Sharjah:Government officials and industry leaders gathered at the ninth Sharjah Investment Forum (SIF 2026) to advocate for adaptive economic policies that enhance investment in agritech, waste-to-energy initiatives, and domestic manufacturing. They emphasized the need for robust supply chains to bolster economies against global disruptions.
According to Emirates News Agency, the two-day forum, organized by the Sharjah FDI Office in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Investment, drew over 10,000 participants from more than 60 countries. The event featured over 80 speakers and included 140 activities under the theme 'Building Adaptive Economies.'
Speakers at the forum stressed the importance of supporting smaller manufacturers, adopting agricultural technologies, and enhancing freight networks. Discussions also highlighted the need for effective economic regulations, investor protection, and improved access to government services and international markets.
Mohamed Alabbar of Emaar Properties urged businesses to frequently reassess strategies to adapt to changing conditions. Additionally, Dr. Farah Ali AlZarooni outlined the UAE's focus on domestic production across 12 sectors, supported by an AED 180 billion procurement package and the AED 1 billion National Industry Resilience Fund.
Transport executives called for flexibility in freight operations, with contributions from leaders like Omar Alsebeyi of Etihad Rail Freight and Ritesh Ramakrishnan of Transworld. Discussions also covered Sharjah's logistics infrastructure and Gulftainer's US$2 billion global trade strategy.
Food security and agritech were key topics, with insights from Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi on updating the UAE's Food Security Strategy 2051 and Khaled Al Huraimel on expanding waste-to-energy capacity. Investment policies aimed at supporting business expansion were also discussed, with Abdelaziz AlShamsi emphasizing the need for international market access.
The forum unveiled Najm, an AI platform by Invest in Sharjah, aimed at identifying investment opportunities in land and industrial facilities. Technology experts, including Maria Sanchez of Inception and Rima Semaan of Microsoft UAE, discussed AI's role in business processes.
Real estate and tourism discussions highlighted Sharjah's AED 46.8 billion in transactions and the importance of transparent property regulations. Industry leaders called for investment in sustainable development and tourism diversification, with projects like The Chedi Al Bait and Kalba Beach exemplifying community-focused development.
Overall, SIF 2026 underscored the necessity of adaptive policies and technological integration to drive economic resilience and growth.