Sharjah, UAE— Sharjah has witnessed a 68 percent increase in female entrepreneurs recently and as the market grows and expands, it will continue cultivating an environment that is inclusive and supportive, said Maryam Bin Al Shaikh, Director of the Sharjah Business Women Council.
She was speaking on the opening day of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2022 on the role of women entrepreneurs in ensuring the holistic development of the emirate’s society.
A panel discussion titled “Marhaba: Welcome to Sharjah”, featuring experts in the fields of tourism and business development, discussed strategies for promoting Sharjah as a destination for a global audience, lauded SEF’s efforts in gathering such a large number of entrepreneurs to learn and enrich their businesses.
Khaled Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), stressed the importance of learning and understanding the culture and history of Sharjah in order to effectively welcome and engage with visitors.
He added that more than 50 percent of the UAE’s museums were located in the emirate and that tourism made up over 12 percent of the GDP.
“By embracing and sharing our culture and heritage, we can create a truly authentic and meaningful experience for visitors,” he said.
Al Midfa mentioned that tourism is rapidly growing in Sharjah and even though the population is around 1.5 million, over 1.8 million people visited and booked hotel rooms in the past year.
“Sharjah has a population of over 200 nationalities, we have well diversified economies, we are a dynamic emirate that provides a benchmark for innovation and that exceeds expectations time and time again. We are a hub of possibilities with a strong authentic identity,” he said.
Ahmed Alkhoshaibi of Arada talked about the exponential growth Sharjah has had over the past year in the property market with over AED 700 million transacted in last month alone with 90 percent of the investments being made by foreign nationals.
“Although the increase in purchases made by foreigners has been increasing year-on-year, the investment by locals has held steady and these numbers shouldn’t be seen as a decrease in local investment but rather an example of how Sharjah is becoming an increasingly valued destination for the world,” he said.