The Middle East

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...

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...

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...

Sharjah is home to four local banks and two insurance companies, with a banking market that is characterised by...

As it works to build a knowledge-based economy, education has become an increasing priority for the UAE. The emirate of Sharjah is placing...

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...