The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), in cooperation with the Federation of GCC Chambers (FGCCC), has called on private sector companies and establishments in the GCC countries to register for the “Sharjah Gulf Localisation Award”, a dedicated category within the 2026 edition of the Sharjah Excellence Award.
Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the Sharjah Excellence Award is organised annually by SCCI to recognise excellence in institutional performance.
The Sharjah Gulf Localisation Award category aims to honour GCC companies and institutions that have demonstrated strong and measurable commitment to national talent employment and workforce development, evaluating their ability to attract, train, and effectively integrate national professionals across diverse functions, including executive, leadership, and technical positions.
The initiative reflects a shared commitment to establishing a unified regional approach to national employment as a strategic GCC priority, while encouraging private sector institutions to adopt sustainable talent and employment strategies that support the development of a knowledge-driven economy and strengthen regional competitiveness.
The Sharjah Gulf Localisation Award has achieved notable success in recent years, attracting participation from more than 50 companies and institutions across the GCC. Participants have represented a diverse range of economic sectors, including financial services, manufacturing, food, retail, and healthcare.
The expanding participation highlights the Gulf private sector’s growing focus on sustainable national talent employment strategies and its adoption of a standardised evaluation framework that enables organisations to assess their performance, identify areas for improvement, and benchmark their practices against their counterparts across the GCC.
H.E. Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI and Chairman of Sharjah Excellence Award’s Board of Trustees, said the partnership with FGCCC is a strategic enabler for expanding the impact of the “Sharjah Gulf Localisation Award” category while sharing inspiring experiences and best practices in national talent empowerment across GCC markets.
He noted that the initiative aims to encourage the Gulf private sector to evaluate its institutional readiness and performance in national employment, helping drive greater workforce effectiveness and competitiveness across the integrated GCC economy.
For his part, H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Rawas, Chairman of FGCCC and Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), said the cooperation between FGCCC and SCCI underscores the strong institutional integration among GCC chambers in advancing shared development priorities. He highlighted national talent empowerment and increasing its contribution to the private sector as key priorities in strengthening the region’s long-term economic competitiveness.
Nada Al Hajri, General Coordinator of the Sharjah Excellence Award, said: “The rising participation in Sharjah Gulf Localisation Award reflects growing private sector awareness in GCC countries of the strategic importance of investing in national talent and developing sustainable workforce practices that expand citizens’ participation across diverse professional fields.”
“The participation of more than 50 Gulf companies and institutions in Sharjah Gulf Localisation Award in recent years highlights the award’s growing role as a regional platform for benchmarking, knowledge exchange, and national talent development,” she added.
Registration for the 2026 edition of the “Sharjah Excellence Award” opened in July 2026 and will continue through January 2027. The award comprises several categories, including the Sharjah Gulf Localisation Award, the Sharjah Gulf Excellence Award, the Sharjah Excellence Award, the Sharjah Entrepreneurs Award, the Sharjah Small and Medium Enterprises Award, the Sharjah Social Responsibility Award, the Sharjah Entrepreneurs with Disability Award, and the Sharjah Best Security Standards Award.
The Sharjah Chamber is encouraging eligible entities to submit their applications through the official website: https://shjseen.ae/ar. For further information and registration-related enquiries, the Award Office remains available by telephone at 06-5938703 or via [email protected].
