The ABCC is pleased to present an exclusive interview with H.E. Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah). In this conversation, H.E. Al Musharrkh sets out why Sharjah has become one of the region’s most compelling investment destinations, from its diversified industrial base and world-class logistics infrastructure to its growing appeal among UK businesses. He shares his perspective on key growth sectors, the support available to companies setting up in the emirate, and the opportunities ahead as the UK and the GCC move closer to a Free Trade Agreement.
Read the full interview below.
1. Introductory Remarks
To begin, could you briefly introduce yourself to our audience, describing your current role and your priorities at Invest Sharjah?
I serve as the CEO of Invest in Sharjah, where our mandate is to position Sharjah as a strategic, long-term investment destination within the UAE and the wider region.
Our priorities are centered on attracting high-quality, productive capital that contributes to economic diversification, knowledge transfer, and sustainable growth. We focus on enabling investments that strengthen Sharjah’s industrial base, advance innovation-led sectors, and create skilled employment opportunities.
Rather than pursuing scale alone, our strategy emphasizes specialization, sustainability, and long-term value creation, ensuring that every investment contributes meaningfully to Sharjah’s economic transformation.
2. Why Should UK investors look to Sharjah?
Why should UK investors be looking more closely at Sharjah today and how important is UK business to Sharjah?
Please highlight what you regard as the key growth sectors such as tourism, real estate, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, higher education, agri-food technology, and green tech, to illustrate what makes Sharjah a distinctive regional investment destination.
Sharjah offers a distinct value proposition within the UAE, built on productive investment, cost efficiency, and strategic connectivity. The United Kingdom is already a key partner for Sharjah, with UK investors contributing over AED 920 million in FDI-linked projects across the emirate. Sharjah’s diversified economy spans manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, education, and services, with a focus on advanced manufacturing, agri-food tech, life sciences, green technologies, and education. It offers access to GCC markets, competitive costs, strong regulation, and established SME ecosystems, while prioritising greenfield, technology-driven, and long-term strategic investments.
3. Sharjah’s Strategic Infrastructure & Logistics
During our discussion, you spoke about Sharjah’s long-term infrastructure planning and strategic location. Sharjah describes itself as a gateway to the UAE and GCC. What competitive advantages does Sharjah’s logistics and transport infrastructure offer to investors and companies embarking on or expanding their operations in the Gulf region?
Sharjah’s geographic position is a key competitive advantage, serving as a strategic gateway to the UAE and wider GCC, supported by integrated ports, airport, and road infrastructure. It is the only emirate with access to both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, enhancing its role in regional trade.
Sharjah operates three major ports, Khalid, Hamriyah, and Khorfakkan, alongside Sharjah International Airport, which handles around 18–20 million passengers annually.
Separately, the Sharjah–Oman corridor strengthens Sharjah’s role as a resilient logistics hub through integrated connectivity with major Omani ports, including Port of Sohar, Port of Duqm, and Port of Salalah, supporting regional trade flows and supply chain resilience across Gulf and international markets.
4. Real Estate Investment
Sharjah’s real estate sector has become one of the UAE’s fastest-growing property markets in recent years, attracting both regional and global investors. How do you see the sector evolving over coming years and what are the main attractions for UK investors?
Sharjah’s real estate sector has become one of the UAE’s most dynamic and resilient markets, supported by population growth, infrastructure expansion, and rising foreign investment. In April 2026 alone, the sector recorded AED 3.5 billion in transactions, with over 15,500 deals across 115 areas and nearly 13 million square feet traded, reflecting strong market confidence.
A key attraction of Sharjah’s real estate market is the growing availability of industrial freehold ownership, allowing investors in manufacturing, logistics, and export-oriented sectors to own industrial assets in strategic zones such as Al Sajaa Industrial Area and Al Qasimia Industrial Area. This provides long-term asset security, stronger balance-sheet positioning, and the opportunity to generate stable income from investment-grade industrial real estate.
For UK investors, it offers more than portfolio diversification, it provides a strategic gateway to the UAE and wider GCC, African, and Asian markets through a cost-competitive manufacturing and logistics hub. Combined with Sharjah’s affordability, strong governance, and long-term value, real estate investment becomes part of a broader platform for business expansion and wealth preservation.
5. Sharjah’s Industrial Sector
Can you outline what factors have made the industrial sector one of the strongest components of Sharjah’s economy and what does this sector offer to UK companies? Please mention, the kinds of businesses that Sharjah is seeking to attract.
Sharjah’s industrial sector is a core pillar of the emirate’s economy, built on diversification, integration, and long-term productive capacity. It benefits from a mature ecosystem supported by strong infrastructure, supplier networks, and access to regional and global markets.
In 2025, Sharjah recorded 532 new industrial licenses (+17%), 3,354 renewals (+7%), and a total of 3,886 licenses (+8%). Industrial investment into Sharjah has surpassed AED 3.51 billion across 99 projects in the past five years, including AED 1.6 billion from 31 projects in 2025, according to fDi Markets data from the Financial Times.
Today, Sharjah hosts around 40% of the UAE’s industrial base, with exports reaching over 120 countries. For UK firms, it offers a strong platform for manufacturing, logistics, agri-tech, and sustainability-driven industries.
6. Support for UK Companies
How does Invest Sharjah support UK companies to set up and expand operations in Sharjah and succeed in the wider UAE market? Readers would be interested to know detail about the guidance available, such as licensing procedures, services to investors, and help with strategic introductions.
Many of the ABCC’s members are small businesses, sole entrepreneurs, and startups. What support does Invest Sharjah give to SMEs from the initial setup process and financial incentives to long-term “aftercare”?
Invest in Sharjah provides end-to-end support for UK companies looking to establish or expand in the emirate.
This includes:
• Guidance on licensing and market entry pathways
• Facilitation of regulatory processes across free zones and mainland structures
• Strategic introductions to local partners, suppliers, and government entities
• Post-establishment support to enable expansion and operational scaling
For SMEs and startups, we place strong emphasis on accessibility. This includes simplified setup processes, integration into Sharjah’s innovation ecosystem, and connection to institutions such as Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK) and Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa).
Our approach does not end with incorporation. We provide long-term “aftercare” focused on expansion, workforce development, and supply chain integration, because we measure success through sustained growth, not just market entry.
7. Tech, Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing
What are the advanced technologies and innovative industries that align most closely with Sharjah’s long-term economic vision? The UK boasts of being a world leader in innovation. What are you doing to attract more UK innovators to Sharjah?
Sharjah’s long-term vision is anchored in advanced manufacturing, knowledge-based industries, and sustainability-driven innovation.
Key focus sectors include:
• Advanced and precision manufacturing
• Agri-tech and food security systems
• Healthcare and life sciences
• Clean energy and green technologies
• Education and R&D-intensive industries
We actively work to attract UK innovators by:
• Partnering with institutions such as SPARK and Sheraa to enable R&D collaboration
• Supporting pilot projects and technology transfer initiatives
• Building sector-specific investment pipelines aligned with UK strengths
• Facilitating partnerships between UK firms and local industrial players
The UK’s global leadership in innovation makes it a natural strategic partner for Sharjah’s next phase of economic development.
8. Sharjah’s Business Environment and Ranking
How would you evaluate Sharjah’s overall attractiveness as a business environment for international investors, with regards to its regulation, competitive costs, availability of local talent, and the ease of doing business? You could mention Sharjah’s rankings from ratings agencies or global institutions if they are relevant.
Sharjah offers a highly competitive and stable business environment defined by regulatory certainty, cost efficiency, strong infrastructure, and long-term economic resilience.
In 2025, the emirate attracted 142 FDI projects, a 45% increase year-on-year, with capital investment reaching AED 7.74 billion and 5,673 jobs created, reflecting growing investor confidence.
Key advantages include competitive operating costs, access to skilled talent, strong regulatory frameworks, integrated free zones, and advanced logistics connectivity to GCC and MENA markets. Sharjah’s diversified economy across manufacturing, logistics, trade, education, healthcare, and technology enhances resilience, while its quality of life supports talent attraction and retention. The emirate focuses on investments that deliver sustainable economic impact, knowledge transfer, and long-term productive capacity.
9. Success Stories & Case Studies
Can you share with us any examples of UK or international companies that have successfully established their operations in Sharjah? Such examples could give us clear insight into the potential that Sharjah offers to UK investors.
Sharjah has attracted a growing number of international and UK companies across advanced industries, manufacturing, sustainability, logistics, education, and professional services, reinforcing its position as a long-term investment destination.
A notable example is the collaboration between Dana Gas and UK-based Levidian to develop the Sharjah Graphene Hub, strengthening Sharjah’s position in advanced materials and innovation-driven industries. The project supports a high-value ecosystem spanning manufacturing, energy, construction, mobility, and clean technologies.
Another example is our partnership with Navis International Trade & Consulting Ltd, which includes an agreement for a logistics facility in Al Qasimia Industrial Area. The project focuses on gas storage and distribution across GCC markets, circular economy practices through gas reclamation, and sustainable infrastructure design, positioning Sharjah as a regional redistribution hub.
These cases reflect Sharjah’s focus on commercially viable, sustainable, and strategically aligned investments that strengthen regional supply chains and industrial resilience.
10. UK–UAE Economic Partnership
How do you view the prospects for UK–UAE economic relations, and what role do you see Sharjah playing within this broader partnership? Do you have any remarks to make about the forthcoming UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement and how this may deepen cooperation between the UK and Sharjah?
The UK-UAE economic partnership continues to grow strongly, with trade in goods and services reaching over AED 116.25 billion last year, reflecting deep economic ties and mutual confidence. The presence of more than 5,000 British companies operating in the UAE, alongside over 14,000 UK businesses exporting to the market, demonstrates the depth of this long-standing relationship. Sharjah plays an important role in this partnership through its diversified economy, advanced industrial ecosystem, strategic location, and investor-friendly environment. The emirate offers strong opportunities for British businesses in manufacturing, technology, logistics, sustainability, education, and the creative economy.
We are optimistic about the forthcoming UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to enhance trade flows, attract further investment, and deepen collaboration across key sectors. Sharjah is well-positioned to serve as a regional gateway for UK companies expanding across the GCC and wider Middle East.
11. Untapped Opportunities
In your view, what are the main untapped areas of cooperation between the UK and Sharjah and are there any upcoming opportunities that you would like to highlight?
The UK and Sharjah already share a broad and well-established partnership, but there remains significant scope to deepen collaboration in higher-value and future-focused sectors.
Key opportunities lie in scaling cooperation in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, healthcare innovation, education, and the creative and cultural industries, areas where Sharjah has built strong institutional capacity and where UK expertise is globally recognised. There is also growing potential in innovation ecosystems, particularly linking UK universities, R&D centres, and startups with Sharjah’s industrial zones and research-driven free zones.
Looking ahead, platforms such as the UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement and Sharjah’s expanding industrial and innovation infrastructure will create further momentum for joint investment, knowledge exchange, and long-term strategic partnerships.
12. Role of the ABCC
In what ways can the Arab British Chamber of Commerce help you to strengthen ties between the UK private sector and Sharjah? How can we work more closely to support business?
The Arab British Chamber of Commerce plays an important bridging role between UK businesses and Sharjah’s investment ecosystem.
We see opportunities for deeper collaboration in:
• Sector-focused investment promotion
• SME and startup matchmaking
• Market intelligence and knowledge exchange
• Structured engagement between UK companies and Sharjah institutions
Working together, we can strengthen institutional linkages that support sustained business growth, rather than one-off market entry.
13. Final Remarks & Summing Up
Finally, are there any additional thoughts you would like to share with UK investors and business leaders about Sharjah’s future vision and its position in the evolving global economy? If you were to sum up in one sentence your message to UK investors, what would that be?
Sharjah’s future vision is centered on building a resilient, diversified, and innovation-driven economy, one that prioritizes long-term value over short-term scale.
For UK investors, Sharjah offers stability, connectivity, and opportunity within a highly integrated regional platform.
If I were to summarize our message in one sentence:
Sharjah is where productive capital is transformed into long-term regional value.