Sharjah Investment Forum 2026 to Convene 10,000+ Global Participants for Transformative Economic Dialogue
The ninth edition of the prestigious forum will bring together investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers from over 60 countries to explore adaptive economies and emerging investment opportunities across four strategic pillars.
Sharjah is set to host one of the region’s most significant investment gatherings this October, as the Sharjah Investment Forum (SIF 2026) prepares to welcome more than 10,000 participants from across the globe. Taking place on 14th and 15th October at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre, the ninth edition will unite international stakeholders around the theme “Building Adaptive Economies.”
Organised by the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah) in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment, the forum will present an exceptionally comprehensive programme. Over 140 activities—encompassing panel discussions, keynote addresses and interactive workshops—will examine the contemporary forces reshaping global investment. Notably, the schedule includes 80 dedicated business meetings, providing direct engagement opportunities between investors, enterprises and small and medium-sized businesses to explore financing, expansion and supply chain partnerships.
The forum’s intellectual framework rests upon four foundational pillars: strategic leadership and economic adaptability; technology and smart solutions for industries; smart capital flows and supply chain resilience; and the future of communities and economic growth. These thematic areas reflect the interconnected nature of modern economic challenges, recognising that shifts in technology, trade and capital flows transcend individual markets and sectors.
A distinguished roster of more than 80 international speakers will address the assembly. Notable participants include British entrepreneur and investor Simon Squibb, who will explore resilience and business model innovation in his session “Thriving in an Era of Constant Change.” Indian entrepreneur and AI developer Varun Mayya will deliver a keynote examining artificial intelligence’s transformative impact on business development and scaling. Additionally, over 20 exhibitors will showcase services and capabilities supporting investment and business expansion.
Marwan Saleh Alichla, Coordinator General of the SIF Committee, emphasised the forum’s broader significance: “The forces reshaping investment today do not stop at the borders of one market or the boundaries of one sector. Changes in technology, trade, capital and supply chains are increasingly connected, and responding to them requires equally broad participation from governments, investors and businesses.”
The timing of SIF 2026 reflects Sharjah’s strengthening position as an investment destination. During 2025, the emirate attracted AED7.74 billion in foreign direct investment across 142 projects, representing a 45 per cent year-on-year increase in project numbers and generating 5,673 new employment opportunities. The forum will contextualise this local success within international conversations spanning capital movement, artificial intelligence adoption and infrastructure development for emerging industries.
Source: WAM