UAE’s economic resilience sustains Sharjah’s business momentum

The UAE’s position among the world’s top 10 goods exporters for the first time, alongside foreign trade exceeding Dhs6 trillion in 2025 with 15% annual growth, reflects a sustained expansion in the country’s global commercial footprint. This performance is reinforced by a sovereign credit rating of AA/A-1+ with a stable outlook, supported by government liquid assets estimated at 210% of GDP.

Together, these indicators point to a broader pattern of economic continuity, where stability and adaptability are translating into consistent trade activity and investor confidence. The country’s financial resilience is supporting economic growth at the individual emirate level, particularly in Sharjah.

In line with the National Investment Strategy to increase annual foreign inflows to Dhs240 billion by 2031, Sharjah is actively engaging the business community beyond its borders. In February 2026, a delegation led by the emirate’s Department of Government Relations (DGR), in collaboration with the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah) and the Confederation of Indian Industry, concluded a roadshow in India to deepen investment ties in a trade relationship that is already substantial. In 2025 alone, over 100 Indian FDI projects were implemented in the emirate, valued at close to $3 billion, reflecting the immense trust placed by investors in Sharjah. Today, more than 45,700 Indian companies operate across Sharjah’s free zones and mainland.

Invest in Sharjah (IIS) continues to strengthen international economic ties through business roundtables, investment forums and targeted engagements, including a recent networking event with the American Chamber of Commerce in Dubai to deepen Sharjah–US investment flows. Trade between Sharjah and the United States exceeded Dhs3.8 billion in 2025, supported by a strong corporate presence of around 1,200 US companies in free zones and 314 on the mainland. The emirate also maintains solid links with other major economies such as Japan, with 109 Japanese firms operating across Sharjah and bilateral trade reaching Dhs 1.035 billion in 2024. This growing global connectivity is reflected in continued business expansion, with 2,991 new licences issued in Q1 2026, marking a 36% increase.

Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, said Sharjah illustrates how deliberate stability directly results in measurable business outcomes. “When investors see resilience reflected not just in ratings, but in active business licensing, rising property transactions, high demand for consumer goods, and expanding investment and trade flows, that is when their confidence turns into commitment.”

This commitment by investors has been demonstrated in the latest real estate data reflecting the scale of their confidence. In Q1 of 2026, the value of transactions reached Dhs18.5 billion, marking a 40.7% increase, with an investor base representing over 100 nationalities. These figures are indicative of a mature market led by genuine interest rather than speculation, widening the appeal for long-term investors. Equally solid are the fundamental indicators of business spending in Sharjah, such as capital expenditure (capex). In 2025, capex on consumer-focused sectors such as apparel and food manufacturing reached $83.5 million and $44.9 million, respectively.