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Tanzania is one of sub-Saharan Africa’s fastest-growing economies, boasting average GDP growth of around 7% per year since 2000. Significant investment in rail, port and road development is likely to drive GDP expansion into the next decade. While the ongoing process of economic reform presents challenges to some sectors, and weak budget execution and policy uncertainty have dampened investment, the overall macroeconomic picture remains favourable. The presence of abundant natural resources, a reform-oriented government and a 53m-strong population that is growing at an annual rate of 3% are just some of the key growth drivers that will help Tanzania remain an interesting prospect for investors. This chapter contains an interview with Godfrey Simbeye, Executive Director, Tanzania Private Sector Foundation.

Sharjah’s tourism sector benefits from a range of attractions, including its year-round warm weather, beaches, museums, proximity to Dubai’s shopping facilities and status as a regional cultural hub. The sector faced something of an oil price-related downturn in 2015 but has been showing signs of resurgent growth and is attracting substantial investment in the form of a range of internationally branded hotel projects in the pipeline. The sector’s development and growth is being guided by Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, launched in 2015, which aims to attract 10m visitors annually by 2021. This chapter contains an interview with Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority.

Concentrated in two free zones and 19 industrial zones, Sharjah’s industry and manufacturing sector benefits from the emirate’s low cost base, developed infrastructure and connectivity, and proximity to facilities in Dubai. As a result, Sharjah is one of the most important industrial and manufacturing centres in not only the UAE, but also the wider GCC region. The contribution of the oil and gas sector to Sharjah’s diversified economy is relatively small compared to the rest of the UAE. In terms of meeting its own needs, the emirate is working to secure more reliable energy supplies, while expanding and modernising its electricity generation and water desalination capacities. This chapter contains an interview with Hatem Al Mosa, CEO, Sharjah National Oil Corporation; and Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO, Bee’ah.

The guide contains listings of some of the leading hotels and resorts in Sharjah, as well as contacts for important government offices and services. It also contains useful tips and information for first-time or regular and business and leisure visitors alike.

This chapter contains an overview of the legal and tax frameworks in which local and international investors operate in Sharjah, including a rundown of the free zones exempted from caps on foreign ownership and a summary of the new UAE-wide value-added tax of 5%. This chapter contains a viewpoint from Eslam Farouk and Nehad Farouk, Co-founders, Al FaroukInternational Intellectual Property Rights Management.