Najla Al Midfa redefines leadership: Sheraa and Emirates Growth Fund’s trailblazing force behind UAE’s startup revolution

H.E. Najla Al Midfa, a leading UAE entrepreneur, drives innovation through Sheraa and Emirates Growth Fund, fostering startups, scaling SMEs, and redefining leadership with her philosophy of “kindness with a spine.”

By: Imran Malik – Media Bites & Sharah News

H.E. Najla Al Midfa, Vice Chairperson of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) and Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of Emirates Growth Fund (EGF), is widely recognized as one of the Middle East’s most influential women entrepreneurs. Her leadership philosophy—what she calls “kindness with a spine”—is reshaping how startups, founders, and investors view growth and resilience.

At Sheraa, Al Midfa has built an entrepreneurial hub that has supported more than 450 startups, incubated 180 ventures, and created nearly 2,700 jobs. Collectively, these companies have raised US$297 million in capital and generated US$372 million in revenue. Remarkably, 95% of startups incubated in the past three years remain operational, with over half led by women founders—a testament to Sheraa’s inclusive ecosystem. The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF), Sheraa’s flagship event, has welcomed more than 44,000 participants, inspired thousands of new ventures, and awarded over US$200,000 in prizes.

Meanwhile, her role at the Emirates Growth Fund reflects another dimension of leadership. Backed by Emirates Development Bank with AED1 billion in capital, EGF focuses on scaling proven SMEs, investing between AED10 million to AED50 million in high-potential businesses. Since its launch, the fund has already closed major deals, including a landmark investment in Tarmeem Healthcare Holding, and is on track to deploy funds across 30 SMEs, contributing an estimated AED3 billion to the UAE’s GDP.

For Al Midfa, the ability to shift between nurturing early-stage founders and guiding established businesses is central to her success. “At Sheraa, my role is to be in the trenches with entrepreneurs—helping them test, fail, and rebuild. At EGF, it’s about pairing ambition with stewardship, ensuring growth without losing balance,” she explains.

Beyond numbers, Al Midfa believes true leadership lies in balancing empathy with accountability. “The leaders who thrive in the next decade will master high care and high standards. That is what creates trust and lasting impact,” she says.

By bridging ecosystems and empowering founders at every stage, Najla Al Midfa is not only shaping the UAE’s entrepreneurial future but also setting a global benchmark for women in leadership.