Sharjah Unveils Initiative to Support Women-Led Businesses

By: WE staff | Thursday, 20 November 2025

• Sharjah marked Women's Entrepreneurship Day with concrete action

• The Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship - SWIF - is launched

• The program invests in women-led ventures focused on scale and social impact

On November 19, Sharjah observed Women's Entrepreneurship Day, marking a special occasion with the launch of new measures to support women-led businesses.

Continuing its strong focus on advancing women's leadership in business, the emirate is putting its support behind enterprises that combine growth potential with social impact, through the Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship (SWIF). These enterprises operate within areas including healthcare, infrastructure, design, and food systems.

Launched by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), with the auspices of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the fellowship will support a cohort of 12 women founders that are founded to lead established companies, with mentorship, guidance, and access to necessary organizational support as aligned with the broader efforts of the UAE to advance women's entrepreneurship in key economic sectors.

This initiative builds upon Sharjah's ongoing work in promoting its startup ecosystem and Sheraa has already supported more than 450 founders, along with more than Dh 372 million in revenue, and thousands of jobs.

Women are deeply engaged in the ecosystem as evidenced by 51 per cent of Sheraa supported startups being female-founded, which measures the Emirate's strong resolve to facilitate equal opportunity.

SWIF offers mentorship, investor access, and an equity-free Dh500,000 grant in memory of Dr Asma Fikri and Amna Fikri’s late father, Dr Mahmoud Mohamed Fikri. The program aligns with Sharjah's purpose-driven entrepreneurship approach by offering support to women founders who create scalable solutions to practical challenges.

Many of the participants operate at the juncture of culture and commerce. Noora Shamsi Jewellery by Dr Noora Alshamsi brings together cultural heritage and sustainable production.

The work of Maitha Alansari, Locallure, supports emerging designers and extends international exposure for local talent.

Noora AlSuwaidi, founder of Teel Floral Studio and Lamak Studios, uses traditional motifs in new floral and spatial design. Khateera, co-founded by Rana Askoul, focuses on women-centered Arab media, while her wellness venture Nara develops community-based programs.

Other founders are pursuing ventures in sustainable foods. Hylo, cofounded by Malin Raman Delin, is creating a circular retail model with the potential for waste reduction. Maya Sherif Ibrahim's More.Than is cultivating a health-conscious food brand centered on local production.

Bumblebee Food, under the leadership of its founder Qadreya Al Awadhi, sources organic food directly from farms to offer healthy meal options for children and is now scaling across the region.