Forget Dubai: The UAE's Most Exciting Entrepreneurship Festival is Taking off in Sharjah

Kicking off to celebrate and recharge the spirit of entrepreneurship, Sheraa is crafting the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SharjahEF), a unique vibrant platform for global and local entrepreneurs, investors and innovators to explore its diverse and fertile ecosystem.

Set to take place on November 21^st and 22^nd at the Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club, the event, running its first edition, promises to gather the region’s key players to inspire, empower and connect. With over 1,500 attendees, the festival will be abuzz with entrepreneurs, government partners, potential investors and industry veterans and the region’s 60 best startups showcasing at Startup Town. The startups will also be pitching in the festival’s Pitch Competition for a chance to win up to AED 150,000, ($40,800) judged by an external committee of ecosystem leaders.

“This 2-day celebration of entrepreneurship aims to inspire new achievements, generate thought-provoking discussions, and rejuvenate the ecosystem's spirit and passion for building a better future,” said Najla Al-Midfa, General Manager at Sheraa, during the press conference for the launch of the event.

With an incredible lineup of over 80 speakers including Fadi Ghandour, Mohamed Alabbar, Elissa Freiha, Mai Medhat and joy Ajlouny, the gathering of mentors and business magnates will shed light on key topics, from social entrepreneurship, to creative economies, fintech, and the cultivation of the startup ecosystem.

“Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival will bring together the best and brightest of people in the entrepreneurial ecosystem to celebrate the power of entrepreneurship and inspire further innovation,” said Najla Al Ansari, Project Lead of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival.

SharjahEF will also be introducing The Seffy Awards, a set of nine prestigious awards for entrepreneurial merit in the UAE's startup industry to recognise excellence in achievements as assessed by a popular community vote. The various categories include the Entrepreneur of the Year award, the Tech Startup of the Year award - involving industries likeTourism, Fintech, Food & Beverage, Creative Economy, Social Enterprise, Cleantech, and Logistics and Transportation - and the Sheraa Rising Star of the Year award.

“Sheraa has been actively fostering the entrepreneurial culture and environment of Sharjah,” said Hadi Badri, Chief Strategy Officer of Emaar, one of the event partners. “The festival provides a great platform for the country’s incredible talent to promote themselves and their ideas.”

For more information and registration to SharjahEF, visit their website.