The first edition of the Innovative Entrepreneurial Ideas Competition for university students concluded at the Ali Ahmed Bakathir Hall at the University’s Presidency, as part of the activities of the Fourteenth University Student Week 2025. The event was graciously sponsored by Mr. Mabkhout Mubarak Bin Madi, Governor of Hadhramout, and Prof. Mohammed Saeed Khanbash, Hadhramout University President
At the closing ceremony of the competition, Mr. Hassan Salem Al-Jailani, Deputy Governor of Hadhramout, conveyed the greetings of Governor Bin Madi to the attendees, noting that youth are the cornerstone of any development. He praised the significant efforts made by the university in nurturing creativity and excellence among its students through these competitions, affirming the local authority’s support for all efforts that contribute to enhancing the role of youth in shaping a bright future for Hadhramout in particular, and Yemen in general.
Dr. Saleh Omar Al-Battati, Director of the Hadhramout Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubator at Hadhramout University, pointed out that this first edition of the Innovative Entrepreneurial Ideas Competition, held as part of the Fourteenth University Student Week, saw the participation of 64 ideas that met the competition’s criteria. The event included some training courses and discussion sessions, and four entrepreneurial ideas were selected to win the announced competition prizes. He emphasized that this competition aims to spread the culture of entrepreneurial thinking among university students and to seek out the ideas and projects that students have, thanking the competition partners, the Hadhramout Entrepreneurship Incubator Foundation – Yemen, and the main supporters, Amjad Islamic Microfinance Bank and Bin Dole Islamic Microfinance Bank.
Dr. Rabee Al-Obathani, President of the Hadhramout Entrepreneurship Incubator Foundation, praised the entrepreneurial ideas and projects of Hadhramout University students, thanking the university administration for their support and interest in these student activities and competitions that contribute to showcasing students’ entrepreneurial projects and ideas to relevant entities for support and implementation, especially the unique projects. He expressed their readiness to provide full cooperation to the university incubator within the framework of an effective partnership with Hadhramout University.
Mr. Ahmed Bahaj, General Manager of Bin Dole Islamic Microfinance Bank, and Mr. Omar Al-Mazlam, General Manager of Amjad Islamic Microfinance Bank, spoke about the banks’ orientations and the support they provide. The banks were then honored by the Deputy Governor, university leadership, and the foundation for their support and sponsorship of the competition project.
After that, the four winning students in the Innovative Entrepreneurial Ideas Competition presented their ideas. Two discussion sessions were held to explore the role of university incubators, the concept of entrepreneurship, and the role of startups in economic development.
The event was attended by Prof. Abdullah Saleh Babair, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Prof. Salem Faraj Bamsaud, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Prof. Salem Mohammed Bin Salman, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Mr. Faris Bin Halabi, Vice President of the Hadhramout Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ms. Layla Al-Shaibi, former General Manager of the Technical Education Office in the governorate, several college deans and their deputies, heads of scientific departments, Hadhramout University students, and several representatives of banks, companies, and private sector institutions in the governorate.