Awqaf Abu Dhabi Celebrates First Graduating Cohort of the Trustees Enablement Programme

• Programme strengthens trustees' capabilities in endowment management through best-practice governance and institutional frameworks
• Training programme forms part of a series of initiatives delivered in partnership with Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities

Abu Dhabi, 10 July 2026: The Endowments and Minors' Funds Authority - Awqaf Abu Dhabi celebrated the graduation of 34endowment trustees who successfully completed the Trustees Enablement Programme, held from 29 June to 1 July.

The graduation ceremony, held at Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities was attended by H.E. Fahad Abdulqader Al Qassim, Director General of the Endowments and Minors' Funds Authority – Awqaf Abu Dhabi and H.E. Ahmed Saleh AlHemeiri, Vice Chancellor – Development and Investment Sector  at Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, along with the graduates who were honoured for successfully completing the programme.

The programme reflects Awqaf Abu Dhabi's ongoing commitment to developing national capabilities in the endowment sector by strengthening the knowledge and competencies of endowment trustees. It aims to enhance endowment governance and sustainability while promoting best practices that maximise the social and developmental impact of endowments.

H.E. Fahad Abdulqader Al Qassim, Director General of the Endowments and Minors' Funds Authority – Awqaf Abu Dhabi, said: "The trustee plays a fundamental role in ensuring the success and long-term sustainability of every endowment. We are committed to investing in the development of trustees by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to manage endowments in line with the highest institutional and governance standards. The Trustees Enablement Programme forms part of our broader efforts to develop specialised talent capable of advancing the endowment sector, maximising its developmental impact, and reinforcing endowment as a sustainable tool for serving society."

The programme forms part of a broader series of training and capacity-building initiatives delivered by Awqaf Abu Dhabi in partnership with Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities. The partnership aims to strengthen cooperation in research, professional development, and specialised training, while supporting the development of qualified professionals in the endowment sector.

H.E. Essa Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, General Secretary of Abdul Jalil Al Fahim & Family Endowment, and one of the participants at the Trustees Enablement Programme, said: "The programme provided a valuable learning experience that deepened our understanding of the responsibilities entrusted to endowment trustees, extending beyond administration to preserving the intentions of founders, adhering to endowment conditions, applying sound governance principles, and promoting prudent management and sustainable investment. Through this programme, Awqaf Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, successfully delivered a comprehensive curriculum that integrated Sharia, legal, administrative, and financial perspectives, strengthening trustees' capabilities and contributing to the continued development and long-term sustainability of the endowment sector."

The programme covered three core modules: Fundamentals and Conditions of Endowment Trusteeship, Trustees' Rights and Responsibilities, and Institutional Trusteeship, providing participants with the practical knowledge and specialised expertise required to fulfil their responsibilities in accordance with Sharia principles, regulatory frameworks, and institutional best practices.

In line with its vision of positioning endowment as a sustainable tool for community development, Awqaf Abu Dhabi will continue to launch specialised programmes and initiatives that contribute to developing the Emirate's endowment ecosystem and strengthening the capabilities of professionals working in the sector.