web
You’re offline. This is a read only version of the page.
close

Loading...

© 2025 Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award

Celebrating Business Impact

Be recognised for the results you deliver. The Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award highlights organisations and individuals that move markets, create jobs, build capability and strengthen communities in Abu Dhabi.

Start Your Application

About SKEA

Why SKEA
matters to you?

The Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award is Abu Dhabi’s leading impact award. If your work delivers measurable outcomes for the economy and society, SKEA helps you turn that achievement into market access, investor confidence and partnerships.

Organised by the Abu Dhabi Chamber

Run by the Abu Dhabi Chamber since 1999, SKEA is a practical tool to help you grow. Winners and finalists gain introductions to buyers and investors, stronger positioning with customers and regulators, and credibility that opens doors in Abu Dhabi and abroad.

We proudly honour the values of the exceptional leader whose name the Award bears, the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. SKEA carries forward a national commitment to progress first set by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Sheikh Khalifa advanced that founding vision, enabling the nation to reach for space, set global benchmarks and become a model of sustainable development. SKEA recognises impact that serves people, enterprise and the future, and invites the private sector to build on this legacy with measurable results for Abu Dhabi.

Falcon Economy

Celebration of the "Falcon Economy"

Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Economy is accelerating. Non-oil sectors are expanding, innovation is scaling and opportunity is growing. SKEA shines a light on the companies and leaders driving that momentum, and helps them go further.

Building on twenty five years of trust, SKEA now advances a clear vision that puts impact before process. It recognises outcomes and helps you scale what works through access to partners, investors and markets. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Chamber, SKEA fosters innovation and sustainable development while strengthening Abu Dhabi’s standing as a global model of progress.

Over the years we have celebrated companies and leaders whose measurable results improved lives and strengthened Abu Dhabi. Their success shows that SKEA turns impact into visibility, investor confidence and access to new markets, creating a clear path applicants can follow and scale.

Success Cases - Winners

Video 2

Archireef

Video 3

Hamda Al Fahim

Video 4

Pure Harvest Smart Farms

Video 6

VCharge

Video 7

Union Copper Rod

Video 8

Shorooq Partners

×

What is Impact?

Economic Impact

Economic Impact

Jobs created and people upskilled in Abu Dhabi.
Productivity gains, market expansion and profitable growth.
Technology adopted or developed that improves efficiency and quality.
Local sourcing, supplier development and resilient value chains.
Eco-Social Impact

Eco-Social Impact

Lower emissions, resource efficiency and sustainable operations.
Better quality of life through education, health and community programmes.
Ethical governance, inclusion and responsible practice.
Investments in talent pipelines and innovation ecosystems.

Impact Areas

We assess impact across seven themes. You do not need to score highly on all seven; strong performance in your strengths can set you apart.

webinar-img

Talent

Expanding Abu Dhabi’s human capital through continuous learning, leadership development, and workforce empowerment that drive productivity, innovation, and sustainable excellence.

Talent

webinar-img

Technology

Digital adoption, data use and innovation that improve outcomes.

Technology

webinar-img

Community & Society

Inclusion, responsibility and long-term resilience

Community & Society

webinar-img

SME Champions

How you enable SMEs to scale and diversify the economy.

SME Champions

webinar-img

Exports

New markets entered, export growth and international partnerships.

Exports

webinar-img

Supply Chain

Resilient, efficient and locally integrated supply chains.

Supply Chain

webinar-img

Entrepreneurship

Creation and scaling of new ventures and business models.

Entrepreneurship

Eligibility

Choose the pathway that fits you. If in doubt, our team will guide you.

icon

Corporates

Large company that operates with a formal structure and a focus on business goals

  • Min 5 years since establishment
  • Exceed SME thresholds (200+ employees and 200-250m+ AED)
icon

Family Businesses

Businesses owned & managed by single family members across multiple generations

  • Min 10 years since establishment
  • Evidence of Family Business registration

SMEs

Micro, small and medium size enterprises defined by the number of employees or annual revenue depending on the sector

  • Min 3 years since establishment
  • Qualify under Abu Dhabi’s SME thresholds
icon

Startup and Scale up

Companies aiming to disrupt existing markets or create entirely new ones

  • Min 3 years since establishment in Abu Dhabi
  • Demonstrate proven novel business/technology, evidence of funding or y-o-y growth
icon

Individuals

Individual that significantly improve or change existing systems or industries (only by nominations of ADDED++ ecosystem)

  • Min 5 years of residency
  • Tangible contribution to Abu Dhabi economy

How to Apply?

Follow these simple steps to submit your application for the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award

Step 1

Check Your Eligibility

Review the eligibility criteria to ensure your organization or individual profile meets the requirements for participation in the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award.

Step 2

Create Your Profile

Register on the SKEA portal and select your applicant type (corporate, SME, startup, family business, or individual). Complete your basic details to activate your account.

Step 3

Tell your impact story

Fill in all survey questions accurately and upload the required supporting documents. These materials will help the SKEA team verify your eligibility and evaluate your submission.

Step 4

Submit and Confirm

Once all sections are completed, submit your application. You will receive an on-screen and email confirmation acknowledging your successful submission.

What is next?

The award process follows a structured and transparent approach

Evaluation

Your submission will be reviewed by independent assessors and judges using the SKEA Impact Model, ensuring fair and transparent evaluation.

Impact Interviews

Shortlisted applicants join an impact interview to highlight their achievements and contributions to Abu Dhabi's community and economy.

Results & Ceremony

Winners are celebrated at the SKEA Award Ceremony, recognizing exceptional impact generated across sectors.

What you gain?

Business meeting

Visibility with decision makers in government and industry

Modern technology

Stronger credibility with customers, lenders and investors

Crowded street

Access to Abu Dhabi Chamber programmes, trade missions and networks

Market stalls

Support to codify what works and replicate success across markets

Industrial equipment

A recognised seal that strengthens bids, procurement and registrations

SKEA Board of Trustees

The governance dimension within SKEA connects the government ecosystem with private sector leadership, promoting shared responsibility and strategic alignment for Abu Dhabi’s development

H.E. Saeed Al Fahim
Honorary Chairman
H.E. Saeed Al Fahim
H.E. Dr. Yasir Al Naqbi
Chairman
H.E. Dr. Yasir Al Naqbi
H.E. Badr Al Olama
Vice Chairman
H.E. Badr Al Olama
H.E. Mouza Al Nasri
Board Member
H.E. Mouza Al Nasri
H.E. Ahmad Al Mosa
Board Member
H.E. Ahmad Al Mosa
H.E. Marwa Al Mansoori
Board Member
H.E. Marwa Al Mansoori
H.E. Noor AI Tamimi
Board Member
H.E. Noor AI Tamimi

Find answers on eligibility, evidence requirements, confidentiality, timelines and what winners and finalists receive.

Here is everything you need to know about the application process to get started. To know more please contact us

The Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award (SKEA) is a premier national impact-driven award, recognizing outstanding contribution and impact the companies and individuals have generated for the economy and society of Abu Dhabi under the patronage of the late H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Any company or individual operating in Abu Dhabi that meets the eligibility criteria can apply for the SKEA Award.

You can apply through our online portal by filling out the application form and submitting the required documentation.

No, there is no application fee. The SKEA Award application process is completely free of charge.

The questions cover your organization's and individual's profile, talent development, supply chains, technology, exports, entrepreneurship, sustainability practices, and overall impact on Abu Dhabi's economy.

You will need to prepare relevant business documents, financial statements, sustainability reports, and supporting evidence for your achievements.

Applications are evaluated by an independent panel of experts based on specific criteria including impact, innovation, and contribution to Abu Dhabi's economy.