RUWAD Member Projects Secure AED3.338 Million in Government Contracts During H1 2026

The Sharjah Foundation to Support Pioneering Entrepreneurs (RUWAD), an affiliate of the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), disbursed AED1.634 million in project financing during the first half of 2026, according to its performance report.

During the same period, RUWAD member projects secured AED3.338 million in government contracts, while projects operating under accreditation licenses recorded approximately AED336,000 in purchases from government entities.

RUWAD also admitted 291 new entrepreneurial projects into its membership program and trained 409 entrepreneurs through its programs and workshops.

Hamad Ali Abdulla Al Mahmoud, Chairman of SEDD, said RUWAD’s H1 2026 results reflect a broader shift from expanding the number of startups to improving the quality, competitiveness, and growth potential of entrepreneurial projects, in line with the UAE’s efforts to diversify the economy and expand access to financing and markets.

According to Fatima Al Ali, Acting Director of RUWAD, its Project Financing Committee reviewed 349 membership applications during the first half of the year and approved 291 projects. The new members included 148 commercial ventures (50.8%), 137 professional ventures (47.1%) and six industrial projects (2.1%).

Of these, 185 were owned by male entrepreneurs (63.6%), 88 by female entrepreneurs (30.2%) and 18 had mixed-gender ownership (6.2%).

Meanwhile, 267 projects renewed their membership for a second or third year, qualifying for full exemptions from government fees, while 38 projects extended their membership into a fourth or fifth year and received a 50% fee exemption. RUWAD also issued 254 new accreditation licenses and renewed 440 existing projects.

RUWAD conducted 169 field visits to member projects, including 36 under its project rating and evaluation initiative, and provided 80 specialized consultations. It also handled 7,273 phone calls, held 320 meetings with project owners and issued 669 support letters to facilitate government fee exemptions.

A total of 596 member projects received exemptions from local government fees during the first half of the year under Executive Council Resolution No. 47 of 2025, which regulates RUWAD’s membership program.

By the end of H1 2026, 199 RUWAD member projects had been registered in Sharjah’s Central Finance Department supplier register.

RUWAD also conducted 15 promotional visits to government entities, shared member project directories with six additional agencies and nominated 19 member projects to participate in nine local and international conferences and exhibitions.

On the training side, RUWAD delivered 18 programs and workshops totaling 122 training hours, benefiting 409 entrepreneurs, including 112 men and 297 women. A total of 397 participants completed the programs, while the fourth edition of the Entrepreneurship Ambassadors Professional Diploma Program graduated 12 participants.

In the same period, RUWAD organized community initiatives including the Mada Festival, the Dhay Al Laila event and the Ramadan initiative “Min Khair Ruwadna.” It also participated in external events including the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2026, the University of Sharjah Alumni Association’s Ramadan Village, the SEDD platform at City Centre Al Zahia and the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s “Made in the Emirates” exhibition.

Related: Sharjah’s RUWAD Reports 108% Jump in SME Funding in Q1 2026