Trade Shows » Country » United Arab Emirates » Sharjah

Business Overview
Business has long been a way of life in Sharjah. The Business odyssey of the city began from trading with Far East and pearl trading and forged ahead at a great pace to its present status. Known as a trading center since 18th century onwards, Sharjah steadily gained importance becoming a prominent port. As a result of some very meticulous planning and detailed know-how, the city’s annual growth rate in industrial graph has shown continuos upward movement in last few years.

Further the Government provides basic infrastructure facilities and high quality services to improve industrial activities. Various special industrial and free zones have been established in the city facilitating numerous national and international businesses. Enhancing the city’s trading image is the fact that it holds many international fairs each year attracting thousands of people. The yearly book fair and textile fair at the Expo Center are famous worldwide.

Sharjah is also known for its strength as the industrial backbone of the U.A.E as 40% of the total number of industries in the U.A.E. are based here. In recent years the efforts are been made to move away the city’s economy from oil-dependent to a more industrially reliant one.

The synergy between the ports, the Free Trade Zones, the international airports and other related bodies has given the emirate an enviable industrial base. Furthermore, speed, reliability and cost-effectiveness have been the axioms of Sharjah's industrial policy which have drawn a very high proportion of foreign investments into the city.

Thus, both living and doing business in Sharjah means experiencing a different and unique life style together with outstanding facilities of accommodations, shopping malls, clubs, infrastructure and a large variety of sports and social activities to enjoy.

Major Business Centers
Expo Center:
The only major trade exhibition facility in the city, the Expo Center offers trade exhibitors’ all requirements on site. For the first time in the Middle East, the center offers wireless data, Internet and telephone connectivity throughout the complex, increasing visitor transparency.

The 128,000m2 complex, the center includes four halls each of 4,000m2 area, more than 1,300 m2 of prime conference facility, a central boulevard with built-in facilities including a dedicated press center and 6,000m2 of tiled outdoor exhibition space. Therefore, the venue is perfect to cope with several exhibitions simultaneously especially the exhibitions involving heavy machinery and equipment.

A distinct feature of the center is its own sophisticated wastewater treatment and de-centralized air-conditioning systems.

Major Commercial Areas
Hamriyah Free Zone Sharjah (HFZS):
The 5,000,000m2 area, Hamriyah Free Zone is fast making its mark as a premier choice among investors looking for a place to access global markets. Operating as a host site of Sharjah, the zone offers free zone environments - freedom of ownership, duties, exchange controls and taxes supported by freedom from red tape, among other value added, service-led support systems.

Pledged to work with service aspect, HFZS facilitates efficiency in its ‘Mix’, which is efficiency-driven and three-fold: communications efficiency, IT efficiency, staff efficiency.

Where Communications refer to telecommunications as well as to easy accessibility, Information Technology according to HFZS on the other hand, is paramount to achieving high levels of success and in gaining the competitive edge. While on the People’s (Staff) front, the Zone set out with the mission of grouping together a solid international management team to service global investors.

These all facilities together with futuristic structure of SORs (Sharjah Oil Refineries), a 14m deep water harbor and around 92 warehouses, makes the zone one of its kind in Sharjah.

Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF-Zone):
The Sharjah international airport has gained a reputation of a leading cargo hub and has been instrumental in showing new peaks to Sharjah's economic scale. Therefore, the SAIF-Zone is the fastest growing airport free zone in the region.

Started in 1995, the Zone has completed 10 eventful years becoming UAE’s first ever Airport Free zone accomplishing several milestones of growth and success. Over the past decade SAIF has grown from a mere 55 companies to an incredible number of more than 2,496 companies today, representing 92 countries, involved in businesses such as Aviation, Industrial, Trading and Services.

Major Manufacturing Zones
Sharjah Industrial Area:
The Industrial Area of Sharjah is a wide industrial region consisting of many smaller industrial divisions namely, 1st Industrial Area, 2nd Industrial Area and so on.

The Area is one of the most densely populated areas of Sharjah as rents are cheap and due to this reason the roads here are very congested.