UAE
Sharjah
Sharjah is catalyzing an inclusive dialogue where civil society, academia, the public sector, and the private sector are coming together to develop a world-class entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Ecosystem by the Numbers
Edtech
Education is a priority sector for Sharjah, from establishing the first school in the UAE to developing University City, which houses two of the top six universities in the country. The nation’s education market is expected to grow from $4.4 billion in 2017 to $7.1 billion by 2023, according to a 2018 report by Boston Consulting Group. This is good news for EdTech startups like Little Thinking Minds, who were recently awarded a $100K equity-free grant from the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), and work with over 25 private and public schools in Sharjah.
Digital Media
In 2019, Sharjah was crowned UNESCO World Book Capital, and it has two dedicated freezones - Sharjah Media City (Shams) and Sharjah Publishing City – that provide a range of startup support programs and act as a catalyst for creative and media businesses. The first edition of Sheraa’s newly introduced program, Access Sharjah, focused on book and digital content startups, presenting them with an opportunity to benefit from Sharjah’s legacy as a cultural hub.
Reasons to Move Your Startup to Sharjah
COVID-19 Policy
The Sharjah Executive Council announced a stimulus package to support the emirate’s economy, including rent exemptions for some businesses and eviction-protection. Additionally, The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) has created a $1 million (Dh3.67m) solidarity fund to assist start-ups struggling to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. The money will be distributed among entrepreneurs through equity-free grants and commissioned projects.
Commitment to Research and Innovation
The Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park aims to develop and manage an innovation ecosystem focused on collaboration between science and commerce. Example projects include a fully sustainable aquaponics farm, and the ‘green magic home.
The University City
A 30,000-student campus and home to some of the region’s finest higher education institutions, University City attracts, educates, and produces top technical talent.
Selected Startup Organizations
Startup Genome Members
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