H. E. Sheikha Hind bint Majid Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC)
Since the Sharjah Business Women Council was founded, we have carried the belief that women have a strong foothold in the business world, despite limited support. As a result, we continue to innovate new ways to offer comprehensive support to aspiring women entrepreneurs and encourage them as a motivating force in their career journeys.
A core mission the Sharjah Business Women Council adheres to is adapting to the times, especially in a sector with an ever-changing landscape like the business one. Since 2002, we have implemented many initiatives that nurture women’s capabilities and enhance their potential for success.
From tours and capacity building workshops to networking events and mentor-mentee relationships, we aimed to provide every avenue they needed to feel confident in their endeavors.
Our members are our priority; they are behind every single addition in SBWC’s offerings. We have listened to their feedback and tailored our support system to align with their needs and requests, doing our best to fulfill our promise to them.
It goes without saying that the Sharjah Business Women Council would not be where it is without the leading example set by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and Patron of Sharjah Business Women Council.
Her Highness paved the path we, and over 2,400 members, tread today. Between her unwavering support and the UAE’s leadership, SBWC is steadily achieving its vision of integrating women in the local economy, sustaining the nation’s global impact.
We are proud to announce that many of our members have reached their goals in launching their startups. With their hard work and creativity, our members have broken barriers in Sharjah’s and the nation’s business landscape, establishing a modern, innovative, and vibrant presence, thus reaffirming the importance of entrepreneurial support for women.
The Sharjah Business Women Council, its board, and its employees will continue providing the resources, opportunities, and knowledge needed to empower female founders to thrive in their ventures.
I speak for the Sharjah Business Women Council when I say that every single woman entrepreneur, Emirati or international, is welcome to join. We firmly believe that your ambitions and achievements are limitless, and we hope to help you soar.
H.E. Maryam Bin Al Shaikh, Director of Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC)
As the director of the Sharjah Business Women Council, shaping the future has always been a core part of the Council’s history. By working with entrepreneurs with creative minds and aspiring visions, we get a glimpse of what the future has to offer, and it’s a promising one. We envision a vibrant business hub, full of unlimited possibilities, and a wide range of female founders. This future backs our actions today, and we are committed to making it happen.
In the current business climate, we have broadened our strategy planning to include non-traditional sectors such as technology, transport, real estate, food & beverage, sustainable development, mental health and cultural planning.
Through this strategy, we want to position innovative women entrepreneurs as pioneering figures in the field. We also collaborate with academic institutions, industry experts, and innovation-driven organizations to design programmes based on real market data, ensuring relevance and impact.
Time and time again, we have revised our curricula to suit the current business climate and changed our strategies for our members’ business plans to ensure their ability to break into the market.
Over the past few years, we adopted a more holistic, research-driven, and forward-looking approach to supporting women entrepreneurs. At the beginning of every year, we engage directly with our members to understand their needs, ambitions, and the sectors they aspire to enter. These insights guide the development of our targeted programmes, ensuring that every initiative supports not only the business idea, but the entrepreneur herself.
Across all our initiatives, our work is anchored in three core pillars, Skill and Readiness, Market Access and Global Exposure, and Sector Diversification and Policy Contribution. Weprepare entrepreneurs for real-world challenges through training resources like startup bootcamps, financial planning tools, and specialized masterclasses that enhance their ability to launch and scale their businesses successfully.
In addition, we make sure to create opportunities for our members to participate in exhibitions, investment platforms, and partnerships locally, regionally, and internationally, presenting growth opportunities beyond Sharjah and the UAE. Our work approach is designed toencourage women to confidently enter and lead under-represented industries.
Ultimately, we aim to channel our learnings into policy discussions and development to support long-term economic growth for women-led businesses for a more diverse landscape.
I would like to extend my gratitude and thanks to Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohamed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and Patron of Sharjah Business Women Council, for creating this Council. It is a real leader who sees the needs of their people and strives to make them available. The UAE’s wise leadership is an integral part of our accomplishments, as it recognizes the importance of creativity in today’s global stage.
Here at the Sharjah Business Women Council, we hope to continue expanding on the resources offered through our memberships. We are thrilled to witness the impact and story behind each member. Our members are at the heart of this community, and as a female empowerment platform, the relationship is reciprocal.
Whenever a member, past or present, shares their success, we are inspired to give, help, and nurture more. We aim to take steps towards making a bigger difference in the local, national, and global business climate, by creating even more inclusive and diverse spaces, highlighting women entrepreneurs and cementing their place in the sector. We no longer need to imagine this reality; we can bring it to life.
