emirates7 - The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Startup Middle East to boost cross-border cooperation between the UAE and India’s startup ecosystems. The agreement is part of Sheraa’s wider efforts to expand market access, connect founders with global platforms, and drive collaborative innovation.
The MoU was signed at Sheraa’s headquarters by Sara Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, and Siby Sudhakaran, CEO of Startup Middle East, in the presence of Anoop Ambika, CEO of Kerala Startup Mission, alongside several officials and representatives of Indian startups. It sets out a strategic framework to integrate Indian entrepreneurs into Sharjah’s innovation landscape, opening up fresh opportunities for growth and expansion.
A key outcome of the partnership is the launch of the Sharjah Centre of India Startup Hub (ISH)—a dedicated platform designed to connect Indian founders with Sharjah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Sheraa will also strengthen its ties with Indian government entities and programs to enhance its flagship initiatives, including Sheraa Deal Dock, Sharjah Startup Studio (S3), and the Access Sharjah Challenge. These collaborations further cement Sheraa’s role as a leading enabler of entrepreneurship, creating wider access to new markets and greater global reach for startups.
The partnership extends to major Indian startup events such as Huddle Global, Startup Mahakumbh, Scaleup in the Emirates Business Summit, and India Startups Confluence 2025.
Commenting on the agreement, Sara Al Nuaimi said: “Collaboration is central to Sheraa’s mission of building a globally connected startup ecosystem. This partnership with Startup Middle East brings Indian founders closer to Sharjah’s entrepreneurial community while opening pathways for our startups into one of the world’s most dynamic markets. Together, we are shaping an ecosystem of innovation between the UAE and India that will drive growth, impact, and shared prosperity.”
Siby Sudhakaran added: “The India Startup Hub is a landmark initiative inspired by the legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai, showcasing the vitality of India’s startup ecosystem while unlocking global opportunities. We value Sheraa’s visionary leadership in bringing this initiative to life. The Hub will act as a catalyst, linking Indian innovators with Sharjah’s vibrant business landscape—its five free zones, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce, and IBPC Sharjah—while strengthening the long-standing bridge of innovation between the UAE and India.”
Anoop Ambika, CEO of Kerala Startup Mission, noted: “With over one million Malayalees in the UAE—nearly 40% of them employed in Oil & Gas, Shipping, Logistics, and Tourism—the India Startup Hub Sharjah Centre provides a vital platform for Kerala Startup Mission to tap into this diaspora’s sector-specific expertise.”
This strategic alliance enhances Sharjah’s standing as a global entrepreneurship hub while deepening the UAE–India innovation corridor to empower founders, scale impactful ventures, and build a more connected entrepreneurial future.
The MoU was signed at Sheraa’s headquarters by Sara Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, and Siby Sudhakaran, CEO of Startup Middle East, in the presence of Anoop Ambika, CEO of Kerala Startup Mission, alongside several officials and representatives of Indian startups. It sets out a strategic framework to integrate Indian entrepreneurs into Sharjah’s innovation landscape, opening up fresh opportunities for growth and expansion.
A key outcome of the partnership is the launch of the Sharjah Centre of India Startup Hub (ISH)—a dedicated platform designed to connect Indian founders with Sharjah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Sheraa will also strengthen its ties with Indian government entities and programs to enhance its flagship initiatives, including Sheraa Deal Dock, Sharjah Startup Studio (S3), and the Access Sharjah Challenge. These collaborations further cement Sheraa’s role as a leading enabler of entrepreneurship, creating wider access to new markets and greater global reach for startups.
The partnership extends to major Indian startup events such as Huddle Global, Startup Mahakumbh, Scaleup in the Emirates Business Summit, and India Startups Confluence 2025.
Commenting on the agreement, Sara Al Nuaimi said: “Collaboration is central to Sheraa’s mission of building a globally connected startup ecosystem. This partnership with Startup Middle East brings Indian founders closer to Sharjah’s entrepreneurial community while opening pathways for our startups into one of the world’s most dynamic markets. Together, we are shaping an ecosystem of innovation between the UAE and India that will drive growth, impact, and shared prosperity.”
Siby Sudhakaran added: “The India Startup Hub is a landmark initiative inspired by the legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai, showcasing the vitality of India’s startup ecosystem while unlocking global opportunities. We value Sheraa’s visionary leadership in bringing this initiative to life. The Hub will act as a catalyst, linking Indian innovators with Sharjah’s vibrant business landscape—its five free zones, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce, and IBPC Sharjah—while strengthening the long-standing bridge of innovation between the UAE and India.”
Anoop Ambika, CEO of Kerala Startup Mission, noted: “With over one million Malayalees in the UAE—nearly 40% of them employed in Oil & Gas, Shipping, Logistics, and Tourism—the India Startup Hub Sharjah Centre provides a vital platform for Kerala Startup Mission to tap into this diaspora’s sector-specific expertise.”
This strategic alliance enhances Sharjah’s standing as a global entrepreneurship hub while deepening the UAE–India innovation corridor to empower founders, scale impactful ventures, and build a more connected entrepreneurial future.