Sheraa Backs Over 60 Startups and SMEs Through AED5 Million Resilience Fund
The fund will mobilize up to AED5 million through public- and private-sector partners, combining equity-free grants with tailored programming, fast-tracked funding decisions, and hands-on advisory support.
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More than 60 startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been selected to receive financial and in-kind support through the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center’s (Sheraa) Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund (ERF), after receiving over 330 applications from businesses across the UAE.
The fund will mobilize up to AED5 million through public- and private-sector partners, combining equity-free grants with tailored programming, fast-tracked funding decisions, and hands-on advisory support.
The initiative is designed to help startups and SMEs navigate periods of uncertainty while strengthening their ability to sustain operations and support long-term growth.
“The ERF was established on a simple premise: viable businesses facing short-term pressures should not have to choose between preserving today’s operations and investing in tomorrow’s growth. Supporting these founders is about more than individual businesses,” HE Sara Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, said. “It is about strengthening the entrepreneurial base that contributes to Sharjah’s economic diversification, innovation capacity, and long-term competitiveness.”
Among the selected startups are Little Sprouties, Shukrani/Hylo, Chocoleaf, RAWA Wellness, Eshara AI, The AM Lab, BookMyPet, The Waste Lab, and Ajada. The companies operate across sectors including healthcare, food systems, sustainability, accessibility, consumer products, and technology.
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The initiative comes as the UAE continues to prioritize entrepreneurship as part of its economic development strategy. The country ranked first globally for the fifth consecutive year in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025/2026 report and placed first in economic performance and second in creation of firms in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026.
Through the ERF, Sheraa also supports the national agenda to increase the number of active companies from 1.2 million to more than 2 million by 2031 and create 30,000 jobs through entrepreneurship by 2030.
Since its launch, Sheraa has supported more than 600 startups, whose founders have collectively raised more than AED 1.14 billion in capital.
Related: EGF and Sheraa Vice Chairperson Najla Al Midfa: The UAE Economy Refuses to Pause
More than 60 startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been selected to receive financial and in-kind support through the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center’s (Sheraa) Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund (ERF), after receiving over 330 applications from businesses across the UAE.
The fund will mobilize up to AED5 million through public- and private-sector partners, combining equity-free grants with tailored programming, fast-tracked funding decisions, and hands-on advisory support.
The initiative is designed to help startups and SMEs navigate periods of uncertainty while strengthening their ability to sustain operations and support long-term growth.
Entrepreneur Middle East Staff
Entrepreneur Staff
