- Nestlé UAE, Sheraa, MAJRA, and the UAE Food Cluster formalize a strategic collaboration to equip young people with the capabilities, networks, and practical support needed to develop and validate entrepreneurial ideas.
- The MoU was signed at the Future Food Forum 2026 in the presence of H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, reflecting the national importance of youth entrepreneurship, public-private collaboration, and building a future-ready innovation ecosystem.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 7 October 2026: Nestlé UAE has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sheraa, MAJRA, and the UAE Food Cluster to launch NextGen Founders, a three-month youth entrepreneurship program designed to help aspiring founders across the UAE turn promising ideas into validated, market-ready concepts through practical learning, mentorship, and ecosystem access.
The MoU was signed during the Future Food Forum 2026 in the presence of His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism of UAE; Her Excellency Sarah Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa); Ms. Sarah Shaw, CEO of MAJRA; Saleh Lootah, Chairman of the UAE Food Cluster; and Dina Mongy, Associate Director and Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Nestlé UAE.
The signing marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between Nestlé UAE, Sheraa, MAJRA, and the UAE Food Cluster, bringing together their expertise and networks to provide young entrepreneurs with greater support and opportunities. Through the partnership, the four organisations will work together to nurture the UAE’s next generation of founders and contribute to the country’s growing innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Commenting on the signing, Rachid Maalouli, Managing Director, Nestlé Coastal Arabia Cluster, said: “This MoU reflects the value of bringing the private sector, government entities, and the entrepreneurship ecosystem together around a shared ambition to support the next generation of entrepreneurs. Through NextGen Founders, we aim to provide young people with practical support, access to expertise, and meaningful networks that can help them turn their ideas into opportunities. At Nestlé, we believe that empowering young entrepreneurs is a long-term investment in the UAE’s future, strengthening the talent, innovation and enterprise that will shape a more resilient and competitive economy.
H.E. Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), said: “Empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs begins with cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset and giving young people the tools and opportunities to turn ambition into action. Through NextGen Founders, Sheraa brings its expertise in venture building, mentorship, and founder development to help participants validate their ideas, harness emerging technologies, and develop solutions with real market potential. This reflects our continued commitment to developing a generation of founders equipped to innovate, build, and contribute to the UAE’s future economy.”
Sarah Shaw, CEO of MAJRA said: “At MAJRA, we see youth entrepreneurship not simply as an opportunity to support young people, but as an investment in the UAE’s future. When young entrepreneurs are given the right capabilities, networks, and support, their ideas can become solutions that create economic value and meaningful impact. NextGen Founders demonstrates what can be achieved when the private sector and the wider entrepreneurship ecosystem come together to create practical pathways from ambition to action. Through this partnership, we are helping nurture a new generation of responsible founders who can contribute to the UAE’s innovation ecosystem and help shape a more sustainable, resilient, and impact-driven economy.”
Saleh Lootah, Chairman of the UAE Food Cluster said: “Building a future-ready food ecosystem requires collaboration; big players and young entrepreneurs play an equal role in shaping that future. The UAE Food Cluster is committed to creating stronger connections between emerging founders, industry, government, and the wider innovation ecosystem, helping young people translate ideas into practical solutions for the food sector. Through NextGen Founders, we are pleased to work alongside Nestlé UAE, Sheraa, and MAJRA to provide the networks, industry access and opportunities that can help nurture the next generation of food and business leaders.”
NextGen Founders builds on the Youth Circle on the Future of Youth Entrepreneurship recently hosted by Nestlé UAE in partnership with the Federal Youth Authority, MAJRA, Sheraa, and the UAE Food Cluster. Insights from that dialogue helped shape a program grounded in the needs of young founders and in the value of coordinated support across government, academia, industry, and the wider entrepreneurship community.
Delivered through a combination of in-person and online learning, the program will connect participants with mentorship, and networking opportunities while guiding them through idea development, validation, and entrepreneurial problem-solving. By formalizing this collaboration, Nestlé UAE, Sheraa, MAJRA, and the UAE Food Cluster aim to create a practical bridge between youth ambition and the opportunities available within the UAE’s innovation economy.
Applications will be open to eligible university and postgraduate students aged 18–30 from participating universities across the UAE via the Sheraa website. Further details on the application process and opening date will be announced through Sheraa’s official channels.
