Sharjah Council of Businesswomen launches 1,000 online stores to empower women entrepreneurs
Sharjah Businesswomen Council and Packman will create 1,000 online stores for women entrepreneurs, offering services worth AED 3.6 million to boost digital presence across the emirate.
Initiative launch and agreement
The Sharjah Businesswomen Council announced an initiative to establish 1,000 integrated online stores for its women members, aiming to expand their digital reach and market access.
The program was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed between the council and Packman Portal, which will supply the e-commerce platforms and services free for one year.
Council director Mariam bin Shaikh and Packman founding partner and chief strategy officer Mohammed Al Rashid signed the agreement, marking a coordinated push to accelerate female-led digital businesses in Sharjah.
Scope and financial value of services
Each online store is valued at AED 3,600 per year, yielding a total program value of approximately AED 3.6 million for the 1,000 stores.
The package includes a dedicated project website, payment gateway integration, product management tools, an administrative dashboard, and customizable design templates.
Technical support and hands-on training are also provided to ensure beneficiaries can launch or scale their digital operations effectively.
Eligibility and performance-based extension
Participants who process at least 365 customer orders during their first year will qualify for a complimentary second year of services.
This performance milestone is designed to encourage active use of the platforms and to help businesses establish sustainable online sales channels.
The model links digital enablement with measurable commercial activity, incentivizing entrepreneurs to prioritize order fulfilment, customer service, and marketing.
Training, workshops and operational support
Packman will run a series of workshops throughout the initiative covering entrepreneurship, digital commerce, and online business development.
Topics will include store creation, product and inventory management, order execution, customer service, digital marketing, performance optimization, and growth strategies.
The combination of platform provision and capacity-building seeks to address both technical and commercial barriers that many women-led micro and small enterprises face.
Strategic aims for Sharjah’s digital economy
Mariam bin Shaikh framed the initiative as a response to the modern necessity of a strong digital presence and as part of the council’s effort to remove obstacles to women entrepreneurs’ full potential.
By strengthening the competitiveness of women-led businesses online, the council intends to bolster Sharjah’s broader entrepreneurship ecosystem and contribute to the UAE’s digital economy.
Officials emphasized that improving market access for female founders can drive job creation, diversify revenue streams, and amplify the emirate’s homegrown brands.
Packman’s role and future collaboration plans
Packman describes itself as an integrated e-commerce platform offering sellers end-to-end solutions including store creation, payment integration, inventory management, warehousing, shipping, and marketing support.
The company’s founder and CEO, Abdulaziz Al Mulham, said the partnership reflects Packman’s vision to empower entrepreneurs first in the UAE and then across the region and beyond.
Both parties signalled plans for awareness campaigns and additional joint initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of women-owned enterprises in Sharjah’s digital marketplace.
The initiative is expected to roll out in phases with outreach to council members and onboarding sessions scheduled in the coming months, enabling women entrepreneurs to claim their digital stores and begin selling online.
By pairing turnkey e-commerce infrastructure with targeted training and a performance-driven extension policy, Sharjah’s program aims to turn early digital adoption into lasting commercial growth for female-led businesses.
Stakeholders say the scheme will be closely monitored to measure impact on sales volume, market reach, and business sustainability, with lessons informing future programs to support entrepreneurship in the emirate and across the UAE.