SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates — More than 60 startups and small businesses across the UAE have received funding and business support through the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre’s (Sheraa) Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund, an initiative designed to help companies navigate economic uncertainty while continuing to grow.
The programme, backed by up to AED5 million in funding from public- and private-sector partners, combines equity-free grants with mentorship, strategic advisory services and connections to business networks.
According to Sheraa, more than 330 startups and SMEs applied during the fund’s first cycle. Following an evaluation process, more than 60 businesses were selected to receive either financial assistance or in-kind support.
The initiative focuses on helping companies facing operational and market pressures by providing faster access to funding alongside practical guidance aimed at strengthening long-term resilience.
Sara Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, said the programme was created to ensure promising businesses are not forced to choose between maintaining day-to-day operations and investing in future growth.
She said supporting resilient entrepreneurs contributes to Sharjah’s wider goals of economic diversification, innovation and sustainable competitiveness.
Sheraa said the fund was developed in collaboration with partners from both the public and private sectors, reflecting a broader effort to strengthen the UAE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through shared support rather than financial assistance alone.
Alongside grants, participating businesses receive tailored mentorship, strategic advice and introductions to potential partners and market opportunities, helping founders improve operational readiness and prepare for future expansion.
The organisation said the programme reflects a growing shift in startup support, with greater emphasis on helping existing businesses overcome periods of uncertainty instead of focusing solely on launching new ventures.
The selected companies represent a wide range of industries, including healthcare, food systems, sustainability, accessibility, consumer products and technology. Many are developing solutions aimed at addressing practical challenges such as reducing food waste, improving nutrition, expanding accessibility through artificial intelligence and creating environmentally sustainable products.
Sheraa said the initiative aligns with the UAE’s wider entrepreneurship strategy. The country was ranked the world’s leading entrepreneurship ecosystem for the fifth consecutive year in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025-2026 report, while the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026 ranked the UAE first globally for economic performance and second for business creation.
The national entrepreneurship agenda aims to increase the number of active companies in the UAE from 1.2 million to more than 2 million by 2031 and generate 30,000 jobs through entrepreneurship by 2030.
Since its establishment, Sheraa says it has supported more than 600 startups, helping founders collectively raise over AED1.14 billion in investment while contributing to the growth of Sharjah’s innovation ecosystem.
Applications for the first Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund cycle have now concluded, with Sheraa expected to continue supporting selected businesses through funding, mentorship and ecosystem partnerships in the months ahead.
