As the investment promotion agency of Sharjah, we are dedicated to the continued transformation and economic diversification of the emirate and are committed to guiding foreign investors to the tremendous opportunity and potential that Sharjah offers.
Leveraging our superior market knowledge and intelligence, we provide bespoke advice and guidance to investors to help individuals and organizations alike to realize their investment in the emirate.
Our vision is to inspire businesses – building on the strong foundations of Sharjah’s sustainable growth and economic diversification, while identifying and facilitating investment opportunities across different sectors.
FDI Intelligence, a Financial Times publication, ranked Sharjah as one of the top 10 small and medium-sized cities of the future in 2015. “Sharjah is attractive in terms of costs for companies that do not need a presence in Dubai, as they can serve the region from here just as well,” Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, COO at Shurooq.
Over the past decade, Sharjah has implemented several initiatives to
further develop and diversify the emirate’s economy and to encourage
foreign direct investment. This included start-up schemes for small and
medium-sized enterprises and the establishment in 2009 of the
Investment and Development Authority – Shurooq, an independent body
mandated to oversee the social, cultural, environmental and economic
development of Sharjah in line with its rich heritage and culture.
Shurooq, was named The Banking Awards FDI Agency of the Year in 2013
and 2014 in the MENA region at the European Global Banking and Finance
Sharjah has the right mix to drive your business forward. It is the gateway to the Middle East, offering businesses a low-cost working environment, access to unparalleled talent and support at the highest level.
Sharjah’s cultural offerings, thriving art scene and UNESCO Heritage sites have long-attracted visitors from around the world. Recent major investments in infrastructure and large-scale tourism destinations around the emirate’s open deserts, mountains, beaches and natural reserves have seen Sharjah- dubbed the UAE’s culture capital- transform into a popular hot spot for adventure and eco-tourism, particularly in the rapidly-growing eastern and central regions, generating tremendous opportunities for hospitality, leisure, entertainment, food and beverage, retail, and other travel-related offering.
75%International tourists
19.48mPassengers at Sharjah International Airport 2025
2.1mHotel visitors (2025)
70%Guests stay at 4-5-star hotels
Nestled between the rapidly-growing northern emirates and the global financial hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and strategically located at the heart of global trade with three seaports, an international airport, and six free zones, Sharjah serves as the UAE’s industrial hub and gateway to the world’s fastest growing markets across Asia, Africa and Europe. As the only emirate with ports on both the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean, Sharjah offers the shortest maritime journey between the GCC and Asia and unparalleled access to the rest of the UAE and beyond.
25mPassenger capacity at Sharjah International Airport by 2025
20KTotal metres of berth
62%Of industrial hubs dedicated to freight forwarding
Rapidly expanding export and re-export market
With its world-class infrastructure and robust network of university hospitals, R&D centres and private clinics, Sharjah is uniquely placed to become a leading healthcare capital in the Middle East. Major government initiatives such as Sharjah Healthcare City are creating new opportunities for growth while ensuring extremely low barriers to entry for healthcare providers. A rapidly-growing and predominantly young demographic have fuelled demand for the development of medical and wellness products and services across the healthcare value chain.
16Public & private hospitals (2025)
1000+Additional beds needed
$1,268UAE health expenditure per capita on avg (USD)
Insurance and private healthcare for all
Sharjah is on track to reach a ‘zero waste-to-landfill’ target by 2022. With strong government support for green initiatives and ground-breaking projects like Sharjah Sustainable City- the first net zero energy community in Sharjah- and state-of-the-art waste-to-energy projects, sustainability and waste management are at the heart of the emirate’s development. Innovation-led policies have produced an ecosystem that is especially welcoming of sustainability and clean-tech start-ups with tremendous opportunities for research and development, commercialization, and public-private partnerships.
5%Annual increase in demand for power
9.5Hours of daily sunlight for solar energy
2.3mTonnes of waste collected by Bee’ah from 1 million households each year
MEA energy innovation hub
A regional hub for higher education, Sharjah- home to one of the world’s largest university cities- has long-been recognized as the education hotspot of the UAE and a major centre for research and development. With a strong government commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship, the emirate has developed a world-class innovation ecosystem leveraging University City’s rich pool of talent, research and technology-focused free zones, incubators, accelerators, makerspaces, and additive manufacturing facilities which is now home to a thriving startup scene and pilot projects with technology giants from around the world.
2000+PhD holders
47kStudents in University City
22Higher learning institutions in the University City(2019)
232+Schools (2019)
The manufacturing sector is the second-highest contributor to Sharjah’s GDP and accounts for one third of the UAE’s manufacturing output. Sharjah is widely recognized as the industrial hub of the nation, particularly owing to its six free zones and 33 industrial zones which are strategically located near major air and sea ports. The emirate has long been a leader in light manufacturing and has recently emerged as a hotbed for advanced manufacturing utilizing next-generation technologies such as robotics, AI, and 3D printing for the production of products including drones, mega yachts, and construction equipement.
16.3%Of GDP based on industry & manufacturing
150kEmployees in the emirate’s Industrial City
62%Of industrial hubs dedicated to freight forwarding
33Industrial Zones
The UAE’s Food Security Strategy aims to position the UAE as a world-leading hub for innovation-driven food security and amongst the most food-secure countries in the world. With a deep culture in research and innovation, dedicated Food Park to bring food to market, and world-class Research Technology and Innovation Park, Sharjah is home to many Agritech companies, startups, and pilot projects. Sharjah is in an advantageous geographic position with coasts on both sides of the country. It is the industrial hub of the UAE, and has lower operating costs than some neighbouring emirates.
3.6B(USD) UAE agricultural Product Market (2025)
1.1B(USD) Expected size of the UAE agricultural product market by 2024
9.8%CAGR of revenue from agricultural products in UAE (2019)
24.7B (USD)UAE food trade value (2020)
Sharjah is home to six Free Zones that are strategically located in, or near major transport centres to facilitate the logistics needs of investors. The emirate prides itself on minimising bureaucracy. Its Free Zones are business-friendly with 0% corporate tax and 0% personal income tax. There are no import, export, re-export fees, or customs duties.
Registering and setting up a business is exceptionally quick, taking less than an hour at the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA). As the UAE’s second largest industrial free zone, HFZA is home to more than 6,500 businesses from 163 countries. Due to its central coastal location, it offers air, sea and land access to both domestic and regional markets.
The Sharjah Airport Free Zone (SAIF) offers pre-built warehouses for small and medium-sized businesses, while also offering substantial space for larger multinationals to build their own if they wish to do so. The Free Zone has on-site customs for rapid clearance of goods; more than 8000 companies from 160 countries; and has exceptional market access as it is connected to Sharjah International Airport.
Sharjah Media City (Shams) was launched in February 2017 to act as a catalyst for creative and media businesses to grow and thrive. The zone is a world-class media hub for innovative facilities and services.
Established in 2016, the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park is a world-class innovation ecosystem that promotes Research and Development and supports collaboration between industry, government and academia. SRTIP was launched to complement University City and has been very successful in attracting leading innovation-focused SMEs, multinationals, and startups in piloting, commercialising, and adopting R&D.
Sharjah Publishing City is the world’s first Free Zone concept dedicated exclusively to serving the global Publishing and Printing industry. SPC provides all the necessary infrastructure and services, along with a business-friendly environment. Businesses can write, design, publish, print, store, and distribute – locally and worldwide – all from one single, purpose-built, state of the art facility.
Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC) is a dedicated healthcare and wellness city home to dozens of hospitals and clinics. Sharjah Healthcare City welcomes Research & Development (R&D) centres, laboratories, hospitals and rehabilitation centres. Located close to Sharjah International Airport, the Free Zone offers investors plots of land for construction of hospitals, clinics and offices and other healthcare buildings are available for long-term leases.
Get in touch to Invest in Sharjah
Building Materials
Food
Heavy Industry
Logistics & Transportation
Oil and Gas
Petrochemical
Recycling
SMEs
Steel
Textile 
Packaging
Perfume & Cosmetics
Timber
Marine
E-Office
Warehouse
Industrial Land
Service license 
Aviation
Jewellery Park
Plot of Land
Media
Wholesale & Retail 
Services & Consultancy 
Dedicated Desk
Shared Desk
Water Management
Renewable Energy
Digitalization 
Environmental
Technology
Smart Manufacturing
Scientist Package
Women In Innovation
Maktabi (Co-Working Space)
Services (Includes Ecommerce,
Professional, Etc)
Publishing 
Storage Spaces
Healthcare
Land
Clinical Space