Sheraa picks 60+ UAE startups for equity-free Dh5M fund
What's the deal? Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (SheraaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →) has selected more than 60 UAE startups and small and medium-sized enterprises to receive grants or in-kind support through its Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund, an equity-free initiative offering up to Dh5 million in assistance. The programme drew more than 330 applications and was built with public and private sector partners.
What's the endgame? Beyond cash, selected businesses get tailored mentorship, strategic advisory services, and fast-tracked funding decisions. Sheraa said the fund was created to help viable businesses overcome short-term operational pressures while continuing to invest in growth.
Who's in? The latest cohort spans food systems, accessibility, wellness, and sustainable consumer products. Named startups include Little SproutiesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Shukrani/HyloDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Chocoleaf, RAWA Wellness, Eshara AI, The AM Lab, BookMyPet, The Waste Lab, and Ajada.
Why now? The initiative backs the UAE's broader entrepreneurship push. The country's national agenda aims to grow active companies from 1.2 million to more than 2 million by 2031, and to create 30,000 jobs through entrepreneurship by 2030.
The signal: The UAE was ranked the world's leading entrepreneurship ecosystem for the fifth consecutive year in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025/2026 report, and placed first globally for economic performance in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026. Since launch, Sheraa said it has supported more than 600 startups, helping founders raise over Dh1.14 billion — a track record that positions equity-free capital as a growing tool in the region's founder-support playbook.
Read more: CairoScene
Image credit: WIPO | OMPI
