Guiding principles: Page 10

Sharjah in brief Guiding principles: The emirate’s geographic, historical and cultural advantages Viewpoint: Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Member of the UAE’s Supreme Council, on fostering an economy and culture that benefits all Road to recovery: Gulf countries chart a course for recovery from the pandemic Interview: Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, on leveraging technological trends and innovation Accounting for just over 3% of the territory of the UAE, Sharjah is the federation’s third-largest emirate by area, and has long played a key cultural and economic role in the region. With six free zones, two amphitheatres, and around 30 museums and various annual festivals that attract visitors from around the world, the emirate continues to punch above its weight in terms of manufacturing, commerce and culture.

Page 20 Hydrocarbons account for around 4% of GDP in the emirate and no individual sector contributes more than 25% of the total. Given that it has shores on both the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, as well as sharing borders with the six other emirates of the UAE, Sharjah has put trade and logistics at the heart of its development strategy. However, growing interest in knowledge-led and digitally native fields is likely to steer continued innovation and investment throughout the post-pandemic era.

18 20 26 27 28 29 30 32 36 37 39 40 Interview: Mohamed Al Musharakh, CEO, Invest in Sharjah, on attracting foreign investment and positioning the emirate for economic recovery in the post-pandemic era Playing to strengths: Well-balanced activity saw the emirate through disruptions in 2020 and positions it for rapid growth in 2021 Interview: Sultan Abdullah bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, Chairman, Sharjah Economic Development Department, on facilitating business activity and the digital transformation A broader view: The Covid-19 pandemic served as the latest reminder to Gulf countries of the need for economic diversification Interview: Badr Jafar, CEO, Crescent Enterprises, on the readiness of the local market to benefit from new technologies Work and travel: Countries capitalise on the growth of the digital nomad lifestyle Interview: Salem Yousef Al Qaseer, Chairman, Labour Standards Development Authority, on protecting and enriching the lives of workers Ongoing provision: The authorities deploy e-learning solutions, and ramp up testing and vaccinations to ensure the continuation of social services Interview: Muhadditha Al Hashimi, Chairperson, Sharjah Private Education Authority, on the transition to online learning Major makeover: Institutions in the GCC are making substantial and potentially permanent changes to teaching methods Bigger picture: Higher education institutions play a key role in meeting the needs of the region’s post-Covid-19 economy Interview: Abdulla Ali Al Mahyan, Chairman, Sharjah Health Authority, on utilising technology and innovation to attract investment and improve service provision Return visit: Tourism is expected to rebound strongly thanks to new offerings and stringent health practices Alternative approaches: The pandemic has accelerated the growth of new models of tourism Interview: Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Tourism and Commerce Development Authority, on investment and opportunities for long-term tourism growth Setting the agenda: A mainstay of the global tourism sector faced disruption, but also innovation, due to the Covid-19 pandemic Interview: Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, President and Director, Sharjah Art Foundation, on the emirate’s position as a unique regional and global centre for arts and culture Page 32 Sharjah schools shifted to online learning amid the pandemic, and quick adoption helped the emirate maintain its position as a regional centre for education. Meanwhile, hospitals and clinics devoted substantial resources to testing and care to fight Covid-19. Priorities established before the pandemic, as well as lessons learned in 2020, are now shaping the education and health sectors in 2021.

Page 42 Sharjah’s beaches, shopping centres, museums and unique cultural offerings make the emirate a popular tourist destination for nationals and foreigners alike. While international travel slowed significantly in 2020 due to the pandemic, domestic tourism in Sharjah picked up. The emirate also inaugurated a number of projects that year to promote sustainable tourism and position itself as a family-friendly destination.

53 54 56 61 62 63 64 66 71 72 75 77 78 Healthy travels: Leading medical tourism destinations are positioning themselves for an anticipated rebound in activity post-pandemic Interview: Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson, Environment and Protected Areas Authority, on the importance of environmental awareness and conservation Setting the stage: Digitalisation and consolidation are helping the sector build on the steady expansion recorded in recent years Sustainable recovery: Countries in the Gulf turn to ethical investments to support their post-pandemic economic recovery After the storm: The post-pandemic future of global Islamic banking Interview: Ahmad Abu Eideh, CEO, United Arab Bank, on ensuring resilience and the increasing importance of digitalisation Operations upgrade: New technologies come to the fore after the Covid-19 pandemic Diversified base: Efforts to support nonoil sectors lead to a strong manufacturing environment and focus on renewables Interview: Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO, Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park, on strengthening key areas of the economy through collaboration and entrepreneurship Manufacturing reimagined: Logistical and supply chain challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic spark a reassessment of operations Accelerated transition: The global health crisis has intensified the shift towards renewable energy, even as questions about the pace of the transition remain Interview: Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO, Bee’ah, on the future of environmental management and sustainability Interview: Hatem Al Mosa, CEO, Sharjah National Oil Corporation, on harnessing the potential of new discoveries 79 80 82 86 87 89 90 92 99 100 101 102 105 112 The right direction: Industries not eligible for the green bond market have a new option to fund their shift towards sustainable activities Interview: Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, SecretaryGeneral, Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association, on the industry’s recent performance and near-term outlook Stronger connections: A new cross-emirate road and airport expansion solidifies Sharjah’s reputation as the gateway to the northern UAE Interview: Yousef Al Mutawa, CEO, Sharjah Sustainable City, on green mobility and building a strong community Trade realignment: Disruptions to supply chains in 2020 prompted new short-term solutions and accelerated existing trends Interview: Charles Menkhorst, CEO, Gulftainer, on environmental sustainability and leveraging competitive advantages Interview: Adel Abdullah Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia, on how the aviation sector can adapt to changing demands and priorities On solid ground: Local production of materials drives development as the value of real estate transactions increases with demand Interview: Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, CEO, Arada, on emerging development trends and environmental standards Interview: George Khouzami, COO, Al Thuriah Group, on how technology is optimising real estate services Road to growth: Sustainability, well-being and digitalisation emerge as central aspects of global infrastructure programmes Green base: Infrastructure spending and a focus on sustainability support economic recovery in emerging markets Stay awhile: Hotel options in the emirate Facts for visitors: Information for new arrivals Page 56 The banking industry’s efforts to expand its digital offerings accelerated amid the economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, putting it in a good position for future growth as the world transitions to a digital economy. The emirate-level government has become a regular issuer of debt and sukuk (Islamic bonds), raising funds in 2020 for the pandemic response.

Page 66 Industry has benefitted from Sharjah’s low cost base, well-developed infrastructure and proximity to the Northern Emirates. Meanwhile, a diversification push and higher levels of investment in and utilisation of renewable energy sources have enhanced the role that private service providers and independent power and water producers are playing in the power-generation segment.

Page 82 Sharjah’s strategic location between Europe and southern Asia has enabled the emirate to become a central player in international transport networks, while its burgeoning manufacturing sector has the potential to increase import and export cargo volumes and create jobs. The importance of this was highlighted in the 2021 launch of the Sharjah Exports Development Centre.

Page 92 The emirate has worked to brand itself as a unique place within the UAE, resulting in an uptick in work for contractors as they try to close the gap in supply and demand for real estate, especially in the residential segment. Mixed-use developments that combine schools, retail outlets and green spaces have also been emerging in response to high demand.