Invest in Sharjah CEO Highlights FDI Inflows, AI Adoption, and Economic Diversification

Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), discussed the emirate's economic diversification and foreign direct investment (FDI) strategy with Gulf Business, emphasizing priority sectors including artificial intelligence, technology, advanced manufacturing, and logistics.

According to data from Invest in Sharjah, the emirate attracted 142 foreign investment projects in 2025 with an aggregate value of AED 7.74 billion (approximately $2.1 billion), resulting in the generation of 5,673 jobs. Around 75 percent of those projects are already operational, reflecting the emirate's focus on execution and sustainable economic returns.

Al Musharrkh highlighted that Invest in Sharjah prioritizes 'quality investment,' defined not solely by committed capital, but by long-term developmental impact, including local capacity building, employment creation, and supply-chain integration. Key sectors drawing the largest share of inflows comprise technology and AI, advanced manufacturing, sustainability and clean energy, alongside infrastructure and food processing.

Geographically, while maintaining strong investment channels with traditional source countries including India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, the agency is actively seeking to expand engagement across Asian and regional markets.

The investment chief also noted that Sharjah will convene the ninth edition of the Sharjah Investment Forum (SIF 2026) on October 14–15, 2026, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Investment under the theme 'Building Adaptive Economies,' with an agenda centered on regulatory adaptability, AI integration, and supply-chain resilience.