RUWAD concludes second Mada Festival in Sharjah

SHARJAH, 14th January, 2026 (WAM) — Sharjah Foundation to Support Pioneering Entrepreneurs (RUWAD), part of the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), has concluded the second edition of the RUWAD Festival after five days of activities held under the theme Mada.

The event featured 51 national projects in the retail and food sectors and attracted more than 6,500 visitors.

The festival was attended by Hamad Ali Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Chairman of the SEDD, and visited by a number of officials, including Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Director-General of Sharjah Digital Department; Sheikh Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi; Khalid Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; Mohammed Majid Al Suwaidi, Director of Sharjah Sports Channel; and Dr. Amina Mohammed, Vice-Dean for Student Affairs at the University of Sharjah.

Media outlets covered the event throughout its five days, alongside attendance by content creators.

Al Mahmoud said the festival reflected growing interest in entrepreneurship in Sharjah and strong engagement from business owners, adding that the initiative aims to connect the community with emerging businesses and promote self-employment among young people. He said the venue, the House of Wisdom, enabled exhibitions, live demonstrations and direct interaction between entrepreneurs and visitors.

Fatima Al Ali, Acting Director of RUWAD, said the festival featured 25 home-based projects and 26 commercial ventures, including five projects representing the Federal Youth Foundation under the “Youth Efforts” initiative.

Entrepreneurs who took part said the festival provided opportunities to present their work and connect with the public.