Sheraa Opens Nominations For SEFFY Awards 2026 To Celebrate Entrepreneurial Excellence

The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has opened nominations for the SEFFY Awards 2026. This event is a key feature of the annual Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF), scheduled from 31st January to 1st February, 2026. The festival, known as the largest in its category in the region, aims to honour visionary founders, dedicated mentors, and ecosystem enablers who are advancing entrepreneurship with innovative ideas and lasting impact.

Entrepreneurs, mentors, corporates, and ecosystem contributors in the UAE are encouraged to participate. Nominations must be submitted by December 31, 2025. The shortlist will be announced on January 20, 2026. The award ceremony will occur during SEF at the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park on February 1st, 2026.

The awards recognise excellence in five categories: Technology, Social Impact, Rising Star, Outstanding Mentor, and Ecosystem Enabler. These categories celebrate individuals shaping the future through innovation and sustainability. Winners gain access to extensive networks, investors, and Sheraa's ecosystem to further their efforts.

Nominations are open to individuals and organisations across the ecosystem. Both self-nominations and third-party nominations are accepted. A panel of seasoned industry experts and ecosystem partners will evaluate nominees based on set criteria to ensure an effective and transparent judging process.

In the Technology category, judges assess how solutions stand out in addressing challenges, scalability potential, investment prospects, and founders' past entrepreneurial successes. Social Impact nominees are evaluated on their venture's influence, innovativeness, and founders' experience in creating change.

The Rising Star category focuses on visionaries with notable early achievements and growth potential. Outstanding Mentors are recognised for their crucial contributions to the ecosystem and impactful support to founders. Ecosystem Enablers earn recognition for facilitating collaboration and providing resources that drive sustainable startup growth.

Past Achievements

The SEFFY Awards held earlier this year highlighted some of the UAE’s most inspiring startup success stories. The Waste Lab won the Social Impact award for its innovative approach to tackling food waste while promoting circular economy practices that benefit both society and the environment.

Pulse IoT Technologies was acknowledged in the Technology category for smart solutions enhancing connectivity across sectors. BEEAH Group received recognition as an Ecosystem Enabler for championing innovation and sustainability that empowers emerging enterprises in Sharjah.

Remal was celebrated as a Rising Star for its creative business model with scalability potential. Dr. Mohamed Al Hemairy was honoured as Outstanding Mentor for his exceptional guidance in shaping future UAE founders.

This year's edition promises another milestone in entrepreneurial acceleration by recognising excellence across various categories. It aims to propel efforts through access to networks and investors within Sheraa's ecosystem.

With inputs from WAM