Post by : Badri Ariffin

ABU DHABI — Athar+, the first dedicated social impact hub in Abu Dhabi operated by the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, has announced its second edition of the HACK4IMPACT hackathon. This community-focused initiative aims to foster innovative solutions to some critical social issues families face today.

Running from 16 to 18 June 2026 at Athar+, this three-day hackathon invites entrepreneurs, innovators, professionals, students, and local community members to team up and generate practical ideas that promise significant social impact in Abu Dhabi.

In alignment with the UAE's Year of Family, this year's hackathon is dedicated to bolstering family wellbeing through creative, scalable solutions. Participants will address three main challenge domains affecting families and communities: strengthening family foundations, enhancing financial health for parents, and assisting families caring for elderly relatives.

The hackathon is structured to motivate participants to go beyond mere ideas and create viable solutions for real-life social challenges. Through a comprehensive design-thinking approach, teams will identify problems, validate their concepts, develop prototypes, and present to a panel of judges and industry leaders.

HACK4IMPACT not only serves as a competition but also provides participants with a pathway to further develop their projects within Athar+'s extensive social innovation framework. Promising ideas may receive additional support, mentorship, and incubation, allowing innovators to convert their concepts into sustainable initiatives benefiting Abu Dhabi's communities.

This initiative embodies Athar+'s core mission to promote social entrepreneurship and empower individuals to engage in resolving community concerns. By integrating diverse professional, academic, and cultural perspectives, the program seeks to encourage collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovative problem-solving.

Additionally, the hackathon acts as a welcoming venue for youth and new innovators eager to contribute to societal betterment through entrepreneurship. Attendees will have access to expert advice, mentorship opportunities, and specialized support throughout the experience, helping them hone their ideas and enhance their innovation skills.

His Excellency Salem AlShamsi, Executive Director of Social Incubation and Contracting at Ma’an, emphasized the initiative's role in empowering aspiring entrepreneurs to devise solutions addressing pressing social challenges and enhancing community life.

“HACK4IMPACT represents Athar+'s dedication to enabling innovators to craft practical solutions that effectively meet real social needs while improving community wellbeing. By cultivating talent via Athar+, we are fortifying Abu Dhabi's stature as a regional hub for social entrepreneurship while advancing the Authority’s vision of fostering a culture of philanthropy, active engagement, and tangible social progress,” AlShamsi noted.

He also remarked that the initiative supports national efforts to bolster family wellbeing, social resilience, and community unity by encouraging collaborative innovation and inclusive participation.

Participants will gain access to Athar+'s dedicated workspaces, professional services, tailored development programs, and the growing entrepreneurship ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. These resources are designed to help transform promising ideas into actionable solutions that can yield measurable social benefits.

As Abu Dhabi reinforces its role as a center for social innovation and entrepreneurship, HACK4IMPACT 2026 is poised to act as a catalyst for innovative ideas developing support systems for families, enhancing community strength, and contributing to long-term social progress across the emirate.

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