ADGM, together with its knowledge arm ADGM Academy, announced today that it has successfully concluded the fourth edition of its Summer Internship Program, reaffirming its commitment to empowering the nation’s youth and contributing to the UAE’s long-term development goals. The program ran from July 21-31, 2025, and ended with a graduation ceremony.
The 2025 edition welcomed over 80 students aged between 12 to 19 years, who engaged in an immersive learning journey. The program featured professional workshops on AI fundamentals, personal productivity through AI and the use of AI in investing and finance. Students also benefited from focused mentorship sessions, site visits and real-world project work.
Shaping the leaders of tomorrow
ADGM’s internship program was held under the national theme of the “Year of Community,” announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, reflecting collaboration, shared responsibility and social cohesion. In line with the spirit of the caption “Hand in Hand,” this year’s program embraced collective efforts to empower youth and foster meaningful engagement with the wider community.
Highlights included visits to the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, where students explored the role of social initiatives in community development and how they can contribute, as well as Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s leading tech startup incubator, where they engaged with industry experts and learned from real-world entrepreneurial experiences.
The experience equipped participants with practical skills to enhance their daily lives and academic performance, while offering a valuable glimpse into ADGM’s dynamic ecosystem and the wider financial and regulatory landscape of Abu Dhabi
“At ADGM, we view youth empowerment as a vital component of nation-building. This year’s Summer Internship Program, held under the national theme of the ‘Year of Community,’ has been a powerful demonstration of how collaboration and shared responsibility can shape the leaders of tomorrow. Through a series of impactful initiatives, ADGM continues to reinforce the business ecosystem and invest in a generation that will drive the UAE’s ambitions forward, one that is future-ready, community-minded, and inspired to lead with purpose,” said Abdulla Al Suwaidi, chief support services officer at ADGM and member of the ADGM Academy board of directors.
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Building future-ready capabilities among students
ADGM’s internship program was designed to inspire, educate and build future-ready capabilities among students. Throughout the internship, participants engaged in sessions focused on key themes such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation and entrepreneurship.
Workshops focused on AI-powered research and decision-making, future foresight, design thinking and the Future Entrepreneur Permit—delivered in collaboration with ADRA—underscoring Abu Dhabi’s commitment to nurturing and empowering the next generation of innovators and leaders. Students also had the opportunity to interact directly with ADGM’s leadership and prominent ecosystem stakeholders, fostering meaningful exchanges and building confidence in their future potential.
“Through this year’s internship, students explored cutting-edge topics such as AI in finance, entrepreneurship and future foresight, gaining practical skills that will serve them well in their academic and professional journeys. At ADGM Academy, our goal is to prepare a generation that is not only informed but also capable of shaping the financial and economic landscape of the future,” said Mr Ali Khadem Al Mehairi, senior director enablement.
Since its inception, ADGM’s Summer Internship Program has evolved into a key initiative within the organization’s broader talent development agenda. It has become a reflection of ADGM and ADGMA’s enduring commitment to advancing financial literacy, future-readiness and inclusive growth, while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a knowledge-based economy and centre for innovation.
