Sharjah Strengthens Investment Appeal Amid Global Economic Shifts

SHARJAH, UAE - The Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), in collaboration with PwC, convened senior leaders from the public and private sectors to assess the emirate’s investment landscape and explore opportunities emerging from evolving global economic conditions.

Held at Al Bait Al Westi in the historic Heart of Sharjah, the high-level seminar, titled “Sharjah’s Economic Resilience: Unlocking Opportunities Amid Global Shifts,” brought together representatives from key industries including aviation and logistics, real estate, manufacturing, financial services, hospitality, government entities, business councils, and academic institutions.

According to WAM, the discussions focused on strengthening cross-sector integration, enhancing competitiveness, and identifying practical pathways to sustain investment momentum amid an increasingly dynamic global environment.

Diversified Economy Underpins Resilience

A central theme of the seminar was Sharjah’s ability to maintain economic stability and investor confidence through a diversified economic model supported by advanced infrastructure, a stable population base, and a broad mix of growth-oriented sectors.

Participants highlighted how these factors continue to support domestic demand, economic activity, and long-term development across the emirate.

The discussions also reflected on Sharjah’s strong economic performance in 2025, when foreign direct investment projects increased by 45%, capital investments rose by 8.8%, and employment opportunities expanded by 25.7% compared to the previous year, according to data from fDi Markets by the Financial Times.

These figures underline the strength of Sharjah’s economic framework, the effectiveness of its investment policies, and its ability to sustain growth while enhancing its attractiveness to regional and international investors.

Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, CEO of Shurooq, said: “Sharjah has built an investment environment that remains steady and confident in the face of global change. This strength is the result of a clear development vision, close alignment between the public and private sectors, and an economy shaped by diverse sectors that continue to support one another. At Shurooq, and through Invest in Sharjah, our role is to bring these strengths together, identify where opportunity is emerging, and convert market confidence into practical partnerships that advance the emirate’s long-term growth.”

Building Long-Term Investment Opportunities

The seminar explored how integrated economic ecosystems are becoming increasingly important in attracting investment and supporting sustainable growth.

Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, said: “Markets that sustain investment appeal and stable growth are those that build integrated economic systems capable of absorbing change and turning it into long-term opportunity. In Sharjah, we are focused on strengthening these connections across sectors, supporting consistent performance, and providing investors with a well-defined and scalable environment.”

He added: “Sharjah’s strength lies in its ability to turn regional and global economic shifts into lasting opportunities through strong institutional partnerships and efficient processes. This reinforces its position within global value chains and enables investors to create sustainable value beyond short-term fluctuations.”

Khaled bin Braik, UAE Country Senior Partner at PwC, said: “Investor confidence follows fundamentals, and Sharjah's fundamentals are strong. A diversified economy, clear policy direction, and real alignment between public and private sectors. At PwC Middle East, we see this directly as businesses increasingly prioritise stability, connectivity, and long-term growth potential. Sharjah delivers on all three, and our clients are committing to it. That is the clearest signal of confidence an economy can receive.”

Logistics and Cost Competitiveness Highlighted

The event also examined Sharjah’s competitive advantages amid changing regional trade and logistics dynamics.

Participants highlighted the strategic role of Khorfakkan Port on the Gulf of Oman, together with the emirate’s expanding multimodal logistics network, in strengthening Sharjah’s position as a resilient logistics hub.

Recent initiatives, including a new logistics corridor connecting Sharjah with major ports in Oman and a multimodal freight corridor linking Sharjah and Saudi Arabia, were cited as examples of efforts aimed at improving cargo flows and reducing transit times.

The seminar further underscored Sharjah’s cost competitiveness, noting that business setup costs in the emirate’s free zones and mainland remain significantly lower than many competing markets across the UAE. Commercial rents were highlighted as being approximately 40% lower, while office rents can be up to 60% less than comparable locations elsewhere in the country.

This competitive cost structure continues to make Sharjah particularly attractive for industrial, logistics, manufacturing, and business service companies seeking operational efficiency during a period of rising global input costs.

Real Estate and Investment Activity Continue to Grow

Alongside discussions on logistics, technology, manufacturing, consumer products, and business services, the seminar also examined the emirate’s growing appeal across the real estate sector.

Sharjah continues to attract strong investor interest, with approximately 75% of investment projects progressing to operational stages during 2025.

The emirate’s property market also maintained positive momentum, recording 29,235 real estate transactions during the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 18.9% compared with the same period last year.

The event featured participation from senior government officials and business leaders, including Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations and the Higher Committee for Economic Integration in Sharjah; Ahmed Hamad Rashid Matar Al Suwaidi, Assistant Secretary General of The Sharjah Executive Council; Hamad Ali Abdalla Al Mahmoud, Chairman of the Sharjah Economic Development Department; and representatives from major economic, educational, investment, and hospitality organisations across the emirate.