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The Sharjah FDI Office has detailed an agenda for SIF 2026 that will address how economies can adapt to rapid shifts in technology, markets and global trade. Discussions will range across regulatory frameworks that enhance competitiveness to strategies ensuring supply-chain security in an uncertain geopolitical climate. Panellists will also assess capital allocation patterns that support long-term resilience, according to the forum organisers.
According to event organisers, the forum will dedicate significant time to the role of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in driving industrial transformation. One session will examine agentic AI applications in government and investor services while another will focus on innovations shaping the next industrial era. These conversations reflect broader trends where a PwC survey found 87 per cent of business leaders view volatility as an opportunity for competitive advantage.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 found that 86 per cent of employers expect AI and information-processing technologies to transform their businesses by 2030. Such projections underscore the importance of workforce development and skills adaptation that several SIF 2026 panels will tackle. Simon Squibb will lead a session on thriving in the age of constant disruption drawing from his experience building multiple companies, the organisers reported.
Varun Mayya is set to deliver a keynote on investing in what comes next with a focus on AI’s impact on business economics. The ninth edition builds upon the success of prior gatherings that drew more than 12,000 participants from 142 countries and featured over 130 ministers and international leaders, according to the Sharjah FDI Office. Organisers expect comparable interest as global capital seeks stable and innovative investment destinations.
A BCG assessment of Gulf economic resilience highlighted that GCC sovereign wealth funds manage around $6 trillion in assets with more than half invested abroad. These capital flows form a key discussion area at SIF 2026 as participants explore ways to align investments with strategic priorities in technology and sustainability. The forum arrives as IMF projections place GCC growth between 3 and 3.5 per cent in 2025 accelerating toward 4 per cent in 2026.
Resilient supply chains will receive dedicated attention given recent disruptions that have prompted regionalisation strategies across global trade routes. Citigroup analysis indicated that emerging markets in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are seeing redirected flows as companies diversify away from traditional dependencies. Sharjah’s role as a logistics and investment hub positions the emirate to showcase its ecosystem during the two-day event at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre.
