Sharjah Investment Forum 2026 to Convene Global Leaders on AI and Economic Resilience
The ninth edition of Sharjah's premier investment gathering will unite over 10,000 participants from 60 countries to examine artificial intelligence, capital flows and adaptive economic strategies
The ninth Sharjah Investment Forum, scheduled for 14th to 15th October 2026, will establish itself as a significant platform for dialogue amongst investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers and emerging talent seeking to understand contemporary market trajectories and opportunities ahead.
Organised by Invest in Sharjah in partnership with the Ministry of Investment, the forum anticipates welcoming more than 10,000 participants representing over 60 countries. The programme will feature more than 80 speakers, over 20 exhibitors and an extensive calendar of more than 140 activities, encompassing over 80 dedicated business meetings.
Operating under the theme “Building Adaptive Economies,” the forum will concentrate upon six pivotal domains. Discussions will examine agentic artificial intelligence systems—sophisticated technologies capable of planning, decision-making and task execution towards predetermined objectives—and their transformative potential across government services, investor relations, business operations and strategic decision-making frameworks.
According to McKinsey’s 2026 State of AI survey, the proportion of organisations implementing AI agents across at least one business function has expanded from 27 percent to 40 percent. Forum conversations will address essential safeguards accompanying this expansion, including trusted data infrastructure, robust governance structures, accountability mechanisms and meaningful human oversight.
The forum will also investigate how artificial intelligence, demographic evolution and shifting consumer expectations regarding convenience, personalisation, sustainability and experiential value may reconfigure consumer behaviour during the forthcoming decade, thereby influencing commercial and investment trajectories.
Global capital flows will command considerable attention throughout the proceedings. According to UNCTAD data, global foreign direct investment reached $1.6 trillion in 2025, with the world’s twenty largest host economies capturing more than 80 percent of these flows. Strategic sectors have demonstrated remarkable growth, accounting for 44 percent of global greenfield project value, compared to 16 percent merely five years prior.
Supply-chain resilience will feature prominently in forum discussions, encompassing the role of maritime infrastructure, rail networks, logistics systems, capital investment and diversified trading partnerships in enabling economies and enterprises to navigate disruption effectively.
A distinguished panel titled “Beyond Ease of Doing Business: Building Economies Where Businesses Grow” will scrutinise the variables determining corporate expansion and reinvestment decisions, including regulatory licensing frameworks, digital service provision, data accessibility and innovation pathways.
The popular “Seal the Deal” initiative will return during the forum’s second day, offering a concentrated two-hour session facilitating connections between established businesses and prospective investors. The previous year’s edition witnessed nine start-ups presenting to investors and securing investment commitments exceeding AED4 million across ventures spanning artificial intelligence, robotics and sustainability sectors.
The forum will convene at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre.
Source: WAM