Foreign direct investment projects in Sharjah rose by 45 per cent in 2025, according to the emirate's investment promotion office, in a sign of growing confidence among international investors in the local economy.
Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, chief executive of the Sharjah FDI Office, known as Invest in Sharjah, said the jump reflects four main pillars driving the emirate's appeal: economic diversification, responsive legislative frameworks, talent attraction and early positioning in emerging industrial sectors.
Al Musharrkh said non-oil activities now account for about 79 per cent of Sharjah's economy, underlining years of deliberate diversification away from hydrocarbons. He added that regulatory stability and predictable rules remain central to convincing global companies to set up operations in the emirate rather than elsewhere in the region.
The official also pointed to Sharjah's early entry into sectors such as manufacturing and telecommunications, which he said has positioned local industry to capture a larger share of new capital inflows in the coming years. Officials believe the diversified industrial base, combined with competitive operating costs, gives Sharjah an edge over larger regional hubs competing for the same pool of investors.
The announcement comes ahead of the ninth edition of the Sharjah Investment Forum, scheduled for October 14 and 15, which will bring together international investors and companies exploring opportunities in the emirate.
The figures add to a broader narrative of resilience in the UAE's investment climate, with officials across the country emphasising stability and economic diversification as key selling points amid continuing regional uncertainty.