Source : WAM
The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF 2026) will return for its ninth edition from 31 January to 1 February 2026 at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP), featuring an expanded programme of workshops designed to guide enterprises from idea generation to market success.
Recognised as one of the region’s leading platforms for founders, innovators, and community builders, SEF 2026 continues to highlight the diverse stories that shape Sharjah’s dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Held under the theme Where We Belong, the festival places strong emphasis on interactive, hands-on engagement through SEF Academy, SEF Eats, and Expression Zone workshops, ensuring practical learning remains at the core of the experience.
Carefully curated to support individuals at the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey, the workshops aim to equip participants with essential skills and insights relevant to their ventures, careers, and creative interests.
SEF Academy workshops will offer participants valuable knowledge on topics such as building personal brands that accelerate business growth, understanding startup equity and ownership structures, and leveraging AI agents to generate customer leads.
Among the highlights of the Academy’s two-day agenda is Geo Game-Changer: Turning Geolocation Data into Profit. With location data increasingly recognised as a source of competitive advantage, the global geospatial analytics market is projected by Grand View Research to surpass US$226 billion by 2030. Led by Isaias Thomas Biju, Head of UX/UI Design, the session introduces geospatial SQL and demonstrates how start-ups in the Gulf can transform location data into strategic value, positioning geography as a catalyst for innovation and efficiency.
Another key session, Building Your A-Team, addresses the importance of assembling the right team for start-up success. Research by CB Insights shows that 23 percent of failed start-ups cited team-related issues as a contributing factor. Led by Jessy Abraham, Founder and CEO of Thrive People HR Consultancies, the workshop provides first-time founders with practical guidance on defining talent needs, identifying key roles, attracting and retaining top performers, and creating effective hiring processes.
A further workshop led by Lauren Hamilton, Founder of RideSkipper, will focus on developing a “resilience toolkit” for launching and sustaining a new venture. Participants will explore real-world lessons and practical scenarios reflecting early-stage entrepreneurial challenges. The session is particularly relevant given findings from a Foundology study published in Forbes, which reported that 50 percent of 400 startup founders felt stressed or worried for more than half of their week.
Beyond clarifying the financial, technological, and legal aspects of entrepreneurship, SEF also highlights the broader social value generated by new ventures.
The human side of entrepreneurship, encompassing culture, sustainability, and wellbeing—is showcased through SEF Eats and Expression Zone workshops. These spaces offer hands-on culinary, creative, and nature-inspired experiences that encourage participants to slow down, connect, and collaborate. From food-based storytelling to mindful making with natural materials, the sessions reflect SEF’s belief that innovation is driven not only by ideas and technology, but by people, place, and purpose.
SEF 2026 is expected to attract more than 14,000 attendees from around the world, alongside over 300 business leaders, speakers, and investors, all coming together under the unifying theme Where We Belong.
