The largest airline in the UAE, Emirates is joining forces with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) to enhance the country’s startup ecosystem.
As part of the partnership, Emirates will offer discounted fares to and from its network of more than 90 destinations for those attending the annual Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival and for startups that relocate to the UAE through Sheraa’s ‘soft landing’ program.
Adnan Kazim CCO – Emirates Airline
“Emirates has long been an avid supporter of innovative startups and initiatives within the travel and aviation ecosystem, and we are pleased to partner with Sheraa to support Sharjah. We will be contributing to those efforts through attracting and connecting startups to the UAE with Sheraa across our network with the end goal of fostering innovation and stimulating valuable economic activity.”
Further, the partnership will enable Emirates to work with Sheraa, both locally and across its international roadshows and events that focus to attract startups. The deal will also give greater access to market opportunities for budding companies through supplier day engagements.
“This partnership reflects our belief that corporate stakeholders play a critical role in establishing Sharjah as a thriving entrepreneurship hub, by enabling innovation and supporting tech startups that can accelerate economic growth and diversification,” said Najla Al Midfa, CEO of Sheraa.
Supporting startups
Sheraa, initiated in 2018, has supported 114 startups that have generated more than $125 million in revenue and over $74 million in investment and created over 1,300 jobs. Recently, it launched UAE’s first government-backed startup studio, Sharjah Startup Studio (S3), to support ventures that are profitable, sustainable and solving real problems in the world.
Last month, Sheraateamed up with the foreign direct investment office ‘Invest in Sharjah’ to support start-ups in the UAE and the region by providing greater access to market opportunities and venture capital.
