NAMA equips women with digital skills for independent careers

Held at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK) from 21 April to 20 May, the programme culminated in a final showcase where participants presented business concepts and digital projects before a jury panel.

Delivered over five weeks of intensive training and hands-on application, the programme focused on strengthening participants’ readiness for freelance and digital work by combining technical, marketing and entrepreneurial skills. Participants were guided in developing independent projects, establishing a stronger professional presence across digital platforms, and creating more flexible and sustainable income opportunities aligned with changing labour market demands.

Digital skills as part of economic readiness

Commenting on the programme, Her Excellency Mariam Al Hammadi, Director General of NAMA Women Advancement: “The rapid expansion of the digital economy is reshaping how people work, build careers and generate income, creating new opportunities that rely on adaptability, specialised skills and strong digital presence. Preparing women to engage confidently with these changes is essential to strengthening their economic participation and expanding their access to sustainable professional opportunities.”

She added: “Through this programme, NAMA provided participants with practical, market-relevant experience that goes beyond learning digital tools to understanding how to develop ideas into viable business models, engage clients effectively and build independent professional pathways. The final projects demonstrated the value of applied training in helping women build more flexible and future-ready careers.”

From idea to initial business model

The presentations highlighted the participants’ ability to align business ideas with market needs and develop scalable business plans. The projects spanned technology, healthcare, fashion, food, sustainability, heritage, tourism and gifts. They included a digital platform connecting students and academics with investors to turn research into viable ventures, a modest fashion label, and a healthy food project.

Other ideas included a community platform for exchanging used items through a points-based system to reduce waste, an outdoor hospitality service for traditional desserts, and a digital platform for organising and booking educational and tourism tours in Sharjah. Additional projects ranged from contemporary handicrafts inspired by traditional crafts to a mental health and wellbeing consultancy, a gifting concept linked to self-development and motivational digital content, and an on-demand home maintenance platform aimed at improving service efficiency and user experience.

Training linked to the labour market

At the conclusion of the programme, members of the jury panel were honoured, including Samar Fahmy and Bashir Merish from PwC, Shaikha Al Tamimi from Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), Eng. Wafa Bil Aswad from Sharjah Business Women Council, and Haneen Mohammed Al Muhalbi from Digital Sharjah.

Participants received graduation certificates from the PricewaterhouseCoopers Academy, strengthening the programme's professional value and supporting their progression towards developing independent projects or pursuing freelance career opportunities with a clearer strategic approach. NAMA aims to build on the programme’s outcomes through future training and professional initiatives that respond to evolving labour market demands and strengthen women’s participation across emerging sectors of the new economy.

Sustainable impact

The programme aligns with NAMA’s strategy of designing practical initiatives that strengthen women’s economic participation through specialised training, skills development and expanded access to professional knowledge. It also reflects its commitment to supporting more flexible working models that enable women to develop their own ventures, diversify income streams and contribute to the national economy through modern, market-relevant skills.