United Arab Emirates, 14 November 2025: Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas today announced that HyveGeo, The AM Lab, and Magmec, have won the latest season of EGA Ramp-up, the company’s programme to support the growth of UAE start-ups and encourage UAE entrepreneurship.

Launched in 2022 with the support of the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, EGA Ramp-Up empowers UAE entrepreneurs through targeted training and mentorship led by global experts, to help them build high-impact businesses that contribute to sustainable economic growth.

The programme offers intensive training and mentorship courses led by international experts, with an aim to support participants’ entrepreneurial projects that contribute to sustainable economic growth. EGA Ramp-UP also seeks to develop potential new suppliers from among participating companies to further increase EGA’s local procurement, thereby strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the country and supporting the objectives of the national campaign ‘Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World’ which aims to solidify the UAE's position as a leading global destination for entrepreneurship and startups.

His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, said: “The UAE recognises the importance of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship as key pillars in building a competitive knowledge-based economy. Supportive initiatives and programmes that enhance their growth potential and contribution to strengthening the diversification of the national economy and strengthening the UAE’s position as a leading global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.” His Excellency also highlighted the importance of the strategic collaboration with EGA Ramp-Up as one of the programmes that drive a competitive UAE entrepreneurial ecosystem that is powered by innovation.

This year’s EGA Ramp-Up attracted hundreds of applications from UAE entrepreneurs in industries, including digital innovation, supply chain and logistics, environment and sustainability, human capital, and health and safety.

The latest EGA Ramp-Up season concluded with an investor pitch day in the presence of H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property (IP) Sector at the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, and Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “At EGA, we support the UAE’s vision to cultivate a thriving culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, driving economic diversification and growth. We are proud of EGA Ramp-Up, our platform to empower UAE entrepreneurs to scale impactful, sustainability-driven businesses. Over time, we aim that some participants will become EGA suppliers, further increasing our local procurement. Congratulations to all this year’s winners.”

Following a highly competitive evaluation process, 10 startups were shortlisted for season three of EGA Ramp-Up - EquaTalent, Huntr, HyveGeo Limited, Magmec, Mindme, Navatech, Re-skill, syd Life AI, The AM Lab, and Third Body Dynamics.

The 10 finalists received personalised mentorship from EGA senior executives and experts from EGA Ramp-Up partners Microsoft and Sandooq Al Watan, covering funding, business strategy, and sustainability.

Medea Nocentini, co-founder of C3 – Companies Creating Change, said: “We are so grateful for our ongoing partnership with Emirates Global Aluminium, whose vision and commitment have made the Ramp-Up Programme a true catalyst for entrepreneurship in the UAE. Each season, we witness remarkable founders turning challenges into opportunities, inspired by EGA’s dedication to innovation and sustainability. It’s an honour for C3 to play a part in this journey of empowering entrepreneurs who are driving meaningful impact for the country’s future.”

EGA delivers the programme in partnership with C3, a UAE-based social enterprise that supports entrepreneurs across the region to unlock their growth potential and maximise their positive impact on the community and the environment.

The next season of EGA Ramp-Up will launch early in 2026. For more information about the EGA Ramp-Up Programme, please visit www.ega.ae/en/ramp-up.

The Challenger Programme, under the patronage of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, was launched in November 2023. The programme brings together major industrial companies in the UAE that are traditionally male-dominated. Together, Challenger Programme member companies are delivering joint initiatives that promote inclusive recruitment, empower female talent, and foster progressive workplace cultures.

Recent projects include the development of a gender diversity toolkit. which aims to define inclusive policies and behaviours across the employee lifecycle in heavy industry.

Women make up 20 per cent of ENEC’s employees, one of the highest percentages in the nuclear energy industry globally, playing leading roles across engineering, operations, nuclear safety and leadership. ENEC established the Barakah chapter of Women in Nuclear in 2014, and now heads the Middle East Chapter of this international organization.

EGA currently employs 714 women in the UAE. Including more than 330 in operational roles.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Achieving gender diversity in heavy industry is not just the right thing to do, it is essential to unlocking the full potential of our sector. At EGA, we know that diverse teams are stronger, safer and more innovative. We launched the Challenger Programme to unite like-minded industrial companies in accelerating progress together. We are pleased to welcome ENEC to the initiative and look forward to learning from their experience and working together to advance opportunities for women across UAE industry.”

His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said: “Women are at the heart of our achievements at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, helping to sustainably power the UAE, develop the nuclear energy sector and inspire the next generation. Joining the Challenger Programme enables us to learn from other industrial leaders, share our own experience, and work together to support the brightest women to join the UAE’s advanced industries.”

With the addition of ENEC, the Challenger Programme now includes nine leading UAE industrial companies.

The programme is delivered in collaboration with NAMA Women Advancement as a strategic advisor and knowledge partner.

EGA Ramp-Up, supported by the UAE Ministry of Economy, offers expert insights, mentorship, intensive training and networking opportunities to entrepreneurs developing impact-driven and sustainability-focused businesses that will grow the economy and create new job opportunities.

The first two seasons of EGA Ramp-Up attracted hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs that have collectively created over 1,000 jobs. More than 35 per cent of the start-ups that participated in previous editions of the programme were founded by female entrepreneurs.

EGA partners with C3 to deliver EGA Ramp-Up. C3 is UAE-based social enterprise that supports entrepreneurs across the region to unlock their growth potential and maximise their positive impact on the community and the environment.

EGA will work with Microsoft UAE to power season three of EGA Ramp-Up through capacity-building workshops and mentorship focused on technology-enabled strategy development and scaling.

EGA considers Ramp-Up participants’ potential as suppliers to further increase local procurement and support the growth of promising local businesses. In 2024, EGA announced a partnership with EGA Ramp-Up season one finalist Nadeera to launch an innovative recycling solution in communities near the company’s Jebel Ali plant.

H.E. Alia bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, said: “The Ministry of Economy’s continued partnership with EGA embodies the true essence of collaborative symbiosis. In the past, several Ramp Up finalists have made it to the UAE’s Future 100 companies list and similarly, several Future 100 companies have been participants in Ramp Up Program. This reciprocal growth truly demonstrates the strength and value of our collaboration. We are determined to keep this journey going, to scale even greater heights in terms of entrepreneurship and SMEs development in the UAE, and become a leading global model in this regard.”

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Entrepreneurship is key to economic diversification and long-term growth. The goal of EGA Ramp-Up is to support innovative businesses to unlock their growth potential and maximise their positive impact on the community and the environment. I look forward to seeing this year’s impactful start-ups, with some potentially becoming suppliers to EGA.”

H.E. Yasser Al Gergawi, the Director General of Sandooq Al Watan concerning the EGA Ramp-Up program, said: "Empowering Emirati entrepreneurs is essential to our nation's growth and prosperity. Through initiatives like the Emirates Global Aluminium Ramp-Up program, we help provide the tools and support necessary for our youth to transform their innovative ideas into impactful businesses, reinforcing our commitment to a sustainable and diversified economy.”

Naim Yazbeck, General Manager of Microsoft UAE, said: "At Microsoft, we are committed to empowering every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. Our collaboration with Emirates Global Aluminium for the EGA Ramp-Up programme underscores the vital role of entrepreneurship in driving economic growth and innovation. By supporting these ambitious entrepreneurs, we aim to foster a culture of creativity and technological advancement that aligns with the UAE's vision for a diversified and sustainable economy."

Kevin Holliday, Managing Director of C3, said: “We are proud to continue our partnership with EGA for the third season of EGA Ramp-Up. EGA’s proactive support and steadfast commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the UAE set a benchmark for corporate engagement. Over the past two seasons, we have witnessed firsthand how strategic collaboration can drive impactful, sustainable solutions - empowering founders to contribute to building in-country value across key sectors of the UAE economy.”

Applications for EGA Ramp-Up season three are now open and will close on 11 May 2025. Entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses are encouraged to apply. To learn more and submit your application, please visit: www.ega.ae/en/ramp-up.

The programme was launched in 2022 under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Economy. EGA Ramp-Up provides practical guidance and training to UAE-based entrepreneurs developing promising businesses that will grow the economy and create new job opportunity.  

Season two concluded with an investor pitch day held at EGA’s headquarters in Al Taweelah in the presence of Her Excellency Alia bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, and Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium.

EGA delivers the programme in partnership with C3, a UAE-based social enterprise that supports entrepreneurs across the region to unlock their growth potential and maximise their positive impact on the community and the environment.

Hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs took part of EGA Ramp-Up season two. This year’s cohort included 43 per cent women-led and 29 local businesses.

The participants engaged in a series of intensive online courses on effective entrepreneurship. Following the evaluation process, 10 shortlisted entrepreneurs received tailored mentoring and coaching by EGA and C3 mentors on funding and finance fundamentals, business strategy, and sustainability. The finalists included Amp, AR Engineering, BaseTracK, Falcon Robotics, Seramic Materials, StrategyConnect, Takalam, Tenderd, The Surpluss, and TranspRight.

The judging panel selected The Surpluss in first place, Amp, and AR Engineering in second and third place respectively at the investor pitch day.

H.E. Alia bint Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, said: The UAE has always recognised the key role of the private sector and entrepreneurship in driving economic growth, employment creation and sustainable innovation. Today, SMEs account for 95 per cent of the total private sector companies operating in the country, accounting for 86 per cent of private sector employment. As we strive to accelerate the transition to a knowledge economy built on an advanced innovation ecosystem fuelled by collective collaboration, we see this partnership with EGA as a perfect match. The Ministry of Economy remains committed to fostering such collaborations in order to establish the UAE’s position as a true entrepreneurial nation by 2031.”

Her Excellency continued: “The first and second editions of the Ramp-Up programme witnessed strong participation from Emirati entrepreneurs exceeding the total of 124, which reflects the importance of the programme in supporting national entrepreneurship and creating new opportunities for Emirati entrepreneurs. The second edition of the programme contributed particularly to encouraging Emirati women entrepreneurs to establish businesses and launch pioneering projects as they constituted 43% of total number of participants. It provided them an ideal platform to exchange latest experiences and practices in the sector and learn from each other.”

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “We are proud to support the UAE's ambition to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, which is vital for our nation’s economic diversification and sustainable development. EGA Ramp-Up is a platform that empowers local entrepreneurs to scale-up impactful solutions that can create value for the society and the environment. I congratulate the graduates of season two and look forward to seeing their businesses grow and thrive in the UAE and beyond.”

Kevin Holliday, Managing Director of C3 – Companies Creating Change, shared his excitement about the program's continued success: “The success of our inaugural season laid a solid foundation, and this year, we have built on that momentum to continue fostering the growth of innovative UAE-based startups. The achievements of the second EGA Ramp-Up reflects the powerful synergy and unwavering commitment between EGA and the UAE entrepreneurial ecosystem. We are thrilled to support these startups and are confident in their ability to make significant contributions to the UAE's economic and social progress.”

EGA worked with Autodesk, a leading design and make software provider, to provide training services from technology experts and software grants for eligible startups participating in season two of the programme.

EGA considers EGA Ramp-Up participants’ potential as suppliers to further increase local procurement and support the growth of promising local businesses.

EGA is launching pilot projects with some of the programme finalists to further increase local procurement and support the growth of promising local businesses.

In January 2024, EGA partnered with EGA Ramp-Up 2023 finalist Nadeera to launch an innovative recycling solution in communities near the company’s Jebel Ali plant.

EGA Ramp-Up season three will launch in Q1 2025.

For more information about the EGA Ramp-Up Programme, please visit www.ega.ae/en/ramp-up.

The first meeting of the regional council brought together youth from EGA, Ma’aden Aluminium in Saudi Arabia and Sohar Aluminium in Oman.

The youth group, known as the Gulf Aluminium Youth Council, aims to foster collaboration and partnership opportunities for youth across the regional aluminium industry. The group operates under the regional trade association, the Gulf Aluminium Council.

During the inaugural session, the group engaged in discussions about the crucial role of young talent in driving aluminium sector growth and sustainable economic development in the region.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “At EGA, we believe that empowering the next generation of leaders is key for the future sustainable development of our sector and our region. I congratulate EGA's Youth Council on creating this forum for young people working in the aluminium industry across the Gulf. Our ambition is to provide our youth at EGA with opportunities to learn, innovate and contribute to our purpose of making modern life possible.”

Hala Alhashmi, Chair of the EGA Youth Council and Product Owner in the Digital Transformation & Industry 4.0 Department, said: “We are honoured to host the first regional youth meeting for Gulf aluminium companies and to launch the Gulf Aluminium Youth Council. As we celebrate the International Youth Day, we are reminded of the crucial role of collaboration and knowledge exchange among the young talents of our industry, and the importance of empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators in the aluminium sector.”

In 2022, EGA Youth Council hosted the first ‘Youth in Manufacturing & Technology Forum’, a platform that brought together 17 youth councils from across the industry and advanced technology sectors in the UAE to discuss the objectives of the UAE’s Operation 300bn industrial growth strategy.

EGA’s Youth Council hosted and participated in over 20 events during 2023 including 11 nation-wide impact initiatives.

EGA’s Youth Council was awarded ‘Organisation of the Year for Youth Empowerment’ at the GCC GOV HR Awards 2023 in recognition of its role in the development of future leaders, in line with the National Youth Strategy of the UAE.

Founded in 2018, EGA Youth Council is dedicated to supporting aspiring young employees to enhance critical leadership skills for future success, while giving youth a strong voice in the company.  

EGA Ramp-Up, under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Economy, provides practical coaching to entrepreneurs developing businesses that drive economic growth and contribute to sustainability, new technology, the development of human capital, and social advancement.

Entrepreneurship is one of the top priorities of the UAE and an important pillar of the 2071 Centennial Plan. The Entrepreneurial Nation strategy 2031 aims to make the country a destination of choice for global entrepreneurship.

Last year hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs took part in the first season of EGA Ramp-Up, with eight innovative startups selected to take part in the Investor Pitch Day at EGA’s headquarters in Al Taweelah.

In addition to mentorship and the opportunity to secure funding, EGA considers EGA Ramp-Up participants’ potential as suppliers to further increase local procurement and support the growth of promising local businesses. Last month EGA announced a partnership with EGA Ramp-Up 2023 finalist Nadeera to launch an innovative recycling solution in communities near the company’s Jebel Ali plant.

EGA has partnered with C3 to deliver EGA Ramp-Up. C3 is UAE-based social enterprise that supports entrepreneurs across the region to unlock their growth potential and maximise their positive impact on the community and the environment.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said “At EGA, we know that we can contribute to the UAE’s economic diversification and development well beyond our own commercial success. With EGA Ramp-Up’s return for the second year, we empower innovators and pacesetters to scale-up business that will create a lasting positive impact on society and opportunities for people. I look forward to seeing the innovative ideas from this year’s entrepreneurs, and supporting them become reality.”

Kevin Holliday, Managing Director of C3 - Companies Creating Change, said: “Following the success of the inaugural season, we are excited to launch the next round of EGA Ramp-Up. Major companies can make a significant practical contribution to increasing entrepreneurship, which is key to the UAE’s economic future. I am pleased to see EGA’s continuing commitment to enable changemakers to drive economic growth and fast-track essential solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.”

EGA will work with Autodesk, a leading design and make software provider, to power season two of EGA Ramp-Up. Autodesk will provide software grants for eligible startups, and training services from technology experts.

Applications for EGA Ramp-Up season two are now open and will close on 28 April 2024. Aspiring entrepreneurs and established founders are encouraged to apply for a chance to be part of this transformative initiative. To learn more about the programme and submit your application, please visit: www.ega.ae/en/ramp-up.

Launched in November last year under the patronage of the Ministry of Economy, EGA Ramp-Up focuses on entrepreneurs whose business ideas are based on application of science and technology to progress sustainability.

The programme received hundreds of applications from aspiring UAE-based entrepreneurs who engaged in a series of online courses on effective entrepreneurship led by C3 – Companies Creating Change.

Following the evaluation process, eight innovative startups were selected to take part in the Investor Pitch Day at EGA’s headquarters in Al Taweelah. The diverse group of young founders representing business hailing from growing sectors presented their innovative businesses ideas to a distinguished judging panel. The finalist startups included Circa Biotech, FortyGuard, MindTales, Nadeera, Olive Gaea, SecuriCIP, Solumar, and Verofax.

The judging panel selected Solumar, FortyGuard and Verofax in the first, second and third place respectively.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Our goal with EGA Ramp-Up is to make a further contribution to the UAE’s economic diversification and development by supporting innovative young entrepreneurs to launch their impact-driven and sustainability-focused businesses. We hope our support will enable these companies to thrive, and that some may even go on to become EGA suppliers, further increasing our local procurement and supporting Make it in the Emirates and the achievement of the UAE’s Operation 300bn industrial growth strategy.”

As part of the Entrepreneurial Nation strategy, EGA Ramp-Up supports the achievement of the Centennial 2071 goal of increasing entrepreneurship in the UAE.

“These startups represent some of the most promising talent in the UAE, and C3 is thrilled to have partnered with EGA to equip them with the tools needed to accelerate their businesses. Through our tailored mentorship programme, we have nurtured their growth trajectory, enabling them to create lasting impact,” said Kevin Holliday, Managing Director of C3 - Companies Creating Change.

EGA is launching pilot projects with some of finalists to further increase local procurement and support the growth of promising local businesses.

EGA made a direct, indirect and induced contribution of some $7.19 billion in 2022, supporting almost 48,000 jobs.

EGA spends around $1.7 billion on goods and services from UAE companies each year, some 45 per cent of the company’s total global procurement spend.

EGA will launch the next round of EGA Ramp-Up in Q4 2023.

For more information about the EGA Ramp-Up Programme, please visit www.ega.ae/en/ramp-up.

His Excellency Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Economy said: “The Ministry of Economy is committed to supporting the UAE's entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity ecosystem by strengthening collaboration with like-minded private and public sector partners, in line with the 'Projects of the 50' to drive the country's economic agenda and diversification programme. We are delighted to be partnering with EGA and look forward to supporting the EGA Ramp-Up programme to champion innovators and creative thinkers.”

Khalid Essa Buhumaid, Senior Vice President Government Relations at EGA said: “Through EGA Ramp-Up we aim to support entrepreneurs whose businesses will contribute to economic diversification and growth. We are honoured to partner with the Ministry of Economy on this programme, and together will work to support and boost even more entrepreneurs whose success will benefit both themselves and our nation.”

The EGA Ramp-Up programme is attracting aspiring and recently-established entrepreneurs to a series of informative online courses on effective entrepreneurship. The programme will work even more closely with the most promising start-ups, providing mentoring support from a global network of experts. Start-ups aligned with EGA’s strategic objectives will be assessed for their eligibility to receive cash rewards and opportunities for collaboration with EGA.

The Ministry’s Entrepreneurial Nation platform will provide EGA Ramp-Up with greater access to budding entrepreneurs and support the programme’s outreach campaign. A member of the Entrepreneurial Nation team will join the EGA Ramp-Up evaluation panel which assesses entrepreneurs’ eligibility for support.

Applications for the EGA Ramp-Up programme are now open and more than 300 entrepreneurs have already registered for the first round. Applications will close on 27 January. To learn more about the programme and submit your application, please visit: www.ega.ae/en/ramp-up.

Entrepreneurship is one of the top priorities of the UAE and an important pillar of the 2071 Centennial plan. The National Agenda for Entrepreneurship and Small & Medium-sized Enterprises aims to make the country a destination of choice for global entrepreneurship by 2031.

EGA has partnered with C3 to deliver the programme. C3 is a UAE-based social enterprise that supports entrepreneurs across the region to unlock their growth potential and maximise their positive impact on the community and the environment.