Latest news with #Ruwad
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
27-05-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
SFRA hosts entrepreneurship workshop with RUWAD
Workshop Objectives Explained The workshop targeted employees of the Authority and aimed to introduce them to the services and initiatives offered by RUWAD to support entrepreneurs in the Emirate of Sharjah. It also highlighted the specialised programs available to UAE nationals seeking to launch their own businesses. Support Services Presented During the workshop, the team explained the main benefits that Emirati citizens can get through "Ruwad", such as financial and technical assistance, fee exemptions, advisory and training services, and inspiring success stories of local projects initiated with the foundation's backing. Interactive Session Conducted The workshop was delivered by a specialised team from RUWAD, with employees actively engaging through open discussions and questions about registration processes and how to benefit from available programs. Leadership Commends Efforts Ali Ahmed Abu Ghazin, Chairman of the Sharjah Fish Resources Authority, emphasised the importance of the workshop in enhancing entrepreneurial awareness among employees. He pointed out that giving employees entrepreneurship-related information and abilities fosters initiative, innovation, and helps create a knowledge-based national economy. Strategic Collaboration Appreciated Additionally, His Excellency commended the collaboration with RUWAD and its ongoing efforts to assist Emiratis and facilitate their successful and self-assured integration into the commercial sector. Positive Comments from Staff Employees who took part in the program expressed gratitude, praising the depth of the information and the perspective it provided on the future of entrepreneurship in the country. They emphasised the importance of these seminars in raising awareness and improving preparedness to gain from development and assistance initiatives across the nation and the emirate.
Sharjah 24
22-05-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
1,414 Emirati entrepreneurs benefit from Ruwad's Programs
Ambitious Development Vision Fatima Al Ali, Acting Director of Ruwad, stated that the foundation is implementing a set of ambitious training projects as part of its vision to empower Emirati talents in entrepreneurship. The programs aim to open promising opportunities for entrepreneurs and support their ventures across sectors, reinforcing Sharjah's status as a preferred destination for national entrepreneurs. Comprehensive Training Approach Al Ali added that Ruwad's training and diploma programs provide participants with specialised knowledge and practical skills in administrative, financial, marketing, and legal fields. These are delivered through an integrated approach that combines real-world theoretical insights with hands-on application. Expanding Training Partnerships She noted that Ruwad has successfully built strong partnerships with various academic institutions, including universities, centers, and institutes, in addition to specialised entrepreneurship training entities. These collaborations support the delivery of advanced training using modern technological tools and applications. Entrepreneurial Topics Covered The training workshops and programs addressed a wide range of topics, from general skill-building and business management to specialized content for launching small projects, financial accounting, and taxation for SMEs. They also included mini-MBA programs, specialized diplomas, introductory workshops, and knowledge development sessions. Diverse Beneficiary Groups Al Ali expressed pride in the foundation's role in upskilling various groups involved in or aspiring to join the entrepreneurial sector. These include existing entrepreneurs, aspiring startup founders, school and university students, government employees, retirees, and holders of home business licenses like Etimad and Masar. Cumulative Training Milestones Amina Mohammed, Director of the Training, Research, and Events Department, revealed that by the end of 2024, Ruwad had delivered a total of 395 training programs and professional diplomas since its establishment. These amounted to 3,555 training hours over 1,139 training days, with a total of 9,724 participants. 2024 Training Outcomes In 2024 alone, Ruwad conducted 56 training programs and workshops, comprising 351 training hours over 106 days. The total number of participants was 1,402, including 483 male entrepreneurs (34.2%) and 931 female entrepreneurs (65.8%). Ambassadors Program Expansion Ruwad also launched the second edition of its 'Entrepreneurship Ambassadors' diploma program, graduating 13 government employees from Sharjah after completing an 8-day course that included 50 training hours. Highlights of 2024 Programs Notable training programs in 2024 included four discussion evenings focused on entrepreneurship in the industrial sector, with participation from 64 projects. The AI-driven marketing innovation program hosted 47 trainees, while 44 participated in the supply chain and logistics program. Additionally, 25 trainees joined the entrepreneurial psychology program, 18 participated in the tourism entrepreneurship program, and 16 attended the digital marketing strategies program. Strengthening Strategic Alliances Throughout the past year, Ruwad enhanced its strategic partnerships for entrepreneurial training. Existing collaborations were strengthened, and new ones were established with institutions such as the Higher Colleges of Technology in Sharjah, the Federal Tax Authority, the Sharjah Planning and Survey Department, and the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority. New Collaborative Ventures Ruwad also initiated new training partnerships with various Sharjah entities, including the Central Finance Department, Sharjah Private Education Authority, Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, Documentation House, Roads and Transport Authority, Sharjah Police Academy, Al Dhaid Municipality, and library administrations in Kalba, Khorfakkan, and Al Dhaid.
Al Etihad
22-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
1,414 Emirati entrepreneurs benefit from Ruwad's Programmes
22 May 2025 09:18 SHARJAH (WAM) In 2024, a total of 1,414 Emirati entrepreneurs benefited from training programmes and professional diplomas offered by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Foundation 'Ruwad' affiliated with the Sharjah Department of Economic initiative falls within Ruwad's annual plan to equip project owners with the skills needed to establish and manage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Al Ali, Acting Director of Ruwad, stated that the foundation is implementing a set of ambitious training projects as part of its vision to empower Emirati talents in entrepreneurship. The programmes aim to open promising opportunities for entrepreneurs and support their ventures across sectors, reinforcing Sharjah's status as a preferred destination for national Ali added that Ruwad's training and diploma programmes provide participants with specialised knowledge and practical skills in administrative, financial, marketing, and legal fields. These are delivered through an integrated approach that combines real-world theoretical insights with hands-on noted that Ruwad has successfully built strong partnerships with various academic institutions, including universities, centres, and institutes, in addition to specialised entrepreneurship training entities. These collaborations support the delivery of advanced training using modern technological tools and training workshops and programmes addressed a wide range of topics, from general skill-building and business management to specialised content for launching small projects, financial accounting, and taxation for SMEs. They also included mini-MBA programmes, specialised diplomas, introductory workshops, and knowledge development Ali expressed pride in the foundation's role in upskilling various groups involved in or aspiring to join the entrepreneurial sector. These include existing entrepreneurs, aspiring startup founders, school and university students, government employees, retirees, and holders of home business licenses like Etimad and Masar. Amina Mohammed, Director of the Training, Research, and Events Department, revealed that by the end of 2024, Ruwad had delivered a total of 395 training programmes and professional diplomas since its establishment. These amounted to 3,555 training hours over 1,139 training days, with a total of 9,724 participants.
Zawya
22-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
1,414 Emirati entrepreneurs benefit from Ruwad's Programmes
SHARJAH - In 2024, a total of 1,414 Emirati entrepreneurs benefitted from training programmes and professional diplomas offered by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Foundation 'Ruwad' affiliated with the Sharjah Department of Economic Development. The initiative falls within Ruwad's annual plan to equip project owners with the skills needed to establish and manage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Sharjah. Fatima Al Ali, Acting Director of Ruwad, stated that the foundation is implementing a set of ambitious training projects as part of its vision to empower Emirati talents in entrepreneurship. The programmes aim to open promising opportunities for entrepreneurs and support their ventures across sectors, reinforcing Sharjah's status as a preferred destination for national entrepreneurs. Al Ali added that Ruwad's training and diploma programmes provide participants with specialised knowledge and practical skills in administrative, financial, marketing, and legal fields. These are delivered through an integrated approach that combines real-world theoretical insights with hands-on application. She noted that Ruwad has successfully built strong partnerships with various academic institutions, including universities, centers, and institutes, in addition to specialised entrepreneurship training entities. These collaborations support the delivery of advanced training using modern technological tools and applications. The training workshops and programmes addressed a wide range of topics, from general skill-building and business management to specialized content for launching small projects, financial accounting, and taxation for SMEs. They also included mini-MBA programmes, specialized diplomas, introductory workshops, and knowledge development sessions. Al Ali expressed pride in the foundation's role in upskilling various groups involved in or aspiring to join the entrepreneurial sector. These include existing entrepreneurs, aspiring startup founders, school and university students, government employees, retirees, and holders of home business licenses like Etimad and Masar. Amina Mohammed, Director of the Training, Research, and Events Department, revealed that by the end of 2024, Ruwad had delivered a total of 395 training programmes and professional diplomas since its establishment. These amounted to 3,555 training hours over 1,139 training days, with a total of 9,724 participants.
