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Arabian Post
25-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Sharjah Unveils Empowerment Platform for Young Entrepreneurs
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Efforts to foster youth entrepreneurship in Sharjah have taken decisive shape with the launch of a new initiative by the Municipal Council and Sharjah City Municipality alongside the Family Development Department. Known as the Sustainable Future Youth Programme, the project seeks to streamline startup processes, facilitate licensing, and provide mentorship and finance support for young innovators. The programme introduces a unified one-stop-shop for business setup, combining municipal services with regulatory and advisory support. It aims to reduce administrative delays and lower barriers to entry for promising youth-led enterprises. Stakeholders hope this will catalyse innovation and expand economic diversification within the emirate. ADVERTISEMENT Under the scheme, participants benefit from facilitated licensing via the municipality's dedicated entrepreneurship centre. Young entrepreneurs will receive support in completing documentation, securing permits, and understanding compliance requirements. Meanwhile, Family Development Department branches will offer training sessions in business planning and financial literacy targeted at individuals aged 18–35. Sources within the Sharjah Youth Council say the programme differentiates itself through its inclusive approach to sustainability. Every startup selected must embed at least one sustainable development objective—whether in social impact, environmental protection, or economic resilience—into its business model. Mentorship and advisory services will be provided by experts from government, private sector, and academia, ensuring access to high‑value networks. Officials emphasised that one of the programme's early successes is its cooperation with Sharjah FDI Office's Emerging Entrepreneurs initiative. Since its inception in early 2024, the Emerging Entrepreneurs initiative reportedly processed its first licenses within days—365 Luxury Watches being one example of a brand that expanded into the emirate swiftly. The new youth programme is designed to build upon this momentum and scale the model to a broader demographic. The launch event featured remarks by Saif Al Suwaidi, Acting Manager of the Sharjah Investors Services Centre, who highlighted the intent to 'embrace young entrepreneurs and innovators eager to launch their projects and businesses in the emirate's vibrant markets'. Sheikha Issa Al Harmoudi of the Sharjah Youth Council stressed that aligning municipal and youth-targeted efforts is key to reduce obstacles faced by local innovators. Ruwad, the Sharjah SME foundation, will also play a pivotal role by offering membership benefits, financing options, and virtual incubation facilities—especially targeting universities and alumni. As of early 2024, Ruwad's network of roughly 1,500 members had already started utilising such support programmes. ADVERTISEMENT Earlier in 2025, complementary youth measures were introduced in the emirate. The Sharjah Capacity Development Foundation released Masar, focused on bridging the gap between education and employment for graduates. The Sharjah Youth Council, together with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, also organised the 'Industry Pioneers – Make it in the Emirates' session to orient Emirati youth towards emerging industrial opportunities under the national diversification strategy. These activities reflect Sharjah's broader ambition to bolster non‑oil sectors—such as manufacturing, tech, and creative industries—to contribute significantly to the UAE's economic targets by 2031. They also coincide with the Municipality's efforts during UAE Innovation Month in January that included youth‑centric programmes like Innovative Engineer and Innovative Farmer, aimed at nurturing a culture of creativity within municipal services. Analysts note that the sharpening focus on youth-empowerment initiatives is timely, given the global rise of youth-led impact ventures and the UAE's increasing competition with regional innovation hubs. According to market data, Sharjah's share in domestic non‑oil FDI and startup investment has grown significantly, though it remains modest compared to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The new programme aims to narrow that gap by improving regulatory efficiency and offering targeted support. Critics, however, caution that sustainable impact depends on measurable outcomes. They argue the programme should establish clear metrics—such as business survival rates, job creation, and investment attraction—to accurately assess its effectiveness. Some have also emphasised the need to extend outreach to rural and underrepresented communities across the emirate. Government responses indicate that a central dashboard for monitoring and reporting outcomes will be unveiled in the coming quarter. The Municipality has committed to publishing annual impact reports detailing licence issuance, active ventures, funding accessed, and employment generated. They also plan to host follow‑up workshops and bootstrap funds later this year. As implementation proceeds, attention will turn to integration with existing initiatives. Stakeholders emphasise synergy with SAEED's established model, Ruwad's incubation services, and the Youth Council's outreach. Plans to forge links with private sector incubators and international investor networks are also under exploration, signalling Sharjah's ambition to transform municipal-level support into a globally connected entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Sharjah 24
24-06-2025
- General
- Sharjah 24
Municipal Council, SM launch youth entrepreneurship initiative
The initiative aims to support young municipal employees preparing for marriage by empowering them and helping them overcome challenges to build stable, cohesive families that contribute to societal development and prosperity. Programme objectives and support mechanisms The programme reflects the UAE's ongoing commitment to strengthening families as a core pillar of society. It will provide participants with both material and moral support, psychological counseling, and a variety of training and awareness courses designed to equip them for married life and future responsibilities. Leadership endorsement and strategic vision His Excellency Salem Ali Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Sharjah City Municipal Council, stated that the programme aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who advocates for strong, well-supported families. Al Muhairi emphasised that the programme will help young people marry on solid foundations, ensuring emotional and social stability while enabling them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the nation's development. Institutional support and programme implementation His Excellency Obaid Saeed Al Tunaiji, Director General of Sharjah City Municipality, affirmed the municipality's full support for the programme, highlighting the initiative's alignment with societal values and its importance in promoting the institution of marriage. The programme aims to serve as a bridge between government institutions and youth, offering knowledge, guidance, and support to establish stable family lives. Programme structure and strategic partnerships Aisha Al Motawa Al Suwaidi, member of the Municipal Council and head of the Sustainable Future Youth Programme, presented an overview of the programme's structure. She outlined its objectives, timeline, and the mechanisms for providing financial and moral support. She also detailed the collaboration with strategic partners such as the Family Development Department, the Economic Development Department, and other supporting agencies. The programme will be implemented in phases and extended to include young employees from various government entities. Commitment to family stability and youth empowerment Her Excellency Modhi Al Shamsi, Head of the Family Development Department, stressed the importance of the programme in preparing youth for marriage and enhancing family stability. She noted that the initiative plays a vital role in reshaping young people's understanding of family life and its foundational role in society. Moza Saif Al Shehhi Al Suwaidi, Director of the Family Guidance Department, described the programme as a model of institutional collaboration and a long-term national effort to preserve and strengthen the Emirati family. She explained that the training component of the programme includes a comprehensive set of modules tailored to address psychological, social, and economic needs, and will be delivered by certified specialists in various fields. Closing lecture on the role of marriage in society The ceremony concluded with a lecture by Sheikh Dr Aziz Farhan Al Anzi, who spoke about the vital role of marriage as a social institution. He emphasised the values of affection, understanding, and mutual respect as key to a successful married life, offering practical advice and encouragement to the program's participants.
Sharjah 24
24-06-2025
- General
- Sharjah 24
730 youth join Sharjah's phase 1 of 'Sustainable Future' pgrm.
Initial focus and future expansion Al Suwaidi explained that the "Youth... Sustainable Future" programme began with young people from the Sharjah City Municipality and will include all government departments in the advanced stages of the programme. She noted that the first targeted group includes 730 young people intending to marry. Strategic collaboration and implementation plan Al Suwaidi told 'Sharjah 24' that the council has partnered with most government departments to agree on the implementation of this programme, which will be implemented in four phases. The first phase includes identifying and listing the basic database of young people. Four-phase programme structure The second phase includes questionnaires on the reasons for not getting married, analysing them and extracting the results. The third phase focuses on pre-marital training in cooperation with the Family Development Department of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, and finally, the youth wedding.
