Sharjah Business Women Council

What Sharjah Business Women Council does

The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) is a government-supported, membership-based organization founded in 2002 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah. It serves women entrepreneurs across the UAE and internationally, with a stated membership base of more than 2,400 members drawn from diverse sectors and geographies including Britain, Brazil, and Kuwait. The council operates a tiered membership model — Silver (free for startups and early-stage entrepreneurs) and Gold (AED 1,000, approximately USD 272, per year for established women-led businesses) — and generates revenue from these membership fees plus corporate sponsorships structured across Gold, Silver, and Supporting Partner tiers. Its products span the SBWC Membership program, the NMU Initiative (a showcase platform for women-led businesses), the NMU Podcast, Programs & Workshops, Trade Missions to Italy, Thailand, Brazil, India, and China, SBWC Tours, Networking & Roundtables, Business Development Support Services, Growth & Visibility Services, Mentorship Programs, and a Corporate Partnership Program. Distribution occurs through the SBWC website (sbwc.ae), the SBWC mobile app, email newsletters, social media, and physical events including GITEX North Star and the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival.

SBWC does not develop proprietary technology. Its core technology footprint consists of a website, a mobile application that delivers member-exclusive discounts and partner benefits, and the NMU Podcast distributed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube Music. No public API, SDK, or technology integrations are disclosed. The organization is privately held under the governance of its Board of Directors, with leadership including Chairperson H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Majid Al Qasimi and Director H.E. Maryam Bin Al Shaikh, alongside a board of operator-founders from fashion, wellness, jewelry, and creative industries. Strategic partners include Expo Centre Sharjah (Gold Sponsor), Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (Silver Sponsor), Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park, Innovation Box LLC, and the American University of Sharjah School of Business and Administration. The council is not funded by private equity or venture capital and does not disclose revenue figures.

Name

Sharjah Business Women Council

Legal name

Sharjah Business Women Council

Website

https://sbwc.ae

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Sharjah Business Women Council is a government-supported membership organization founded in 2002 in Sharjah, UAE, serving women entrepreneurs through tiered membership, mentorship, trade missions, and networking events, with over 2,400 members across the UAE and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's business support and entrepreneurship services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Women entrepreneurship support
• Business membership program
• Mentorship programs
• Networking events
• Trade missions

Headquarters

HQ city

Sharjah

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Gold Membership Fees: Annual membership fee for Gold tier members providing premium benefits including priority access to events, exclusive offers, and enhanced networking opportunities.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Revenue from corporate partners who sponsor SBWC events, workshops, and trade missions at Gold, Silver, or Supporting Partner tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SBWC is a membership-based business support council that empowers women entrepreneurs in the UAE through a tiered Silver and Gold membership program. Members gain access to mentorship, networking events, structured programs and workshops, trade missions, tours, and the NMU Initiative showcasing platform. The organization also operates the NMU Podcast and a Corporate Partnership Program for supporting organizations.

Product overview

Sharjah Business Women Council operates as a comprehensive one-stop business hub offering a membership-based platform with multiple integrated services. The core offerings include Silver and Gold membership tiers, the NMU Initiative for business showcase and growth, the NMU Podcast for thought leadership, Programs & Workshops for skill development, Trade Missions for international expansion, SBWC Tours for sector-specific education, and Networking & Roundtables for community building. Supporting services include Business Development Support (startup guidance, legal support, funding access), Growth & Visibility Services (marketing, exhibitions, media), and Mentorship Programs. The SBWC also offers a Corporate Partnership Program for organizations seeking to collaborate on women's empowerment initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NMU Initiative: An initiative dedicated to empowering and supporting female entrepreneurs by providing diverse platforms to showcase and grow their businesses.
• NMU Podcast

Products and services

• SBWC Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• 68% increase in women-led startups in Sharjah
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Expo Center SharjahflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor of SBWC. Expo Center Sharjah collaborates with the council to support women entrepreneurs through signature events, workshops, and trade missions organized by SBWC.
• Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development AuthoritycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Sponsor providing support for SBWC initiatives and events aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs in Sharjah's business ecosystem.
• Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner supporting SBWC's mission to empower women entrepreneurs and strengthen Sharjah's business community through collaboration.
• Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting Partner of SBWC, contributing to the council's initiatives through innovation-focused programs and resources for women entrepreneurs.
• Innovation Box LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing innovation support and resources to enhance SBWC initiatives for women entrepreneurs.
• American University in Sharjah (AUS) School of Business and AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with AUS School of Business and Administration for hosting roundtables that bring together prominent voices to discuss key topics shaping today's business landscape.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dubai Business Women Council: Government-backed Dubai-based council serving women entrepreneurs and professionals in the UAE. Directly comparable to SBWC in mission, membership-based model, and event-driven GTM targeting the same UAE female founder segment.
• Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council: Abu Dhabi-based council advancing women entrepreneurs through networking, mentorship, and corporate engagement. Closely mirrors SBWC's structure, government backing, and SME-focused programming across the UAE.
• NAMA Women Advancement Establishment: Sharjah-based establishment under the Rubu' Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators, focused on empowering women professionally and entrepreneurially. Comparable peer due to shared Sharjah location and overlapping women-empowerment mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Dubai Women Establishment: Government entity under Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism dedicated to women workforce participation and entrepreneurship. Comparable as a larger, broader public-sector player in the same UAE women-business ecosystem.
• National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO): Long-established US-based membership organization representing women business owners across all industries. Comparable as a mature women-business-owner association with chapters, advocacy, and member benefits analogous to SBWC's tiered model.

Regional players

• Federation of Businesswomen in Saudi Arabia: Saudi national council supporting women-owned businesses through networking, training, and advocacy. Comparable in mission and council structure as a GCC regional peer addressing the same women-entrepreneur segment.
• Sheraa (Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center): Sharjah-based government-backed entrepreneurship hub supporting early-stage founders with programs, mentorship, and events. Comparable in Sharjah location and entrepreneurship development focus, though not women-specific.

Emerging players

• WEConnect International: Global network certifying and connecting women-owned businesses to corporate and government buyers. Comparable as a membership/community model serving women entrepreneurs, but with a global rather than UAE-specific footprint.
• Cartier Women's Initiative: Global annual award and fellowship program supporting women impact entrepreneurs with funding, coaching, and exposure. Comparable in supporting women entrepreneurs with programming and visibility, though operating as a fellowship rather than a membership council.

Others

• Cherie Blair Foundation for Women: International foundation focused on women entrepreneurs in emerging markets through training, mentoring, and market access programs. Comparable thematically in mission to support women business owners, but operates as a non-profit foundation rather than a local membership body.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTrCpOlZfCqDIGt8uxkoWDw
• Xx.com/sharjahbwc
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharjahbwc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sharjah-business-women-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sharjah Business Women Council