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Children as young as seven took the stage at the first-ever Sharjah’s Little Founders Pitch Competition during the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF 2026), confidently pitching businesses spanning food, fashion, sustainability, education, and play.

Culture, data discipline, AI readiness and policy alignment are emerging as decisive factors in how Middle East technology companies scale globally, industry leaders said during the 9th annual Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2026.

The ninth edition of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF 2026), which was held over the weekend, drew several prominent founders, investors, policymakers, and business leaders from the UAE and abroad who shared their insights and expertise. Designed to link ideas with implementation, the festival focused on long-term economic development, institutional leadership, food security, AI, rise of regional brands and the role of entrepreneurship in supporting resilient economies.

The sixth edition of the Voices of Future Generations anthology, which features stories written entirely by children on themes of sustainability and environment responsibility, was launched during the just concluded Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. Importantly, the 2026 edition also recognised several UAE school teachers playing a pivotal role in nurturing the young writers behind these stories by honouring them with the Teacher Champion Award.

Ten debutant writers have won the First Chapter 2026 – the ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship at this year’s Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. The mentorship programme could be a first step towards them clinching a publishing deal too.

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.

Several emerging writers were announced as winners in different categories of the prestigious MBRSC Short Story Award: ‘New Voices in Sci-Fi’ at the 2026 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. Five participants got a special mention as well.

Presented by the Emirates Literature Foundation in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), the award challenged aspiring authors to craft original and thought-provoking science fiction stories exploring themes such as space exploration, time travel, advanced technology and futuristic civilisations.

As the US, Canada, Australia and the UK tighten immigration and visa regulations, the often-asked question looming in the minds of 17-year-olds and their parents while making higher educations plans is “To go or not to go abroad for higher studies?”

With local and international options in the UAE itself becoming increasingly available and also the realisation that the dollar and pound are becoming increasingly dear in the currencies of their home countries, families are forced to rethink their plans. The geopolitical situation and safety concerns are also important considerations.

A total of 50 youth from 10 Arab countries are participating in the latest phase of the Arab Youth Hackathon – Gaming Edition launched by the Arab Youth Center and being hosted at the headquarters of AD Gaming in Abu Dhabi. The programme will lead up to a final showcase at the World Government Summit in Dubai in February 2026.

Musical storytelling embodying the melodious spirit of Tanzania, and a performance highlighting ancient African traditions through poetry, music and chants enlivened the stage at the ongoing Sharjah Festival of African Literature (SFAL 2026). Cultural exchanges with Arab and Emirati authors also highlighted literature as a bridge between languages and identities.