Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) announced that Middlesex University (MDX) Dubai joined its University Entrepreneurship Program (UEP) that aligns with Dubai’s ongoing efforts to implement Article 6 of the UAE’s Fifty-Year Charter.

Titled ‘Free economic and creative zones in universities’, the article focuses on establishing integrated economic and creative free zones around public and private universities that allow students to carry out business and creative activities, and incorporate these activities into the education and graduation system.

Abdulaziz AlJaziri, Deputy CEO and COO of DFF, and Dr Cedwyn Fernandes, Pro-Vice Chancellor of MDX and Director of MDX Dubai, signed a memorandum of understanding on behalf of the two parties, aimed at equipping more than 3,800 students of the university from 118 nationalities with entrepreneurial skills and motivating them to develop innovative solutions in vital sectors.

AlJaziri said: “DFF encourages the youth to lead and succeed at an early age, contribute to Dubai’s journey of excellence and participate in building the future economy with pioneering ideas that leverage advanced technology to achieve their dreams and aspirations.”

He added: “UEP enables undergraduate students in various practical disciplines to translate their ideas into quality projects on the ground, and to launch their own startups that come up with new solutions to current and future challenges. To date, the program has partnered with 13 local and international academic institutions based in the UAE.”

For his part, Dr Fernandes said: “MDX Dubai seeks to develop innovative approaches to education and to give its students the opportunity to experiment with their ideas in a safe and creative environment to advance the path of educational excellence. We are honored to join UEP and contribute to the efforts of DFF in designing the future of Dubai.”

He added: “Our participation in this program will help promote the entrepreneurship culture in the UAE through our various initiatives aimed at supporting the next generation of student entrepreneurs and enhancing research cooperation between academia and various future sectors through the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Centre for Innovation in Human Experience at MDX.”

Currently, 13 universities are participating in UEP. In addition to Middlesex University Dubai, these include the Zayed University, the Higher Colleges of Technology, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, University of Dubai, British University in Dubai, the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, University of Wollongong Dubai, Amity University Dubai, Rochester Institute of Technology – Dubai, American University in Dubai and the College of Fashion and Design Dubai.

DFF supervises the implementation of projects launched within the framework of the Dubai Free Zone Strategy. Furthermore, in cooperation with government and private sector entities, educational institutions and research centers in Dubai and around the world, it works to develop operational plans and study proposals, and to oversee the launch and support of university startups.