The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) has created a $1 million (Dh3.67m) solidarity fund to assist start-ups struggling to cope with the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
The money will be distributed among entrepreneurs through equity-free grants and commissioned projects, helping start-ups "to remain afloat and tide over these uncertain times", the incubator said in a statement on Monday.
“We believe that the entrepreneurial community will play a critical role in the recovery of our society … so these grants will be used not only to help our start-ups survive but also to enable founders to develop solutions that will create a better future for our world,” Najla Al Midfa, Sheraa’s chief executive, said.
This fund has been established in place of Sheraa’s annual entrepreneurship events, which have been cancelled to adhere to safety guidelines set by the authorities.
“Instead, all allocated resources are being used towards the solidarity fund. Grants will be awarded to entrepreneurs committed to creating real impact and building a future we, and the generations to come, deserve,” it said.
Sheraa, meaning to sail in Arabic, is Sharjah’s initiative to build a start-up ecosystem in the emirate. It is headquartered at the American University of Sharjah and its hub, launched in September 2018, is based at the University of Sharjah.
It has helped founders scale their businesses through workshops, mentorships, introductions to investors, government partners and corporate entities to help them secure access to growth capital.
So far, over 100 start-ups have graduated from its programmes, generating over $35m in revenue and raising over $50m in investment.
Last month, the Sharjah government announced a series of measures aimed at protecting people from the economic impact of the coronavirus including the suspension of all eviction judgements and imprisonments relating to rental disputes. Tenants in government-owned facilities such as the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry building and Expo Centre Sharjah were also given three-month waivers on rents. Three-month exemptions were also made for companies renewing licence fees and on parking fees in the emirate. Discounts were offered on traffic penalties and taxi rental fees, among other measures.
Tomorrow 2021
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
War on waste
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
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RESULT
Manchester United 2 Burnley 2
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Monday September 14
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Royal purification
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Schedule:
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
