"Sharjah Entrepreneurship 2026" It registered 15,000 thousand participants at the end of its work

SHARJAH, 3 FEBRUARY, WAM / The activities of the ninth session of the “Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival”, organized by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center “Sheraa”, concluded yesterday at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, in the presence of more than 15,000 thousand participants, including 5,000 startup founders who were inspired by their experiences from more than 300 international speakers, which strengthened the festival’s position as the largest entrepreneurial event in the region.

The festival constituted a real platform to move the wheel of economy and investment, as the “Vault Zone”, designated for VIPs and supported by “Emirates”, witnessed the signing of 17 strategic memorandums of understanding that covered vital sectors, including manufacturing, educational technology, creative industries, and sustainability. These agreements resulted in the availability of financing worth 100 million dirhams to support the growth of emerging companies and enhance their ability to expand and innovate.

Her Excellency Sarah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Executive Director of the Sheraa Center, confirmed that the successes achieved by this year’s session reflect the vision of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), and her continued keenness to consolidate Sharjah’s position as a global destination for innovation and creative projects.

She said that what we witnessed in the 2026 edition prompts us to look forward to the tenth session next year as a new station in the festival’s journey that carries deeper dimensions and broader ambitions for the future, noting that the festival has continued its role as an effective engine that brings together ideas, talents and opportunities in one space, which contributes to accelerating the growth of emerging companies and enhancing Sharjah’s presence in the region’s future pioneering scene.

The festival witnessed more than 250 events, ranging from inspiring dialogue sessions, specialized workshops, and exclusive meetings, which were distributed over 10 specialized areas. The “Investors Lounge” also hosted 400 exclusive meetings that brought together project owners and investors to open up horizons of financing and guidance. The “Startup City,” supported by “Du” for Business, hosted more than 150 startups that showcased their innovative solutions to the public and experts.

The “Business Establishment” package attracted 294 startup companies that began the journey of launching their projects as part of a business licensing initiative with fees starting from 1,000 dirhams, in cooperation between “Sheraa”, “Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park”, “Emirates NBD” and “Du”.

To celebrate excellence, the festival honored a group of innovators and change makers during the awards ceremony held in the “Impact Zone” supported by “ARADA”. The startup pitch competition witnessed strong competition, as the winners in the four main tracks received grants worth 50 thousand dirhams for each winner, in addition to potential investment opportunities of up to 500 thousand dirhams to enable them to expand the scope of their business.

In the context of appreciating influential individual and institutional contributions, the festival announced the results of the 2026 SFI Awards, which came to highlight the leadership roles in supporting the business environment.

At the conclusion of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2026, the partners of the entrepreneurial ecosystem were honored in recognition of their pivotal role in supporting the startup ecosystem and contributing to the development of an integrated system that combines financing, infrastructure, expertise, and sustainable growth opportunities.

The festival also honored government partners in appreciation for their contributions to supporting policies that stimulate entrepreneurship and providing regulatory frameworks and institutional structures that support the growth of startup companies, in a way that enhances the integration of efforts between the government and private sectors. It also honored community partners in appreciation for their contributions to enhancing the community dimension of the festival and supporting volunteer initiatives, cultural experiences, and interactive activities that contributed to consolidating the spirit of cooperation and belonging.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Related