“Sharjah Entrepreneurship” empowers entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools to achieve financial success

The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival will kick off on February 1 and 2, 2025 at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park. The festival brings together the entrepreneurship community in Sharjah and provides opportunities to communicate and exchange knowledge with an elite group of global entrepreneurs. It also aims to provide participants with basic skills and strategic visions and enhance communication with financial experts and business leaders.
The entrepreneurship sector has proven to be the engine that drives contemporary economic systems, which directly contributes to creating new job opportunities and promoting innovation and societal progress. At the global level, small and medium-sized companies constitute 90% of the total companies and account for half of the jobs, according to the World Bank. In the United Arab Emirates, small and medium-sized companies constitute the cornerstone of economic development, and contribute 63.5% to the total non-oil GDP in the Emirates, according to a report issued by the Central Bank.
Through government support and a range of services and institutions that contribute to empowering the entrepreneurial community, Sharjah has strengthened its position and competitiveness at the global level in the field of talent, innovation and business growth. However, entrepreneurs still face challenges in achieving financial sustainability and the ability to expand even within these… A supportive environment, as entrepreneurship thrives with determination and vision, and owners of startup companies need guidance, guidance, and strengthening the network of relationships to transform ideas into reality.
In this context, the Executive Director of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), Sarah Abdul Aziz Belhaif Al Nuaimi, said: “The entrepreneurial journey often begins with an inspiring idea, but the path to success is fraught with multiple financial challenges, and obtaining initial financing, or investment capital, represents… Or alternative financing mechanisms, this is a major obstacle that hinders the progress of novice entrepreneurs, and the competitive nature of the markets also contributes to exacerbating the difficulty of convincing investors to endorse innovative ideas that have not yet been proven in practice.”
Al Nuaimi added: “Even with the availability of initial financing, sustaining operational capacity requires a careful approach to budget preparation, as mismanagement of cash flow, resulting from unexpected expenses, is one of the main reasons for halting business growth or failure.”

She continued, “While expansion is a desirable goal for any company, it requires balanced and strategic financial commitments, and here lies the importance of proactive plans and risk management to avoid excessive expansion during the stages of growth, so entrepreneurs need to fully understand these aspects to enhance their chances of success and gain trust.” Investors.

Empowering entrepreneurs with financial visions that are practically applicable on the ground
Her Excellency Sarah Al Nuaimi confirms that empowering entrepreneurs with practical financial visions represents the basis for achieving success, noting that the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2024 directly addresses these challenges through a comprehensive program of dialogues and workshops to develop participants’ knowledge of the latest financial management strategies that enhance growth and sustainability.
Al Nuaimi also points out that the strength of the network of relationships has a direct impact on the financial success of entrepreneurs, and said: “By allocating 5 platforms and 10 regions, the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival, which will be held on February 1 and 2, 2025 at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, contributes to facilitating Communication between entrepreneurs, investors and experts, providing a solid basis for cooperation, exchange of knowledge and financing opportunities. In addition to the knowledge and skills it provides, the festival provides exclusive opportunities for dialogue and communication with leaders of major local and international institutions. And pioneers of innovative ideas.”

The Executive Director concludes by saying that entrepreneurs armed with a comprehensive understanding and financial acumen are better qualified to overcome risks, take advantage of opportunities, and promote long-term growth. Therefore, addressing these gaps requires comprehensive and thoughtful initiatives targeting the entrepreneurial system, which is the role played by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival.” .