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The ninth Sharjah Investment Forum concluded on October 15 after drawing more than 10,000 participants from over 60 countries to examine how economies can adapt to shifts in technology capital flows and supply chains according to the Emirates News Agency. Organised by Invest in Sharjah in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Investment the event at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre featured over 80 speakers and 140 activities including more than 80 direct business meetings. Mohamed Alabbar joined radio host Kris Fade for a fireside discussion on leading businesses through constant change where he detailed Emaar’s performance as evidence of sustained market confidence.
Alabbar reported that Emaar maintains a property sales backlog of around AED180 billion while achieving a 98 percent collection rate equivalent to the previous year despite temporary disruptions from regional tensions. The company sells approximately 4,000 units monthly with roughly 600 cancellations and has seen hospitality activity rise more than 60 percent above earlier levels the developer founder stated during the session. These metrics demonstrate that customer trust in the UAE remains robust even amid external pressures he explained.
“We live in an incredible country, with great leadership. The future looks much better” Alabbar said at the forum. He argued that safety quality education and long-term stability have become more decisive than tax considerations for families and businesses choosing where to locate. Such factors now shape investment decisions more than traditional financial incentives according to his assessment.
The executive encouraged corporate leaders to adopt artificial intelligence tools and review their strategies every three months to maintain agility in a fast-evolving environment. This disciplined approach to innovation and adaptation will separate successful ventures from others amid ongoing economic and technological disruption he noted. His comments reinforced the forum’s central theme of building economies that respond effectively to change.
UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri who delivered the keynote address reported that the national economy grew 6.2 percent in 2025 supported by 6.8 percent expansion in non-oil GDP. Sharjah attracted AED7.74 billion in foreign direct investment across 142 projects that year marking a 45 percent increase in project numbers and generating more than 5,600 new jobs a WAM assessment found. These results illustrate the emirate’s success in positioning itself as a destination for resilient investment.
Alabbar who also chairs Eagle Hills and Americana Group has long emphasised projects that deliver wider economic benefits including job creation and support for small businesses. In previous forum appearances he highlighted that manufacturing accounts for 15 percent of UAE GDP against 12 percent from real estate underscoring the sector’s role in future diversification. The gathering ended with renewed focus on partnerships that connect start-ups with capital and promote sustainable growth across the region.
