Sheraa 2030 Strategy Discussions Led By Bodour Al Qasimi Highlight Sharjah's Innovation Drive

The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center’s Board of Advisors has endorsed the Sheraa 2030 Strategy, confirming continued backing for a founder-focused startup ecosystem in the emirate. The roadmap outlines how Sheraa plans to deepen economic impact, attract more startups and reinforce Sharjah’s position as a global entrepreneurship hub aligned with the UAE’s knowledge-based growth agenda.

Board members agreed that Sheraa will keep working with partners and stakeholders to generate long-term economic value for Sharjah. The strategy places particular emphasis on improving access to support for founders, while also aligning programmes with priority sectors that match the emirate’s wider economic diversification plans and national innovation goals.

The latest Board of Advisors meeting, chaired by H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, reviewed Sheraa’s performance and future direction. During the session, Sheraa presented the Sheraa 2030 Strategy, which sets the operational framework for the next five years and details plans to enhance programme effectiveness and expand the pipeline of high-potential founders.

Discussion at the meeting covered several themes, including growth plans, strategic partnerships and sectors that align with Sharjah’s long-term economic priorities. Board members examined how Sheraa can improve the emirate’s appeal to regional and international startups, while supporting the UAE’s transition towards an innovation-driven economy centred on knowledge, advanced technology and entrepreneurial activity.

The Sheraa 2030 Strategy aims to strengthen the readiness of Sharjah’s innovation ecosystem by refining how Sheraa designs and delivers its programmes. The strategy targets stronger founder support across different stages, with clear pathways from idea to market, and sets performance indicators to measure the impact of initiatives, partnerships and ecosystem-building efforts over the coming years.

Board members reviewed results from the previous year, looking at growth indicators, programme outcomes and the effect of Sheraa’s interventions on startups within its network. The discussion assessed how current initiatives contribute to job creation, skills development and private-sector growth, while also identifying where new offerings or partnerships could address emerging market needs and sector opportunities.

Sheraa 2030 Strategy guidance from leadership and management

Addressing the gathering, H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi said Sheraa’s work is driven by a long-term commitment to strengthening Sharjah’s position as a competitive, innovation-led economy, stressing the importance of providing founders with strong infrastructure, sectoral opportunities and coordinated support to ensure sustainable growth and future readiness. The comments highlighted the link between startup support and Sharjah’s competitiveness.

During the meeting, Najla Al Midfa highlighted the value of a cohesive ecosystem, noting that alignment between policy, capital and talent enables founders to focus on building impactful companies. She said the Sheraa 2030 vision aims to ensure every entrepreneur in Sharjah has a clear pathway from idea to impact, supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth across diverse sectors and communities.

Sheraa 2030 Strategy implementation and founder programmes

Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi explained that Sheraa’s role is to translate the Sheraa 2030 Strategy into measurable outcomes through programmes that place founders at the centre. Al Nuaimi stressed the importance of designing support that matches real market demand, and of ensuring consistent execution across all initiatives, using insights from the Board to refine priorities and maintain alignment with Sharjah’s economic vision.

As part of the agenda, the Board observed a Founder Showcase featuring startups from Sheraa’s ecosystem. Suhoola presented a redesigned ablution solution for public facilities, Rawa introduced a play-based Arabic early learning platform, EvolveCareers outlined its future-ready skills platform, and Pharmedic described its precision medicine and pharmacogenomics offering, together with its regional expansion plans.

Sheraa 2030 Strategy governance and advisory board composition

The meeting took place in the presence of key Sheraa leaders and advisory members. Attendees included Najla Al Midfa, Vice Chairperson of Sheraa; Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa; and Advisory Board members Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri; Dr. Muhadditha Yahya Al Hashimi; Ahmed Al Naqbi; Mohamed Khadiri; Omar Al Mahmoud; Fahad Al Hassawi; Salim Al Owais; Muna Al Gurg; Farida Elagamy; Sonia Weymuller; Leena Khalil; Imran Sayeed; and Abdullah Snobar.

The Board ended the session by reiterating support for the Sheraa 2030 Strategy and Sheraa’s founder-focused mission. Members underlined that sustained collaboration between government, finance, education and the private sector remains essential for strengthening Sharjah’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and maintaining the emirate’s status as a recognised centre for startups and innovation-focused business activity.

With inputs from WAM