The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has announced the graduation of the first cohort of the Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship (SWIF), marking a significant milestone in the emirate’s mission to bolster female-led enterprises. The graduation ceremony took place during the annual Ramadan Majlis hosted by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sheraa, highlighting the strategic importance of women’s leadership within the regional economy.
Empowering Female Founders Across Key Sectors
The Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship was designed to provide a high-level support system for inspiring female founders committed to driving social and economic impact. By focusing on capacity building and leadership development, the program aims to strengthen the influence of women entrepreneurs across Sharjah and the wider Middle East.
The inaugural cohort included a diverse group of leaders, including Asma AlQaseer, Dania Shahin, Dr. Fida Diyab, and Noora Shamsi, among others. These fellows represent a new generation of changemakers tasked with shaping meaningful change through innovative business models and community-centric initiatives.
Strategic Partnerships for Ecosystem Growth
The success of the fellowship was underpinned by a network of public and private sector partners. During the ceremony, Sheraa recognized the contributions of Fikri Consulting, Meem Foundation, the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Real Estate.
These partnerships underscore Sharjah’s collaborative approach to entrepreneurship, where government entities and private corporations work in tandem to remove barriers for female founders. The involvement of organizations like Shurooq and Meem Foundation provides startups with the necessary institutional backing to scale their operations within the competitive UAE landscape.
Driving Sharjah’s Vision for Innovation
The fellowship is a core component of Sheraa’s broader mandate to cultivate a world-class entrepreneurship hub in the emirate. By targeting female entrepreneurs specifically, the program addresses a critical demographic in the MENA tech scene, ensuring that the next generation of leaders has the mentorship and resources required to compete globally.
The initiative also aligns with the annual Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival, further integrating these female founders into a community of over 5,000 investors, creators, and industry leaders. This integration is vital for the long-term sustainability of the startups, providing them with a platform for regional visibility and investment opportunities.
About Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa)
Sheraa is a government-supported entity launched in 2016 to build a vibrant startup ecosystem in Sharjah. Headquartered at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park, with additional hubs at the American University of Sharjah and the University of Sharjah, the center supports the full spectrum of the entrepreneurial journey. From motivating youth through hackathons to helping startups scale through intensive programs, Sheraa is a central pillar of Sharjah’s vision to become a leading destination for innovation and social entrepreneurship.
Source: LinkedIn
