Several national and Arab entrepreneurs participating in the 'Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival' reported that the festival is a significant platform for showcasing their innovative projects, building new relationships, and connecting with investors and experts, which enhances the growth and sustainability prospects of their ventures in the market. They told 'Emirates Today' that their participation under the umbrella of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Foundation (Ruwad) and the Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) contributed to strengthening their presence and providing a supportive environment that helps them develop their ideas and transform them into competitive projects. Founder and CEO of 'Nafetha for Information Technology', Mohammed Hussein Al-Yasi, confirmed that 'the festival is an important platform for showcasing innovative projects, building new relationships, and connecting with investors and experts, which enhances the growth and sustainability prospects of projects in the market.' Al-Yasi said: 'I have been a member of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Foundation (Ruwad) since 2023, and our project started with a virtual license that paved the way for operating in the real world.' He noted that the foundation provided them with tangible support, including a full waiver of government fees, in addition to a 10% support on government purchases. He added that the foundation's members benefit from continuous training programs offered monthly, and his company focuses on providing industrial and technological solutions, including artificial intelligence, security camera systems, information technology, web design, and smart solutions for software and hardware. In turn, founder and CEO of 'fashion incubator', Nehar Salah, stated that 'the experience of participating in the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival under the umbrella of the Sharjah Business Women Council is extremely important.' She pointed out that the festival provided an opportunity to be part of a distinguished entrepreneurial platform and to connect with entrepreneurs and supporting entities from various sectors, which contributed to enhancing the project's visibility and introducing its message. She clarified that the most prominent form of support they received from the 'Council' was the opportunity to participate in events and exhibitions, which provided wider communication with the target audience and the building of a strong network of relationships. She said: 'At this stage, the greatest impact came from the financing, training, and consultation programs. Participating in events and direct exposure to the market helped us test our ideas and understand market needs.' Founder and CEO of 'Enabled', Shorouk Al-Waraq, described her participation in the 'Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival' as a qualitative and inspiring experience, especially under the umbrella of the Sharjah Business Women Council. She confirmed that the festival provided entrepreneurs with a strategic platform to connect with the entrepreneurship ecosystem and build meaningful partnerships. She explained that her company works to support corporations and institutions in designing work environments and digital and physical experiences that are more inclusive, catering to the needs of people of determination and ensuring their equal access, whether by improving digital access to platforms and technologies, or by developing physical access and equipping facilities and spaces to serve everyone. Meanwhile, Head of the Government Purchases Department at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Foundation, Saif Al-Mansoori, stated that the foundation continues its efforts to empower entrepreneurs and support national projects. Al-Mansoori told 'Emirates Today' that 2025 saw wide participation from the foundation's members in government purchases, with the number of participants reaching 71 members in cooperation with 50 government entities, reflecting a significant increase compared to 2024, when around 46 members participated with 42 government entities. He explained that the number of tenders that the foundation's members participated in last year reached about 579 tenders, with a total value exceeding AED 7,277,000, representing a growth of 108.6% compared to 2024, when the value of tenders was about AED 3,484,000, and the number of tenders was 318. On the other hand, Head of the Membership Department at the Sharjah Business Women Council, Maryam Al-Suwaidi, confirmed that the council currently includes 2,500 members from various economic sectors and witnesses a continuous annual growth in its membership. She noted that in its support for projects, the council focuses on platforms for participation, sponsorship, and linking projects with investors and supporting entities, rather than on direct financing, which enables projects to access financing through partnerships and specialized events.
