Sharjah: The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) convened their third roundtable in a proactive series aimed at empowering female entrepreneurs, this time focusing on the true potential of social entrepreneurship in Sharjah and the UAE. Held at AUS, the event hosted policymakers, academics, innovators, and founders to dissect challenges, celebrate progress, and chart a roadmap for a thriving social enterprise ecosystem.
According to Emirates News Agency, the roundtable was led by Mariam Bin Al Shaikh, Director of SBWC, and Dr. Narjess Boubakri, Dean of School of Business at AUS. The event featured a diverse group of notable leaders and business founders, including Sheikha Dr. Alia Al Qassimi, a surgeon and social development expert; Dr. Muna Al Suwaidi from the Ministry of Culture and Youth; Alya Saif Al Shamsi from the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center; and several others who are prominent in the field of entrepreneurship and social development.
Mariam Bin Al Shaikh emphasized the council’s role in bridging cultural and financial divides, stating that entrepreneurs must first invest in their vision to inspire others. She highlighted Sharjah’s ecosystem, which offers mentorship, investor readiness programs, and strategic partnerships to convert ideas into impactful ventures.
Dr. Narjess Boubakri underscored the importance of building a shared understanding of social entrepreneurship, noting that the UAE has a unique opportunity to develop its own definitions and frameworks in this space. She highlighted the nation’s focus on sustainability and innovation as key factors in nurturing a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Sheikha Dr. Alia Al Qassimi advocated for embedding social entrepreneurship into education systems, stressing the need to identify and mentor young innovators from high school onwards. This perspective aligns with global trends in impact-driven education and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Jamal Maalouf addressed misconceptions around social entrepreneurship, emphasizing that it is not charity but a method of solving market gaps with a focus on people, planet, and profit. She called for standardised KPIs to measure societal impact and build stakeholder trust.
Alya Saif Al Shamsi from Sheraa discussed the integration of impact into startups, reflecting a wider shift toward ethical business models. Initiatives like the ‘Sharjah Access Challenge’ were highlighted for motivating innovation and industry-specific solutions.
Hala Al Gergawi, founder of Teabeforenoon, urged for cross-sector collaboration to leverage the momentum toward sustainability in business. Mourad Ben Ayed revealed efforts to create the UAE’s first social enterprise database to aid policy advocacy and visibility.
The founders of ‘Happiness Redefined,’ Sonali and Pulpit Chopra, highlighted legal ambiguities that hinder innovation, calling for tailored frameworks to distinguish social ventures from traditional businesses or NGOs. Gergana Abdulrahman of Wild Fabrik pointed out the scarcity of funding for impact initiatives and the need for accessible tools to measure and articulate sustainability.
The event concluded with discussions on strategies to bolster the UAE’s social entrepreneurship ecosystem. Recommendations included establishing a certification framework to distinguish genuine social enterprises, integrating social entrepreneurship into national procurement processes, and fostering credibility and investor trust. These discussions aim to position the UAE as a leader in impactful enterprise, aligning with Vision 2031 and global SDG commitments.