Sharjah , June 1, 2026 : The Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), in collaboration with PwC, convened leading public and private sector entities to assess the emirate’s investment position and identify opportunities emerging from global economic shifts.
The high-level seminar was held at Al Bait Al Westi in the historic Heart of Sharjah, and carried
the theme “Sharjah’s Economic Resilience: Unlocking Opportunities Amid Global Shifts.”
Discussions focused on strengthening cross-sector integration and reinforcing competitiveness
across an array of sectors.
Participants, who represented key sectors like aviation & logistics, real estate, manufacturing,
financial services, and hospitality, alongside representatives of government entities, business
councils, and academic institutions – also explored plausible pathways to sustain growth by
reigniting investment momentum.
A resilient economy and sustainable growth
Sharjah’s economic landscape was a central focus of the session, with discussions examining
the factors underpinning stability and continuity across its markets and free zones amid
accelerating global shifts. Participants stressed that the emirate’s economic model is anchored
in a diversified base of growth-supporting sectors, advanced infrastructure, and a stable
population that reinforces domestic demand and sustains economic activity.
The discussion also highlighted how Sharjah’s development model has translated into strong
economic performance in 2025, with foreign direct investment projects increasing by 45%,
capital investments rising by 8.8%, and employment opportunities growing by 25.7% compared
with the previous year – according to data from “fDi Markets – Financial Times”. The figures
reflect the strength of the emirate’s economic structure, the effectiveness of its supporting
policies, and Sharjah’s ability to sustain growth momentum while enhancing its investment
appeal.
High-quality opportunities and strategic partnerships
H.E. 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.”
For his part, H.E. 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.”
Sharjah’s unique advantages amid current regional developments
The seminar highlighted Sharjah’s “unique value propositions” which present opportunities amid
current regional developments, including alternative transport modes. Khorfakkan Port, located
on the Gulf of Oman, together with strong transport links to the northern emirates and Oman
reinforce Sharjah’s role as a “resilient alternative logistics hub”. Sharjah recently launched a
new logistics corridor linking the emirate with major ports in Oman, following a new Sharjah-
Saudi multimodal logistics corridor to accelerate cargo flow and reduce transit times.
Another advantage that was highlighted is Sharjah’s competitive cost base compared to
elsewhere in the UAE, with lower start-up costs in both free zones and mainland, commercial
rents 40% lower and office rents up to 60% less. This “cost resilience” is particularly significant
“during a period of input cost inflation” and “especially suitable” for industrial and logistics
businesses. The seminar also demonstrated how investors can optimise operations by co-
locating within sector-specific zones to benefit from close proximity to suppliers.
Alongside the local economic outlook, discussions also examined global economic trends and
emerging investment models, highlighting opportunities across Sharjah’s key sectors, including
food and beverages, consumer products, business services, manufacturing, technology, and
logistics. The session also explored the emirate’s appeal to investors and entrepreneurs across
sectors, including real estate, in line with the strong momentum Sharjah continues to see in this
area.
Around 75% of investment projects progressed to operational stages in 2025, while the real
estate sector recorded 29,235 transactions in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting an 18.9%
increase compared with the same period last year.
The session featured participation of prominent leaders from leading entities across the
emirate, including, including Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of
Government Relations and the Higher Committee for Economic Integration in the Emirate of
Sharjah; H.E. Ahmed Hamad Rashid Matar Al Suwaidi, Assistant Secretary General of The
Sharjah Executive Council; H.E. Hamad Ali Abdalla Al Mahmoud, Chairman of the Sharjah
Economic Development Department; H.E. Ali Ahmed Ali Abughazayain, Chairman of the
Sharjah Fish Resources Authority; H.E. Najla Al Midfa, Vice-Chairperson of the Sharjah
Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa); H.E. Khamis Al Mazrouei, CEO of Sharjah National Oil
Corporation (SNOC); Omar Al Mulla CEO of Osool Investments at Sharjah Asset Management
Holding, and Saif Alsuwaidi, Director Of the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, alongside
representatives from business councils, educational institutions, and the hospitality sector in the
emirate.
