Sheraa Backs More Than 60 UAE Startups Through Dh5 Million Fund

Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has selected more than 60 UAE startups and SMEs to receive financial grants or in-kind support through its Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund, an equity-free initiative offering up to Dh5 million in assistance.

The programme received more than 330 applications and was developed in collaboration with public and private sector partners. Alongside grants, selected businesses will receive tailored mentorship, strategic advisory services and fast-tracked funding decisions to help address immediate operational challenges and support long-term growth.

The initiative supports the UAE's broader entrepreneurship ambitions. The country was ranked the world's leading entrepreneurship ecosystem for the fifth consecutive year in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025/2026 report, while the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026 placed it first globally for economic performance and second for business creation.

The UAE's national agenda aims to increase the number of active companies from 1.2 million to more than 2 million by 2031, while creating 30,000 jobs through entrepreneurship by 2030.

Since its launch, Sheraa said it has supported more than 600 startups, helping founders raise over Dh1.14 billion in capital. The organisation said the Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund was established to help viable businesses overcome short-term operational pressures while continuing to invest in future growth.

The latest cohort includes startups working across food systems, accessibility, wellness and sustainable consumer products, including Little Sprouties, Shukrani/Hylo, Chocoleaf, RAWA Wellness, Eshara AI, The AM Lab, BookMyPet, The Waste Lab and Ajada. In addition to financial support, the programme connects founders with strategic partners and market opportunities to strengthen their operations and support future expansion.