Asharqia Chamber Entrepreneurship Incubator has achieved a new global milestone after securing third place globally in the Best Incubator Program category at the 11th edition of the Global Startup Awards, following competition with 12 international entities specialized in supporting and enabling entrepreneurship. This achievement reflects the rapid development witnessed by the Incubator and its advanced position on the map of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Chairman of Asharqia Chamber’s Board of Directors, Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Farraj, affirmed that this international recognition embodies the quality of the initiatives and programs offered by the Incubator to support entrepreneurs, and reflects the Chamber’s keenness to adopt global best practices in incubation, contributing to building a more efficient and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Al-Farraj noted that this achievement comes as an extension of a strategic vision adopted by the Chamber to stimulate the business environment and empower startup owners in the Eastern Province, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. He emphasized that the Incubator’s reaching this global level strengthens the Kingdom’s presence in international forums specialized in entrepreneurship and innovation.
For his part, Chamber Secretary-General Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Wabel explained that the Incubator has, over the past years, managed to create a tangible impact in supporting startups by providing an integrated system of services, including guidance, training, and connecting entrepreneurs with financiers and strategic partners, in addition to preparing the appropriate environment for the growth and expansion of promising projects.
He added that the award witnessed broad participation from thousands of programs and initiatives around the world, reflecting the level of excellence reached by the Incubator. He affirmed the Chamber’s continued commitment to developing its services and qualitative programs in a way that enhances the competitiveness of entrepreneurs and supports the position of the Eastern Province as a vital hub for innovation and entrepreneurship at the regional and global levels.
The award is considered one of the most prominent global awards specialized in the entrepreneurship sector, with entities from more than 150 countries participating. It is granted to entrepreneurial programs and initiatives that have a tangible impact in supporting and enabling entrepreneurs and startups. The current edition witnessed strong competition among more than 5,000 participants, highlighting the scale of the challenge and the value of the achievement accomplished by the Incubator.
The organization behind the awards originated in Denmark, where it was launched in 2012 under the name Nordic Startup Awards (NSA), as the first regional competition specialized in the startup sector. In 2015, all regional competitions joined under the organization’s umbrella, with Central Europe added, allowing the platform to expand gradually until it now includes 19 regions covering 154 countries around the world, making it one of the broadest global networks supporting innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
GSA is a global platform that provides qualitative value to entrepreneurs and their startups, as well as to key players in the innovation ecosystem, including government institutions, major companies, and the private sector, by building an international network of relationships and enhancing opportunities for growth, investment, and expansion.