Step into a new era of learning innovation!
Win a AED 250K Pilot.
The Access Sharjah Challenge (ASC) 2025 is calling on bold EdTech startups from around the world to co-build the future of education in Sharjah.
This is your chance to secure a pilot contract worth AED 250,000, access decision-makers, and scale your solution in one of the region’s most dynamic education ecosystems.
APPLICATION CLOSES ON August 17th
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What is the Access Sharjah Challenge (ASC)
The Access Sharjah Challenge (ASC) invites global startups to collaborate in shaping solutions for high-impact, real-world challenges within Sharjah’s priority sectors. As Sheraa’s flagship market access program, ASC connects participating startups with key stakeholders, including regulators, industry leaders, and decision-makers, providing a platform to pilot innovative solutions and drive meaningful impact across the UAE.
Why Apply to Access Sharjah Challenge (ASC) 2025?
AED 250,000 (~USD 68,000) Proof-of-Concept (POC) contract with Sharjah education regulators (SPEA and SEA)
Direct access to the Sharjah market, facilitated by Sheraa – your gateway to the UAE and the wider MENA region
Pathway to UAE expansion with licensing, visa, and operational setup support
Comprehensive startup support, including mentorship, legal setup, and product localization
$1M+ in service value – co-working spaces, tech perks, software discounts, and essential growth tools via Sheraa’s startup support network
Showcase your startup to governments, corporates, investors, and ecosystem leaders at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2026
Showcase your solution at the 5th edition of the Sharjah International Summit on Improvement in Education, taking place from 14 to 15 February 2026.
The Challanges
Future-Ready Skills Challenge
The rapidly evolving global landscape demands more than traditional academic knowledge. Today's learners need a dynamic set of skills, including critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and digital literacy, to navigate complex challenges, innovate, and thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Equipping them with these "future-ready" skills is crucial for their success in education, employment, and as engaged members of society.
Focus Areas
- Curriculum-to-Competency Alignment: Mapping learning outcomes to real-world skills.
- Empowering Educators: Providing training and resources to integrate future-ready skills into the classroom.
- Skills Assessment: Tools to track 21st-century competencies.
- Real-World Exposure: Connecting students with career pathways, mentors, and applied learning opportunities.
Arabic in Early Childhood Challenge
Language is more than words, it is memory, identity, culture, values, and belonging. In the early years, language shapes how children see themselves and connect with the world around them. Yet across many communities, Arabic is often sidelined in a language development context, treated as a subject rather than a living, breathing part of daily life.
Focus Areas
- Early Language Development: Strengthening Arabic speaking, listening, and vocabulary in young learners.
- Cultural Content Integration: Embedding Arabic content and cultural elements into daily activities.
- Gamified Solutions: Creating Arabic-first play environments that support joyful learning.
- Parental Engagement: Enabling families to reinforce Arabic learning at home.
- Empowering Arabic Educators: Supporting teachers with tools and training to deliver Arabic in engaging ways.
Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA)
Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA)
120 private schools
23,000 early learners
200,000 students enrolled
Sharjah Education Academy (SEA)
Arabic in Early Childhood Challenge
More than 53,000 educators
Oversees and runs 33 public nurseries
2,600 early learners enrolled
Program Timeline
WHO SHOULD APPLY
Startups ready for scaling, ideally at Series A or B funding stages with an adequate team size.
Committed to establishing a significant presence in Sharjah and expanding across the UAE.
Proven track record of successful corporate/ government collaborations.
Offering customizable, market-ready solutions adaptable to diverse requirements.
Focused on enhancing the quality, accessibility, and impact of education.
Driven to make a lasting impact and dedicated to a sustainable future.
WHy sharjah
Welcome to the heartbeat of innovation – our city is the perfect canvas for your success story. Be part of our dynamic community filled with go-getters, entrepreneurs, and savvy investors. Here, your ventures will not just survive but thrive, thanks to an environment that values progress and prosperity.
The emirate comprises Sharjah City, the Central Region including Mleiha, Al Badayer, Al Dhaid, and the East Coast including Khorfakkan, Kalba, Dibba Al Hisn.
Sharjah offeres businesses a low-cost working environment, and access to unparalleled talent and support at the highest level.
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Sharjah is home to more than 60,000 SMEs and start-ups across its six free zones and 33 industrial zones. It is a hub for innovation, with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) providing support including incubators and accelerator programmes as well as the annual Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival, an event that brings together the world’s most promising innovators.
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As a popular destination for expats, Sharjah boasts a young, diverse, talented, and multicultural population
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It is easy and quick to set up a business, with an abundance of industry-specific free zones and support from Sharjah Investors Services Centre (SAEED).
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Sharjah is strategically located between Dubai and the burgeoning northern emirates, and is the only emirate which borders all six of the other UAE emirates. Sharjah also offers easy access by air, sea, and land to the GCC and beyond.
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Sharjah Airport connects the city to GCC, Europe, Africa, and Asia. This international airport is home to the region’s leading low-cost airline - Air Arabia.
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Sharjah is a future-ready city thanks to its world-class Innovation Cluster. This area houses University City and Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park, which together combine industry, government, universities, and research labs.
© Visit Sharjah, Your Sharjah, and Invest in Sharjah
hear from past winners
The sixth edition of the "Access Sharjah Challenge," organized by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) in partnership with the Sharjah Department of Agriculture and Livestock, spotlighted innovative solutions in the fields of agricultural technology and livestock health. A total of 11 startups from 24 countries competed for grants worth AED 250,000 each, aimed at supporting food security and enhancing sustainability in the emirate.
Winner in the Agricultural Technology track, for its innovation "LifeBox"—a solar-powered water desalination and pumping system that addresses water scarcity challenges and offers a sustainable solution for farmers and rural communities.
NoorNation
Winner in the Livestock Health track, for its mobile smartphone-based platform that diagnoses livestock diseases such as mastitis, helping improve animal health, enhance milk quality, and reduce the reliance on antibiotics.
Faunatech
Meet Our Past Winners: Joining a Community of Success
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Faunatech
Winner of ASC 2024 – Livestock Health
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Noornation
Winner of ASC 2024 - AgTech
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Candam Technologies
Winner of ASC 2023 - Sustainability
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Green Future Project
Winner of ASC 2023 - Sustainability
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Frappy
Winner of ASC 2022 - Alef Group
FAQs
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The ASC is organized by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), in collaboration with key industry partners in Sharjah.
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This year, the ASC focuses on challenges within the Agritech and Livestock Health sectors, aiming to improve sustainability, efficiency, and technology application in these fields.
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Applications open on July 29 and close on September 5. We encourage early submissions to ensure your application is considered.
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If you are shortlisted, you will participate in a four-week-long Startup Readiness Sprint designed to prepare your team for successful collaboration and implementation. This includes partner workshops tailored to meet the needs of the challenge and partner expectations.
Following a successful pitch at the end of the Sprint, if selected, you will enter a six-month Proof of Concept (PoC) implementation phase. This phase includes preparation, pilot testing, and final implementation, providing ample opportunity to refine your solution in a real-world environment and demonstrate its impact and scalability. During this period, you will work closely with our partner in Sharjah to ensure your solution meets the specific needs of the local market and industry standards
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This is a 4-week online program that is designed to help startups to collaborate efficiently with our corporate partners and it helps assess compatibility at the business and technical levels.
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No, there is no fee to participate in the ASC. Selected startups will be granted access to resources and support throughout the program.
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Participants can win a POC deal worth AED 250,000, access to market opportunities, and licensing support, to scale their solutions in Sharjah.
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No, international and local startups can apply without a Sharjah business license.
Winners will need to obtain a Sharjah license, which Sheraa will assist with at a discounted rate.
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Winners should be prepared to enter a formal agreement outlining the terms of POC implementation, and company licensing in Sharjah.
Winning startups will be required to obtain a business license in Sharjah for at least two years, with access to additional opportunities post-program.
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Sheraa provides ongoing support including networking opportunities, further business development, and potential scaling pathways within the UAE and GCC markets.
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Success is evaluated based on the impact of the solutions implemented, commercial viability, scalability, and the ability to meet the predefined challenge goals.
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Please contact the ASC support team via email (sheraa.programs@sheraa.ae). We are here to assist you throughout the application process.
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Yes, modifications are permitted by submitting a new application (the last submitted application will be reviewed).
Please ensure any changes are submitted by September 1.
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We commit to responding to every application.
You will hear from us by the deadline, but we may contact you sooner as we review applications on a rolling basis.
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Absolutely! We warmly welcome past participants who did not get selected to apply for ASC 2024.
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You need to select one focus area unless your team can address both challenges effectively.
programs
Access Sharjah
© 2024 Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center. All Rights Reserved.
© 2024 Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center. All Rights Reserved.