The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF), one of the region’s key gatherings for founders and investors, is gearing up for a new chapter as it announces its 10th edition. Organized by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), the milestone event is scheduled for January 30-31, 2027, at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park, marking a decade of activity within the UAE’s startup scene.
Quick Facts
- Event: 10th Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival
- Dates: January 30-31, 2027
- Impact: Over 60,000 attendees to date
The Journey So Far
Over nine editions, SEF has grown from a local event into a significant regional platform. The numbers reflect its expanding footprint: the festival has showcased over 500 startups, hosted more than 1,400 speakers from around the world, and attracted over 60,000 attendees. It has also facilitated over 100 strategic partnerships and organized more than 450 workshops and sessions.
Najla Al-Midfa, Vice Chairperson of Sheraa, commented on the journey.
“When the festival first launched, our vision was to create a space that brings entrepreneurs together, providing them with inspiration, networking opportunities, and the support to take their next steps. Nine years later, the festival has become one of the most prominent entrepreneurial platforms in the region.”
Al-Midfa added that the real story is found in the entrepreneurs who found their community at the festival and the partnerships that began from casual conversations, reflecting Sharjah’s vision of placing human capital, culture, and knowledge at the core of its development.
Cultivating a Founder-First Ecosystem
The festival’s growth has mirrored the development of Sharjah’s and the wider UAE’s startup ecosystem. Sheraa has focused on supporting founders at various stages, providing an environment that enables them to scale and achieve sustainable impact.
Sara Balhif Al Nuaimi, Executive Director of Sheraa, stated, “Over the past decade, Sheraa has worked to support founders through various stages of their project growth by providing an environment and opportunities that enable them to expand and achieve sustainable impact within an integrated entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
She noted that SEF evolved from a local event to a global platform, reflecting the rapid development of the region’s entrepreneurial landscape.
The Next Decade of Entrepreneurship
The upcoming 10th edition in 2027 will focus on the opportunities and challenges shaping the next decade of business. The program is set to explore themes of innovation, technology, investment, sustainability, and the creative industries. It aims to bring together a new lineup of local and global business leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss the future of the economic scene.
About the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF)
Launched in 2017 by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival is an annual event that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, thought leaders, and aspiring founders. The festival provides a platform for learning, networking, and collaboration, featuring inspirational talks, practical workshops, and interactive sessions designed to support the growth of the startup ecosystem in Sharjah and the wider MENA region.
Source: Al Bayan
