Awqaf Dubai (the Endowment and Minors’ Trust Foundation) has announced the beginning of the ‘Talent Endowment’ project in partnership with the Emirates Association for the Talent, a permanent endowment designed to support gifted UAE citizens and develop national competencies.
The project is being built on land granted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The endowment is an investment project valued at approximately AED86.2 million. Construction costs stand at AED60 million for a building spanning 125,000 square feet, located in the Al Raffa area of Dubai. The development comprises a ground floor and six additional levels, housing 66 residential units, retail shops, and parking facilities. The total land area is 20,192 square feet, valued at AED26.2 million.
Dubai’s ‘Talent Care Endowment’ to fund gifted Emiratis through AED86.2 million investment
The project has been officially registered as the ‘Talent Care Endowment’. Both the building and the land are designated as a permanent endowment, with proceeds dedicated to supporting the strategic objectives of the Emirates Association for the Talent.
Awqaf Dubai is responsible for the construction and management of the project. During a visit by a delegation from the Association to the Awqaf Dubai headquarters, officials reviewed the engineering designs, work progress, and plans for the project.
Ali Al Mutawa, Secretary-General of Awqaf Dubai, said the project represents a strategic step towards enhancing support for gifted Emiratis and providing financial resources for community service. The initiative will support efforts to foster innovation among talented youth, and Awqaf Dubai is proud of its partnership with the Emirates Association in advancing this national endeavour.
Al Mutawa added that the land granted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum “reflects the leadership’s vision for long-term community endowment projects,” and confirmed that Awqaf Dubai would oversee all implementation phases to ensure completion within the specified timeframe.
His Excellency Mirza Al Sayegh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Association for the Talent, described the collaboration with Awqaf Dubai as “a strategic move to develop the care system for gifted people in the UAE.” He noted that the project, scheduled for completion within two years, is “a primary pillar for the Association’s financial sustainability, enabling the expansion of its future programmes.”
Al Sayegh said the project “will create an integrated platform that nurtures talent and helps translate their potential into globally recognised models of excellence.”
Ahmed Al Dabani Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of Emirates Association for the Talent, said Emirati talent is “a vital national asset that plays an increasingly important role in modern diplomacy, helping share the UAE’s success story with the world.”
Al Nuaimi said the initiative “reflects the leadership’s vision of investing in people, grounded in a firm belief that building national capabilities is fundamental to sustainable development and to strengthening the UAE’s global standing.”
The project, he added, “embodies an advanced model of effective national partnerships between institutions, contributing to a comprehensive ecosystem for talent development.”
