Sheraa Launches AED5 Million Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund To Support Sharjah-Based Startups And SMEs
Launched under the directives of HH Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the initiative is designed to deliver rapid financial and operational support to UAE-based businesses, particularly those operating in critical sectors.
The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), one of the UAE's leading startup support entities, has launched a AED5 million (US$1.36 million) Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund aimed at helping startups and SMEs in the emirate navigate the ongoing period of market uncertainty by offering them access to fast-tracked financial, operational, and marketing support.
Launched under the directives of Sheraa Chairperson HH Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the Fund, which is being delivered through a collaborative model, brings together a network of public and private partners—which includes Inc. Arabia—to support Sharjah-based businesses operating in key sectors like manufacturing, food security, and healthcare.
Startups selected to benefit from the initiative will gain access to both financial and non-financial support, ranging from equity-free, non-repayable grants, to market visibility opportunities. Applications for the Fund are now open, with Sheraa making use of a fast-tracked evaluation process to speed up funding decisions and ensure timely access to support.
In a statement, Sheikha Bodour said, "Sharjah’s vision, aligned with the broader direction of the UAE, is rooted in building a resilient, future-ready economy driven by innovation and entrepreneurship. Achieving this requires more than long-term ambition; it calls for systems that respond with clarity and purpose, particularly in moments that test continuity and adaptability. 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.”
HE Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE’s Minister of Economy and Tourism, added, “The United Arab Emirates, guided by the vision of its wise leadership, continues to advance the entrepreneurship and SMEs sector, strengthening its competitiveness and ensuring its continuity. As a key driver of national economic growth, this sector plays a central role in accelerating the transition toward a more resilient and sustainable economic model. The launch of the Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund is the latest in a series of initiatives introduced by the Emirate of Sharjah to support this vital sector. It reflects a clear commitment to empowering 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, ultimately reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading global hub for startups and entrepreneurship."
HE Najla Al Midfa, Vice Chairperson of Sheraa, said, “Startups and SMEs are not a footnote to economic resilience; they are its foundation. They sustain employment, anchor supply chains, and continue to build even when conditions demand more of them than before. But a founder's ability to push forward is never determined by ambition alone. It is shaped by the environment around them, and whether that environment is structured to respond when it matters most. Periods of disruption do not pause the work of building a business, and they cannot be met with hesitation. 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.”
Interested startups and SMEs can apply for Sheraa's Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund by clicking here.
