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Rapid expansion is under way in Sharjah’s health care sector, as the emirate looks to meet the needs of both an expanding population and heightened demand for high-end medical services – changes that are highlighted by the opening of hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, as well as the development of the new Sharjah Healthcare City. As a result, the sector’s value will rise from some $2bn in 2016 to reach $2.4bn by 2019, according to the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority. This chapter contains an interview with Taher Shams, Managing Director, Zulekha Healthcare Group.

With a host of real estate, major transport and infrastructure projects either being developed or in the pipeline, Sharjah’s construction sector is going through a busy time. Much of the new work is addressing previous shortages in areas such as gated and lifestyle communities, higher-end offices and retail premises, and more modern industrial estates. Sharjah has also begun to carve out a distinct profile on the global real estate property map. The emirate has committed to higher-end developments, while also widening ownership structures. It has grown both economically and demographically, and now offers its own much larger internal market, which is no longer so closely tied to developments elsewhere. This chapter contain an interview with Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman, Basma Group; and Chairman, ARADA; and Raymond Khouzami, CEO, Al Thuriah Group.

As the only emirate in the UAE to have ports on both the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, Sharjah is uniquely placed to take advantage of the region’s geographic position at the centre of international logistics lines. The emirate has long been a key aviation link for traffic between Europe, MENA and Asia, with the first airport in Sharjah opening in 1932. At the same time, Sharjah is also the land crossroads between the southern, northern, eastern and western emirates, with a string of important highways passing through its territory. These comparative advantages are being leveraged further as the emirate seeks to carve out a unique profile in a region well served by mega-airports, ports and roadways. This chapter contains an interview with Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Airport Authority.

Sharjah is home to four local banks and two insurance companies, with a banking market that is characterised by significant minority government ownership stakes in several key players, as well as a tendency for local banks to eschew the retail and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) markets in favour of larger corporate and government-owned business. The emirate does not host a capital market of its own, but the government and several local entities are already – or are on the road to becoming – regular issuers of debt and sukuk (Islamic bonds). Thus far, the emirate has issued three sukuk, showing its interest in the instrument as a means to diversify funding sources. This chapter contains a roundtable with Varouj Nerguizian, General Manager, Bank of Sharjah; Sami Rashed Farhat, CEO, InvestBank; Ahmed Saad, Deputy CEO, Sharjah Islamic Bank; and Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulla Al Nuaimi, Acting CEO, United Arab Bank.

As it works to build a knowledge-based economy, education has become an increasing priority for the UAE. The emirate of Sharjah is placing particular emphasis on innovation and quality as it positions itself as a centre for education within the federation and the wider region. This recognition of the centrality of education is not new, however, as Sharjah has a long history as a leader in this arena. Indeed, Sharjah was the site of the first modern school in the region, founded in 1930, as well as the first school for girls, established in 1955. It is now home to two of the Middle East’s highest-ranking universities, alongside a range of research, vocational and training institutes.

The economy of Sharjah is highly diversified by regional standards, with oil and gas contributing less than 6% to GDP, and no individual sector accounting for more than 20%. The emirate has had particular success in developing its industrial and manufacturing sector through a network of free zones and industrial zones that continues to develop and expand, and it is one of the main industrial bases of the UAE. The authorities have also taken a range of measures to boost foreign investment flows, supported by an attractive national business environment and competitive advantages, such as Sharjah’s comparatively low operating costs. This chapter contains interviews with Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); and Najla Al Midfa, General Manager, Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa).