Secretary General

Dr. Khaled Mohamed Makled is a prominent Arab leader in entrepreneurship and institutional capacity development, currently serving as the Secretary-General of the Arab Union for Entrepreneurship. He plays a strategic role in advancing entrepreneurship ecosystems across the Arab region, with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and future readiness.

With extensive experience in the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Makled has been instrumental in shaping policies and frameworks that support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He contributed significantly to the development of Sharjah’s entrepreneurship ecosystem through his advisory role in SME development, where he led the design of institutional initiatives that strengthened the growth and impact of entrepreneurial ventures.

At the regional level, he played a key role in designing the innovative strategy for the Ministry of Local Development in Egypt, contributing to the modernization of government practices, enhancing institutional performance, and aligning development efforts with sustainable and forward-looking governance models.

Dr. Makled currently serves as an Advisor to the Ajman Businesswomen Council, where he leads initiatives focused on advancing industrial and social entrepreneurship. He has also delivered specialized programs and advisory services to the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council and the Emirates Businesswomen Association, contributing to the empowerment of women and their active role in the entrepreneurial economy.
A pioneer in entrepreneurial research and development, Dr. Makled co-developed the first Entrepreneurship Behavior Index for university students in the Arab world—an innovative initiative aimed at understanding and fostering entrepreneurial mindsets among future generations through evidence-based methodologies.

He is also recognized for launching some of the earliest initiatives in the UAE dedicated to identifying and developing the next generation of entrepreneurs, focusing on early capability building, innovation-driven thinking, and future-oriented leadership development.
In the field of leadership and capacity building, Dr. Makled has designed and delivered numerous high-impact executive programs targeting senior leaders and entrepreneurs. His work emphasizes strategic leadership, institutional readiness, innovation, and the development of high-performance organizational cultures.

Dr. Makled is distinguished by his integrative vision that bridges entrepreneurship with institutional leadership. He advocates for human capital as a strategic asset and focuses on cultivating innovative mindsets and sustainable business models, enabling organizations to navigate complexity and lead transformation in rapidly evolving environments.