Post by : Shakul

The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre has successfully concluded the first edition of the Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship (SWIF), marking a significant step in empowering women entrepreneurs in the region.

Held in Sharjah, the programme brought together 12 women founders and provided them with intensive leadership training, mentorship, and opportunities to scale their ventures. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the presence of women-led businesses within the UAE’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

According to Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, the fellowship reflects the increasing maturity and capability of women entrepreneurs in managing and expanding their businesses. She emphasized the importance of a supportive ecosystem in helping founders overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth.

Participants benefited from a comprehensive curriculum based on Sheraa’s 4D model—Discover, Define, Develop, and Deepen—designed to enhance both personal leadership and business strategy. The programme also connected founders with investors, mentors, and industry experts.

A major highlight of the initiative was financial support through a grant of AED 500,000 provided by Fikri Business Consultants, enabling participants to further develop and expand their ventures.

The fellowship also contributed to regional research on women entrepreneurship through collaboration with the Meem Foundation, focusing on addressing funding gaps faced by women-led startups.

Delivered in partnership with global organizations such as Accenture, Microsoft, and EY, the programme offered workshops, leadership retreats, and branding sessions to equip founders with practical skills and industry insights.

The fellowship concluded with a series of sessions focused on policy readiness, impact measurement, and future growth strategies, leaving participants better prepared to scale their ventures and contribute to the region’s economic development.

The successful completion of the first SWIF cohort highlights Sharjah’s growing role as a hub for innovation and women-led entrepreneurship in the Middle East.

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