Najla Al-Midfa

The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) is a government-supported entity launched in 2016 with a mandate to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sharjah, and support entrepreneurs as they build and grow innovative startups that will contribute positively to the region’s economy. Sheraa is headquartered at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park, and also has two hubs in the heart of the American University of Sharjah and the University of Sharjah. Sheraa works hand-in-hand with entrepreneurs to build, launch, and scale startups that go on to make a significant impact in their communities. The organization also has a strong focus on empowering the next generation of changemakers, through hackathons and capacity building programs in the university hubs to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset from an early age. At the end of every year, Sheraa hosts the annual Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival, which brings together over 5,000 entrepreneurs, investors, creators, industry leaders and the youth for two days of uplifting conversations, deep connection, personal growth and transformation. In essence, Sheraa’s offerings support the full spectrum of entrepreneurship, from motivating the youth to scaling startups, driving Sharjah’s vision of being a world-class entrepreneurship hub.