Submit your Solution
Choose a challenge from one of our corporate or government partners and submit your application before the deadline.
Pictured: Startups from the Sheraa community
بوابةAccess
Real Markets.Real Pilots.Real Impact.
Access Sharjah Challenge connects high-potential startups with corporate, government and ecosystem partners that have real problems to solve. Win up to AED 250,000 in pilot contracts and prove your product in the real world.
We Are Sheraa
TheAccessProgram
Access Sharjah Challenge (ASC) is Sheraa's flagship market access program. Solve real-world challenges set by Sharjah's priority sectors, win a pilot contract worth AED 250,000, and scale your solution across the UAE and the wider MENA region.
- Direct Access to the Sharjah Market
- Series A / B-Ready Global Startups
- AED 250,000 PoC Contract
- Showcase at SEF 2026
- Mentorship, Legal & Localization Support
How it Works
From Application to Pilot Contract.
Shortlisted Founders Pitch
A panel of partners and experts reviews shortlisted startups and selects finalists who pitch live.
Pictured: A founder pitching to partners at Sheraa
Winners Announced
Winning startups are awarded a pilot contract and matched with the right partner to deploy their solution.
Pictured: Winners on stage at a Sheraa pitch competition
Deploy & Scale
Run a real-world pilot, prove your impact, and leverage Sheraa support to expand into new markets.
Pictured: An Access Sharjah Challenge pilot on site in the UAE
A Pilot Contract Worth AED 250,000.
Past the last gate is the real market: deploy in Sharjah, prove your impact, then scale across the UAE and MENA.
Apply Now
Who Can Apply
Who Should Apply
Scale-Ready
Startups at Series A or B funding stages with an adequate team, ready to commit to a real-world pilot in Sharjah.
Sharjah-Committed
Founders ready to establish a significant presence in Sharjah and expand across the UAE.
Proven Partnerships
Track record of successful collaborations with corporates, governments or major institutions.
Market-Ready Solution
Customizable, market-ready products that adapt to diverse partner requirements and contexts.
Impact-Focused
Solutions focused on enhancing the quality, accessibility and impact of education in Sharjah.
Program Timeline
From Application to Pilot
Apply
Jul – Aug 2025
Submit your application before 17 August. Sheraa reviews submissions on a rolling basis to confirm fit.
Sprint & Pitch
Aug – Sep 2025
Top 10 startups join a 4-week online Readiness Sprint, then pitch live on Pitch Day to compete for the pilot.
Pilot & Showcase
Sep 2025 – Feb 2026
Winners deliver a 6-month PoC pilot in Sharjah and showcase results at SEF 2026 and SISIE 2026.
Our Programs
Explore OtherPrograms
Academy
Your Starting Point as a Founder
Provides capacity-building through workshops, online tools and courses, equipping founders and students with entrepreneurial skills and investor readiness.
Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship
Scale with Purpose
A transformative four-month fellowship empowering women founders with leadership training, venture-building support and networks to scale their impact.
2016 — 2026 · 10th edition
10 Years of Impact.
A decade of empowering founders, enabling ideas, and building an entrepreneurial ecosystem from Sharjah to the world.
