Padel is often overlooked as a leisurely event, but today’s meeting embodied the truest form of business as leading business figures from Sharjah and LATAM gathered for a day of padel.
In FY26, business leaders, investors and economic institutions from the UAE and LATAM are finding new ways to formalise deepening ties in key sectors. Today’s event, designed for the new era of unconventional business, affirms the depth of bilateral ties.
The event comes as the UAE deepens investment flows with LATAM. Leading UAE firms, such as the EDGE Group, recently developed its industrial partnership with Brazil across aviation and military cooperation including Brazil’s national defence champion: Indra.
Post-War Opportunities for Sharjah
Sharjah, one of the UAE’s six emirates, is eyeing up business opportunities at the emirate level following the Iran war.
Speaking with Finance Middle East, at The Briefing, H.E. Mohammed Al-Musharrakh, CEO, Sharjah Invest discussed the logistics opportunities between Sharjah and Oman following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Sharjah Eyes LATAM FDI Inflows
Yet Sharjah is also making use of Abu Dhabi’s broader strategy with the LATAM.
Sharjah is home to 193 Brazilian and 267 Portuguese companies within its free zones and mainland, confirming its status as a preferred hub for businesses seeking growth in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Yet Brazil stands as the UAE’s largest trading partner in Latin America, with exports to the UAE estimated at US $3.78B in FY25. Leading UAE firms, such as the EDGE Group, recently developed its industrial partnership with Brazil across aviation and military cooperation.
Sharjah Government
Attendees included senior officials such as Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations, and H.E. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, CEO of Shurooq, among others from various economic sectors.
H.E. emphasised Sharjah’s role as a strategic investment destination, noting its economy of around AED 145B, which represents about 10% of the UAE’s total economy.
Informal is the New Formal
In his opening remarks, H.E. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer underscored the significance of informal settings for fostering valuable business discussions.
As Sharjah opens the door to new partnerships, emerging emirates and the UAE’s leading partners are conducting business in new and trustworthy ways.
With the war behind the Gulf, it seems true to say that as one door closes, another opens.
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