The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF), one of the region’s largest gatherings for entrepreneurs and innovators, is set to return for its ninth edition on January 31 and February 1. Organized by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), the event will take place at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK) under the theme ‘Where We Belong’, expecting to draw an audience of over 14,000 attendees.
This year’s festival will convene more than 300 global leaders from business, technology, culture, and sports to engage in dialogue with founders, investors, and policymakers from across the MENA ecosystem.
Star-Studded Speaker Lineup
SEF 2026 will feature an influential roster of speakers, including retired UFC champion and entrepreneur Khabib Nurmagomedov, former Chief Business Officer of Alphabet’s ‘X moonshot factory’ Mo Gawdat, and Crescent Enterprises CEO Badr Jafar.
The lineup also includes prominent figures from the regional business landscape such as Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Chairman of Alsara Group; Patrick Chalhoub, Executive Chairman of Chalhoub Group; Anas Bukhash, founder of Bukhash Brothers; Mounaz Abdel Raouf, Co-founder of Okhtein; and Kartik Renjen, Head of Startups at AWS.
From The Octagon To The Boardroom
Highlighting the festival’s focus on discipline and long-term thinking, Khabib Nurmagomedov will participate in a conversation moderated by Anas Bukhash titled ‘The Making of a Champion: What it Takes to be Undefeated’. The session will explore the UFC Hall of Famer’s transition from elite athlete to entrepreneur and mentor, applying lessons from martial arts to the business world.
The Future of AI And Regional Brands
Addressing key trends in the ecosystem, Kartik Renjen from AWS will lead a session titled ‘What’s Next for AI Startups in MENA’, examining emerging opportunities and responsibilities for founders in the rapidly growing sector.
Another key panel will feature Rachid Mohamed Rachid, Mounaz Abdel Raouf, and Patrick Chalhoub, who will collectively discuss the trajectory of luxury brands born in the region and the interplay of identity, creativity, and commerce in building the next generation of global names.
Enterprise Leadership And Human Potential
Mo Gawdat, an authority on technology and innovation, will deliver a session aimed at bridging the gap between human potential and technological advancement, offering a blueprint for creating impactful ventures.
Meanwhile, Badr Jafar will share insights on how large organizations are evolving in response to global challenges and interconnected markets, drawing from his extensive experience in global business, investment, and social impact.
About Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa)
Launched in 2016, the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) is a government-supported entity with a mandate to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sharjah. It aims to cultivate the next generation of entrepreneurs by offering a platform that supports them from idea to scale, fostering a thriving startup community in the emirate. Sheraa is the organizer of the annual Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival.
Source: Zawya
