Economic Updates: UAE Sharjah

Sharjah: Expanding health care

The Middle East | 11 Feb 2013

A new medical centre is set to spearhead Sharjah’s efforts to tap into foreign investment in health care as the government moves to meet rising demand and expand into medical tourism.

Sharjah: In search of FDI

The Middle East | 26 Sep 2012

Stepping up efforts to attract foreign investment to its shores, Sharjah is reaching out to the global market to spur growth at home, though the emirate is facing stiff competition in an increasingly tight global market.

Sharjah: Increasing investments in aviation

The Middle East | 11 Jun 2012

Sharjah is seeking to position itself as a niche aviation connection centre, with the local budget airline expanding the number of routes it serves and specialist carriers focusing on potential in the upper end of the market. High costs and stiff competition, however, could pose a challenge to the emirate’s ambitions.

Sharjah: Homing In

The Middle East | 29 Mar 2012

Sharjah’s real estate and construction sector could be in for a welcome boost as the government looks to address the shortage of affordable housing in the emirate. And while lower prices in neighbouring rental markets could have a knock-on effect, the emirate’s prospects for real estate growth in 2012 are promising.

Sharjah: Widening the tourism net

The Middle East | 5 Jan 2012

Sharjah’s push to increase the role its tourism sector plays appears to be paying dividends, with hotels reporting higher occupancy rates and airlines adding the emirate as a destination.

Sharjah: Renter’s market

The Middle East | 10 Oct 2011

Sharjah’s real estate sector is a buyer’s and renter’s market at the moment, with prices falling since the beginning of the year and more residents reporting satisfaction with the affordability of housing. Increased residential and office space competition from neighbouring emirates, however, means that maintaining occupancy rates will be a challenge, at least in the near term.

Sharjah: Top rank tourism

The Middle East | 1 Jul 2011

Tourism officials in Sharjah have adopted a hard-sell approach to promoting the emirate’s credentials as a travel destination, racking up frequent flyer points of their own as they criss-cross the globe to take part in tourism fairs and trade events. The success of this campaign will depend to some degree on the health of the economies of the countries targeted by the emirate’s promotional push.