As the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) returns for its ninth edition on January 31 and February 1, there will be a major focus on future-ready communities and wellbeing at its Impact Zone, which includes a much-anticipated session by four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Another highlight is Startup Town, a zone that brings together founders, investors, and ecosystem enablers, including Head of Start-Ups at OpenAI Laura Modiano, to convert ideas into scalable businesses and long-term partnerships.
High-level discussions on practical models for economic and social development will anchor the Impact Zone. Organised by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa), the Impact Zone, powered by Arada for the fourth consecutive year, reflects a long-standing partnership rooted in cultivating future-ready communities and ideas.
The zone will feature senior regional and global leaders, including Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah’s Department of Government Relations (DGR); Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism; Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, the UAE’s first female minister; HRH Sayyida Dr. Basma Al Said, founder of Whispers of Serenity Clinic; and Sebastian Vettel among distinguished policymakers, industry heads, creatives and changemakers, according to a press statement.
Reaffirming a strategic partnership to build future-ready communities, Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, said: “The Impact Zone is a core part of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival, bringing together global leaders, changemakers, and innovators from diverse sectors whose perspectives help shape the dialogue around the transformations influencing the future of business and society. The zone provides a practical platform for knowledge exchange and the development of clear directions, supporting more informed decision-making, opening new avenues for collaboration, and reinforcing a long-term development path that places people at the heart of sustainable progress.”
Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said: “Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival has always been a platform for meaningful ideas and real-world solutions, and our long-term partnership with Sheraa is in line with our own commitment to create engaged, empowered and dynamic communities. It’s impressive to see the calibre of the speakers featured in this year’s Impact Zone, and the breadth of experience across policy, business, creativity and sport reflects the high standard of dialogue the festival continues to bring.”
Regional wellbeing and food systems will be considered in the session ‘Building the Future Food Economy’, bringing together Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, and Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, to discuss sustainability, and long-term food security in the region.
The panel of Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi and Muna Al Gurg, Chairperson of the Meem Foundation, will address philanthropy and social development in Sharjah in ‘Philanthropy and Impact Investing as the New Model for Sustainable Growth in the Region’.
HRH Sayyida Dr. Basma Al Said will conduct a day-one session titled ‘Designing a World That Works for Everyone’, informed by her long-standing work in mental health and social systems. Nand Kishore Chaudhary, Founder of Jaipur Rugs, will speak on ‘Leading With Goodness: A More Human Way to Build Business’.
Drawing lessons from elite sport, one of the most well-known names in motoring, Sebastian Vettel’s ‘High-Performance Under Pressure: F1 Learnings for Today’s Entrepreneurs’ is bound to be one of the most popular moments of the whole event.
All About Startup Town
Startup Town, powered by du Business, an operating sub-brand under leading telecom and digital services provider du, will feature start-ups, presenting innovation-led products and services spanning technology, digital solutions, creative industries, and emerging business models. At the heart of the zone, the Investors Lounge will provide a structured environment for one-on-one meetings between start-ups and a curated group of investors, creating direct opportunities to explore funding, strategic partnerships, and market expansion.
Anchoring the experience, the Founders Stage will host 30 panel discussions, keynotes, and talks that examine the realities of building and scaling ventures today. Sessions will focus on current market dynamics, investment trends, and the challenges founders face as they navigate growth, talent, and global competitiveness, reinforcing Startup Town’s role as a practical, founder-first environment within SEF, according to a media statement.
Underscoring the significance of Startup Town, Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), noted: “Startup Town is designed as a practical space for dialogue. It brings founders together with investors and experienced leaders and helps them make clearer decisions as their businesses grow. This direct engagement enables entrepreneurs to evaluate their business models realistically, better understand what it takes to be investment-ready, and build balanced, sustainable pathways that reflect their ambition, while aligning with market expectations.”
Karim Benkirane, CCO at du, added: “Powering Startup Town aligns with du Business’s mission to accelerate digital transformation across the UAE. We’re proud to support a platform that connects ambitious founders with the resources, networks, and strategic guidance essential for building tomorrow’s leading enterprises. This partnership reinforces our commitment to fostering innovation and creating sustainable pathways for startup success in the region.”
From venture capital to alternative finance, packed agenda covers diverse topics
Taking to the Founders Stage this year are renowned entrepreneurs, CEOs and business leaders who will discuss the future of venture capital, creating alternative finance models, latest developments in agritech, and a wide range of other dynamics impacting the start-up sector.
Christos Mastoras, Founder and Managing Partner of Iliad Partners, will join a panel of investment specialists to analyse the near-term projection for venture capital. Last year was heavily dominated by investment in AI, accounting for more than half of the $512 billion value of deals in the VC market globally. In her talk on AI startups, Head of Start-Ups at OpenAI Laura Modiano will outline the challenges and opportunities available in this sector’s next phase. Adding a regional perspective, Tala Al Jabri, Founder and Managing Partner of Wyld VC will share her experience in raising an AI MENA Fund.
Parthi Duraisamy, Cofounder of Alaan, will explain how founders and employees can create liquidity before exiting a start-up by selling privately-held shares. This alternative to IPOs and Merges and Acquisitions is gaining traction as seen in global deal volumes in the secondaries market, which surpassed $200 billion in 2025 – 30% higher than 2024.
Healthcare and wellness topics will also be explored. Vadim Fedetov, Founder and CEO of Bioniq, will talk in a session titled What Happens When Two Worlds Collide: Athletes Turned Founders, while Dr.Ihzan Al Marzooqi, Co-founder and Managing Director of Glucare will lead a session titled Co-Founding, Unfiltered: Roles, Power, and Trust. In the same zone, Nafsi Health will provide a Mental Health Clinic for check-ups.
Focusing on agritech, Dr Azam Pasha, Co-Founder of Maalexi, will highlight the need to modernise the food supply chain. Another panel discussion focused on agritech’s role in building more resilient food systems will include Edward Hamod, Founder of Switch Foods.
Grants and funding transform pitches into reality, new categories added
An immensely popular segment of Startup Town, the SEF Pitch Competition x 1Tank will see aspiring entrepreneurs present their start-ups, receive valuable feedback, and win prizes up to AED 275,000.
The competition also offers additional investor funding opportunities. The support through SEF Pitch Competition x 1Tank enables innovators to scale their startups, contributing to economic advancement and national development.
Under the theme, Where We Belong, the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2026 will be held on January 31 and February 1 at the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park (SPARK). More than 14,000 attendees are expected at the latest edition, which will host over 300 world-renowned changemakers and thought leaders.
Further information and tickets are available on https://sharjahef.com
