The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) continued to reinforce its position in 2025 as a fully integrated entrepreneurial ecosystem supporting women across every stage of their business journey. From early‑stage ideation and capability building to regional expansion and access to global supply chains, the Council’s initiatives align closely with Sharjah and the UAE’s vision to advance sustainable development through entrepreneurship.
Reflecting on the Council’s progress, Maryam Bin Al Shaikh, Director of SBWC, noted that 2025 marked a strategic shift toward strengthening SBWC as an economic ecosystem that helps entrepreneurs translate ambition into sustainable, scalable value. She highlighted international indicators underscoring the UAE’s leadership in women’s empowerment, including a 54.1% female workforce participation rate in 2024 and the UAE’s full score across five indicators in the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law 2024 report. These achievements, she said, reinforce the need for continued investment in qualification, expansion and long‑term business sustainability.
SBWC began the year with the ‘Your Voice, Our Vision’ session in Aljada, engaging members in shaping future priorities. In Kalba, the Council hosted ‘Industry Spotlight: Entrepreneurship’ as part of its Inspiration and Dialogue series, offering practical guidance from experts and trainers.
At the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2025, SBWC sponsored the Made in Sharjah zone and launched the NMU Initiative, a platform providing retail and showcase opportunities for women‑led brands. The Council supported six startups and two retail and F&B brands through the programme. Capacity building continued with the five‑day Business Readiness Bootcamp, covering legal frameworks, IP, marketing, budgeting and investor engagement.
SBWC also strengthened recognition and community engagement through its dialogue forum with the American University of Sharjah and the Pearl Quest competition, where eight women‑led startups pitched to a specialised jury.
Expanding into culturally significant sectors, SBWC hosted a dedicated pavilion at the Emirates Perfumes & Oud Exhibition 2025 and served as Strategic Partner of the Watch & Jewellery Middle East Show. On the global stage, the Council sponsored eight women‑led tech startups at Expand North Star 2025, enabling participation in the Supernova Challenge.
SBWC further broadened international access through the Sharjah Trade Mission to China, supporting 16 startups and SMEs in exploring advanced manufacturing ecosystems.
Through forums on social entrepreneurship and the circular economy, SBWC also contributed to national policy dialogue. Across 2025, the Council solidified its role as a gateway for women entrepreneurs to access future‑focused economic opportunities and elevate Sharjah‑born ventures to regional and global markets.
