Sharjah: The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) and Startup Middle East have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the India Startup Hub in Sharjah, creating a dedicated gateway for Indian entrepreneurs into the UAE’s growing innovation economy.
The agreement, signed on August 25, 2025, by Sara Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, and Siby Sudhakaran, CEO of Startup Middle East, was witnessed by Anoop Ambika, CEO of Kerala Startup Mission, alongside Indian startup representatives.
India Startup Hub: A New Gateway
The hub will link Indian startups to Sharjah’s resources—including its five free zones, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce, and IBPC Sharjah—while supporting UAE startups entering India. Positioned as a “catalyst for market expansion and innovation-led growth,” the hub will also integrate with Sheraa’s flagship programs such as Sheraa Deal Dock, Sharjah Startup Studio (S3), and the Access Sharjah Challenge.
The collaboration will further extend to India’s major startup events including Huddle Global, Startup Mahakumbh, Scaleup in the Emirates Summit, and the India Startups Confluence 2025.
Voices from the Ecosystem
“This hub will serve as a powerful catalyst, connecting Indian innovators with Sharjah’s thriving entrepreneurial landscape,” said Sudhakaran, calling it a “landmark initiative inspired by the vision of Expo 2020 Dubai.”
Al Nuaimi stressed Sheraa’s global mission: “Collaboration lies at the heart of Sheraa’s mission to build a globally connected startup ecosystem. This agreement brings Indian founders closer to Sharjah’s entrepreneurial community while opening new pathways for our startups in India.”
Highlighting the diaspora’s role, Ambika noted: “With over 1 million Malayalees in the UAE, nearly 40% working in oil & gas, shipping, logistics, and tourism, the hub creates a powerful bridge to leverage this sectoral expertise.”
About the Partners
- Sheraa (est. 2016) has incubated 180+ ventures, supported 450+ founders, generated $372 million in revenues, and raised $297 million in investment, while creating 2,697 jobs. Its flagship Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival has drawn over 30,000 attendees since 2017.
- Startup Middle East (founded 2022, Dubai) offers market entry programs, investment facilitation, networking events, and publications, serving as a soft-landing platform for startups eyeing GCC and MENA markets.
