWC Launches Ra'idah 2.0 to Empower Women-Led SMEs

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Wednesday, 15 July 2026

The Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council (ADBWC) has partnered with Publicis Groupe Middle East to launch the second edition of Ra'idah, reinforcing its commitment to empowering women-led SMEs and strengthening Abu Dhabi's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Scheduled to begin in September 2026, the initiative builds on the momentum of its successful debut by creating new opportunities for business capability development, innovation, and sustainable enterprise growth.

Designed with a stronger emphasis on experiential learning, the programme features an expanded format that combines practical training with personalized mentoring. Entrepreneurs selected through a rigorous evaluation process will attend a two-day academy, work closely with experienced mentors to refine their business strategies, and compete in the Falcon Tank pitch competition.

The most promising business campaign proposals will be awarded paid media support, enabling participants to increase brand visibility, accelerate customer acquisition, and strengthen their market presence and reach.

Key Highlights:

• ADBWC launches Ra'idah 2.0 to empower women-led SMEs in Abu Dhabi
• Selected founders receive mentoring, AI training, and business coaching
• Falcon Tank winners secure paid media support to scale their ventures

Asma Al Fahim, Chairwoman of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council, said, "Empowering women-led businesses remains one of the most strategic investments we can make in the future of Abu Dhabi's economy. The launch of Ra'idah's second edition reflects our ongoing commitment to creating practical, high-impact platforms that enable women entrepreneurs to grow with confidence, scale with intention, and lead with influence.”

Ra'idah's second edition is being launched at a promising time when greater importance is being attached to female-owned companies in Abu Dhabi, and this highlights the Emirate's strategy of promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. With the growing number of women entrepreneurs setting up successful companies in various sectors, Ra'idah is the right platform for entrepreneurs to hone their leadership skills and set up businesses that will form an important part of Abu Dhabi's knowledge economy.

As Abu Dhabi strengthens its status as an entrepreneurial and business innovation hub, the programme becomes a strategic tool that aims to equip female entrepreneurs with the skills and network required to develop world-class companies.

The improved curriculum for Year Two has been designed to meet the changing requirements of the modern-day business setting. The training program will offer participants education on leadership, strategic marketing, artificial intelligence (AI) usage, content creation, personal branding, paid media planning, and campaign creation. These sessions will be conducted by industry experts at Publicis Groupe, providing participants access to communications, media, creativity, technology, and AI expertise.

Bassel Kakish, CEO, Publicis Groupe Middle East & Türkiye, said, “Our partnership with the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council brings together two commitments we hold equally: investing in the growth of small businesses, and creating real pathways for women to build their skills, visibility, and confidence. The second edition of Ra’idah goes deeper on both. We want founders to leave with capabilities they can put to work immediately, and we want the women in this programme to feel the difference that genuine access and support can make."

The trainees will be trained on leadership, marketing, artificial intelligence application, content generation, personal branding, paid media planning and campaigns. These trainings will be facilitated by experts from Publicis Groupe, and they will bring into the program their knowledge in the field of communications, digital media, technology and artificial intelligence among others.