Chief Executive Officer of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), Najla Al Midfa, is the first Emirati woman to be selected for the Eisenhower Fellowships (EF) 2019 Global Program. 

Currently in its 65th year, Eisenhower Fellowships gather innovative leaders from around the world, committed to creating change and providing solutions for a society's betterment and growth. The fellowship identifies, empowers and connects professionals through a transformative experience, while also providing them with a lifelong position in a global network of dynamic changemakers.

Philip Frayne, United States Consul General, applauded the achievement. “On behalf of the United States Consulate General in Dubai, I congratulate Najla Al Midfa for this extraordinary achievement, and thank her for her commitment and success in developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the United Arab Emirates.  It is especially fitting Ms. Al Midfa has been selected to participate as an Eisenhower Fellow during the Year of Tolerance, for the aim of the Fellowship is to help build bridges between cultures and societies.  I am grateful that young, outstanding Emirati leaders such as Ms. Al Midfa are helping to foster and support cross-cultural understanding, while also serving as a conduit for an even stronger relationship between our two countries.”

Commenting on the occasion, Najla Al Midfa said, “It is an honour to be selected amongst change-driven leaders for the Eisenhower Fellowship. It is particularly poignant in the UAE’s Year of Tolerance, as the fellowship represents a valuable opportunity to engage with experts and thought leaders across cultures and backgrounds, building shared bonds that will carry us into the future. I look forward to the exchange of ideas on how to positively impact our societies, and to bringing these insights back home.”

The distinguished group of 24 Global Fellows, will embark on a 6-week fellowship in the United States from March 28 2019 to May 10 2019, engaging in a transformative exchange of knowledge and ideas with the leading minds in their fields. The dynamic group range from a variety of industries including government, health, entrepreneurship, biomedical research, counter-terrorism, health, technology, communications and the environment.

Since 1953, nearly 2,400 thought leaders from 115 countries, have benefited from the Eisenhower Fellowship. This tailored experience allows individuals to grow professionally and personally, while expanding their perspectives and developing their leadership skills.

The last Emirati to be selected for the program was in 1994.