The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) has launched the Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund to provide targeted financial, operational, and marketing support to startups and SMEs based in Sharjah.
The initiative is designed to help businesses navigate current market conditions, maintain operations, and strengthen long-term sustainability.
It focuses on key sectors including manufacturing, food security, and healthcare, which are considered essential to economic stability.
The fund offers equity-free, non-repayable grants alongside a structured support program. This includes advisory sessions, workshops, business introductions, and access to partner-led resources and software tools. It also provides market visibility opportunities to enhance growth prospects.
Sheraa aims to mobilize up to $1.36 million (AED 5 million) in collaboration with strategic partners from both the public and private sectors. Applications are now open, with a fast-tracked evaluation process to ensure timely funding decisions.
The initiative aligns with the ‘Proud of UAE’ campaign and broader efforts to strengthen business continuity and economic resilience. It is designed to support viable enterprises that contribute to long-term economic development and ecosystem stability.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre, said that, “At Sheraa, we see our role as ensuring that founders are equipped to navigate change without losing momentum and to continue building ventures that create lasting economic value. The Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund reflects this commitment, providing timely support that enables businesses to remain operational, make informed decisions, and contribute to an ecosystem designed to sustain progress and evolve with confidence.”
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism
“The launch of the Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund is the latest in a series of initiatives introduced by the Emirate of Sharjah to support and empower entrepreneurs and startup founders, safeguarding SMEs, and enhancing their resilience, particularly in light of the current challenges facing the region. In doing so, it contributes to strengthening the national entrepreneurship ecosystem, enabling businesses to sustain their operations with confidence and competitiveness.”
Najla Al Midfa, Vice Chairperson of Sheraa, highlighted that, “The Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund reflects Sheraa’s conviction that an ecosystem earns its value precisely in these moments by showing up with the right support at the right time in a form that founders can act on. The nation’s economic future is being built today, company by company, decision by decision, and this Fund ensures that the pressure of the present does not determine the potential of what comes next.”
The fund is supported by a wide network of partners, including Beeah Group, CE-Ventures, National Paints, Al Midfa Investments Group, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Careem, RAKBANK, Floward, Alaan, Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, Sharjah Roads & Transport Authority, Majid Al Futtaim, Emirates Petroleum Company (ENOC), Publicis Groupe, Entrepreneur Middle East, and Inc. Arabia, among others.
The initiative reflects a collaborative model aimed at strengthening Sharjah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and ensuring continued support for growth-oriented businesses.
Since its establishment, Sheraa has supported startups through funding initiatives, acceleration programs, and ecosystem partnerships. The Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund builds on these efforts by providing structured, responsive support to help businesses adapt, sustain operations, and continue scaling.
Stakeholders from across the public and private sectors are invited to participate in the initiative to further strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of Sharjah’s startup ecosystem.
