Sharjah attracted 74 foreign direct investment projects in the first half of 2025, a 57% increase from 47 projects in the same period last year, according to Invest in Sharjah. The projects brought $1.5 billion in capital inflows, up sharply from $325 million in H1 2024. Job creation also expanded, with 2,578 new positions compared with 1,779 a year earlier.
The rise was concentrated in sectors tied to consumer demand and services. Business services recorded the sharpest expansion, with project activity increasing fivefold and employment growing more than elevenfold, reflecting its labour-intensive nature. Consumer products projects rose 53%, with capital investment up 188%, while the food and beverage sector registered a 112% increase in projects and a 25% rise in job creation. Industrial equipment projects doubled, alongside a 45% rise in capital spending, highlighting the emirate’s push to diversify its industrial base.
February marked the busiest month for FDI inflows in both project count and value, signalling strong investor momentum early in the year. Officials highlighted Sharjah’s regulatory framework, financial stability and infrastructure as key factors attracting both global and domestic investors.
Several strategic projects were confirmed during the period. Kuwait Real Estate Company launched a new residential community to meet housing demand. Italy’s Greenthesis Group began work on a polyethylene film recycling plant in support of circular economy goals. India’s Gxpress announced a warehouse and distribution hub to expand logistics and e-commerce infrastructure, while Vinsmera Jewels from India launched a gold jewellery manufacturing and retail facility. Singapore’s G-TEC opened a training and certification centre to develop ICT talent in the emirate.
The performance reinforced Sharjah’s position as a rising destination for foreign investment in the Gulf. Officials said the inflows are translating directly into employment and industrial expansion, giving the emirate a stronger base to compete for capital within the UAE and the wider region.
