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The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry wrapped up a week-long official business mission to the Republic of Korea that featured high-level meetings, business-to-business sessions and economic forums, according to a statement from the chamber. The delegation, which included 30 businesswomen, entrepreneurs and representatives from Sharjah’s economic sectors, was led by Halima Humaid Ali Al Owais, board member of the chamber and chairperson of the Sharjah Consultative Council. The mission sought to broaden international networks and identify fresh opportunities for collaboration following the implementation of the UAE-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
The Sharjah-Korea Businesswomen Forum served as a central event during the visit and produced two memoranda of understanding, the chamber reported. One agreement was reached with the Korea-Arab Society while the second was signed with the Korea Venture Business Women Association, both intended to promote economic cooperation and facilitate market access for women-led enterprises. These pacts will support the exchange of delegations and the arrangement of bilateral business meetings between the two sides.
On the sidelines of the forum the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park concluded separate agreements with Women in Science, Engineering and Technology in Korea and with the government of Namwon City together with the Institute of Natural BIO Industry for Namwon, a chamber statement said. The partnerships focus on joint research, technology commercialisation, biomaterials and entrepreneurship programmes with an emphasis on expanding women’s roles in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. Officials highlighted the potential for B2B linkages in beauty, food and biotechnology sectors.
Discussions throughout the mission centred on advanced technology, artificial intelligence, digital economy, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and sustainable energy, according to participants quoted in the chamber release. Field visits to Korean facilities including the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and leading cosmetics enterprises provided insights into innovation ecosystems that could be adapted in Sharjah. The programme also incorporated participation in the Global Economic Cooperation Forum to foster additional networking.
Non-oil trade between the UAE and South Korea reached $6.9 billion in 2025 while mutual investments surpassed $10 billion, chamber data shows. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force in May 2026, is projected to eliminate tariffs on more than 90 percent of goods over a decade and accelerate growth in bilateral commerce. Sharjah itself recorded 142 foreign direct investment projects in 2025 that generated capital inflows exceeding AED 2.1 billion and created more than 5,600 jobs.
Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, described the mission as part of a broader strategy to translate institutional relations into concrete business outcomes. The chamber has maintained active engagement with Korean entities including the Korea International Trade Association to support Sharjah companies seeking entry into Asian markets. Future initiatives will build on these foundations to attract high-value Korean investment in priority sectors across the emirate.
