Dubai, UAE — Sept. 2026 — The Sharjah Investment Forum has announced a partnership with Alef Group, the real estate developer behind integrated modern communities and destinations in Sharjah, under which the group will act as sponsor and exclusive partner of the forum’s “Investors’ Lounge.”
The partnership is intended to strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors in connecting capital with promising opportunities and accelerating their conversion into viable projects and partnerships in the emirate.
The ninth edition of the forum will be held on October 14 and 15 at the Expo Centre-style Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre under the theme “Building Resilient Economies.” It is organised by the Sharjah FDI Office, “Invest in Sharjah,” in cooperation with the Ministry of Investment. Organisers expect more than 10,000 participants from around the world and over 80 speakers, including leaders, decision-makers and experts, across a programme of more than 140 events.
The previous edition hosted more than 211 business meetings, in which potential investment opportunities worth $924.5 million were discussed. The Investors’ Lounge will provide a space for direct meetings among stakeholders in the investment ecosystem to explore project and partnership opportunities, as well as financing and expansion options.
The partnership aligns with national efforts to achieve the goals of the “We the UAE 2031” vision, which seeks to strengthen the country’s position as a global partner and an attractive, influential economic hub through cooperation between government entities and the private sector.
Raed Kajoor Al Nuaimi, CEO of Alef Group, said real estate developers are partners in enhancing the competitiveness of an investment destination, through projects that support individuals’ and families’ choices for settling and investing, meet the aspirations of diverse groups at home and abroad, and provide an environment conducive to business growth.
He added that the group places Sharjah’s identity and community aspirations at the heart of its planning, developing destinations that integrate residential, commercial and social spaces to improve quality of life and support the local economy.
The partnership with Invest in Sharjah extends that role, he said, reflecting the group’s belief that long-term investment value depends on projects’ ability to respond to shifts in lifestyles and business requirements and to keep pace with the emirate’s development.
Mohammed Juma Al Mushrakh, Executive Director of Invest in Sharjah, said that in a global economy where capital moves rapidly across borders, a city’s ability to compete increasingly depends on the efficiency of its investment ecosystem and its flexibility in responding to market shifts and the needs of international investors.
He said Invest in Sharjah is establishing a model in which institutions and private-sector expertise complement one another, boosting the emirate’s readiness to attract high-quality investment and supporting projects’ ability to reach global markets from Sharjah. The partnership with Alef Group, he added, embodies this approach and supports the forum’s role as a platform for partnerships with lasting economic impact.
The sponsorship comes amid continued growth in Sharjah’s real estate sector. According to the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department, property transactions hit a record AED 65.6 billion in 2025, up 64.3%. The market maintained its momentum in the first half of 2026, with transactions worth AED 29.5 billion, a 9.3% increase on the same period of 2025. That underscores the importance of direct engagement between developers and investors to understand demand trends and explore project and partnership opportunities.
The real estate surge coincides with broader growth in investment in the emirate, which last year attracted capital investment of AED 7.74 billion across 142 new foreign direct investment projects, reflecting the diversity of opportunities available to investors and companies in Sharjah.
