Sharjah has emerged as a diverse economic powerhouse, with nearly 96% of its economic output driven by non-oil sectors. As host to six free zones and featuring a population of 1.8m, the emirate is prioritising economic diversification and cultural richness. Robust growth is seen across sectors like manufacturing, construction and real estate, supported by initiatives like Sharjah Sustainable City.
As it seeks to capitalise on the innovative opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Sharjah benefits from developed transport and logistics infrastructure, access to the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and a well-connected international airport. A number of initiatives aimed at developing the economy and encouraging investment inflows have been implemented over the past decade. Sha
The emirate has had particular success in developing a thriving industrial and manufacturing sector, which revolves around its two free zones and 19 industrial zones. As a result, Sharjah is one of the main industrial bases in the UAE, with manufacturing accounting for 17.2% of emirate-level GDP. Meanwhile, its deep commitment to promoting education remains a mainstay of Sharjah’s regional ident
Sharjah took another step towards transforming itself into a regional media leader in the first half of 2017, issuing business licences and renting office space at the emirate’s new media free zones, Sharjah Media City and Sharjah Publishing City. Media free zone offer incentives to companies and freelance professionals In the first quarter of the year Sharjah Media City, also known as Shams,…
Possessing limited oil and gas resources by regional standards, the emirate of Sharjah has worked hard to develop a more thoroughly diversified economic profile in order to drive growth. Efforts have evidently paid off, with its GDP increasing by more than 32% between 2010 and 2015, fuelled largely by its strong manufacturing and logistics industries. Another major growth area is financial service
Home to the UAE’s largest Arabic-language newspaper,Al Khaleej, along with a growing number of local and regional television channels, popular radio stations, and a large publishing footprint when it comes to books and journals, Sharjah boasts a rich media environment. Despite all of this, in recent years, with the establishment of media free zones in the federation’s two largest emirates…
Interview: Khalid Omar Al Midfa What types of private investments are being targeted in the media sector? KHALID OMAR AL MIDFA: Most of the new opportunities in the sector will be chiefly driven by platform thinking. This means that investments in technology, content and talent will be vital to future growth. We are therefore seeking companies that can enable the creation of a media platform and…
Interview: Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi What efforts are being undertaken to increase Sharjah’s visibility in international media? SHEIKH SULTAN BIN AHMED AL QASIMI: Despite its many unique qualities, Sharjah is still underrepresented in the global media, especially compared to some of its neighbours. This is something that needs to change, not only because it would likely result in economic…
Home to the UAE’s largest Arabic-language newspaper, Al Khaleej, a growing number of local and regional television channels, popular radio stations, and a large publishing footprint in books and journals, Sharjah boasts a rich media environment. Despite all this, the establishment of media free zones in the federation’s two largest emirates in recent years – Dubai Media City and Abu Dhabi’s…
In the context of the efforts made by the United Nations and the international community to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and overcome the challenges facing developing and emerging nations, government communication today is gaining importance as a vital tool in achieving the goals through the creation of a conducive cultural environment. IGCF 2017 will serve as a platform to discuss…
