Sharjah invites business owners with 'lower operational costs' promise

Dubai: Are you planning to launch a service or F&B business in the UAE? Looking for an emirate to base the business in?

Sharjah is making a compelling offer to new business owners and SMEs to come there.

“We focus on designing and delivering strategic, high-traffic destinations that give entrepreneurs and SMEs the right environment to succeed,” said Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, CEO of Shurooq, the Sharjah government entity that’s the conduit for a new set of business-friendly initiatives.  

“Startups in Sharjah benefit from lower operational costs compared to other major cities.”

Mainland Sharjah and its free zones have had success in generating new business traffic into the emirate. This also ties in neatly with the property boom the emirate is seeing as well as the new project launches happening with greater frequency, with the most notable one recently being that of a residential community from Beeah.

“The emirate offers world-class infrastructure with strong regulatory support," said Al Qaseer. “While we leave acceleration and incubation to our partners, we provide the commercial pathways where businesses can scale and succeed.”

Sharjah free zones have also benefited from newly formed businesses looking to operate in a low-cost environment, while keeping an eye on what the corporate tax obligations would be.

“From tourism and retail to heritage and sustainability, our projects are built to offer entrepreneurs not just space, but visibility, infrastructure, and access to a consistent audience," said Al Qaseer.

"Our mandate has never been to act as an accelerator or provide incubation services. We work closely with government and semi-government entities to reduce friction in the setup and operation of new businesses."

More than 600 businesses operate across Shurooq-managed destinations, including 87 SMEs (as well as about 300 women-led enterprises.) These businesses range from boutique hospitality and artisanal crafts to F&B concepts.

“Our destinations are intentionally designed to attract and sustain diverse commercial activity,” said Al Qaseer. “At Al Qasba, for example, 40 businesses are operating. At Al Majaz Waterfront, there are 26. “Khorfakkan Beach and Al Heera Beach have welcomed dozens of new vendors, while Heart of Sharjah, which is deeply rooted in cultural preservation, is home to more than 85 businesses offering heritage-inspired goods and services.”