Sharjah24: The Sharjah Consultative Council has approved the draft law for the budget of Sharjah government departments and entities for the fiscal year 2025. This approval took place during the council's sixth session, held on Thursday morning at its headquarters in Sharjah, as part of its second regular session of the eleventh legislative term.
The session was chaired by His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Consultative Council, and attended by Walid Ibrahim Al Sayegh, Director General of the Sharjah Finance Department, along with relevant department directors including Sheikh Rashid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Department Director, and other key financial officials.
The council began by ratifying the minutes of the fifth session, followed by a closed-door discussion of the report prepared by the council's Committee on Financial, Economic, and Industrial Affairs.
In his opening remarks, Walid Ibrahim Al Sayegh highlighted the strategic importance of presenting the budget to the Consultative Council, emphasising its role in strengthening cooperation between the legislative and executive frameworks in the emirate. He stressed that this meeting translates their shared vision towards building a strong institutional structure that ensures integration between legislative dimensions and executive tools, contributing to the efficient and effective achievement of development goals.
Al Sayegh emphasised the importance of this budget in achieving Sharjah government's strategic objectives for the upcoming phase, noting that it represents a fundamental tool for achieving sustainable development and enhancing the emirate's financial stability. He pointed out that this budget is a direct response to sustainable development requirements and will contribute to realising the emirate's future vision, of which a strong economic and social environment is an essential part.
He also acknowledged the Consultative Council's important role in enriching government decisions through valuable observations provided by its members. Al Sayegh expressed appreciation for the remarks of the Financial, Economic, and Industrial Affairs Committee, which were presented during the budget discussion in the joint meeting, in addition to the current report presented by the committee to the council under the parliamentary dome.
Al Sayegh explained that the 2025 general budget was designed to meet the needs of the next phase by focusing on developing vital sectors such as education, health, and infrastructure, as well as enhancing government efficiency and expanding digital transformation.
He noted that this budget is one aspect of success in implementing ambitious strategic plans that define the emirate's paths in the coming years, and is pivotal in achieving economic and social sustainability.
Al Sayegh also pointed out that the budget comes within the framework of the wise directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and Ruler of Sharjah, aimed at developing the government financial work system in the emirate using the latest technologies in financial management.
He indicated that these directives contribute to enhancing transparency and good governance, and help strengthen the emirate's ability to face current economic challenges. Al Sayegh concluded by stating that Sharjah's wise leadership has laid out the broad lines for building an innovative and flexible government model, and the Central Finance Department continues to work on implementing this vision according to the highest international standards.
Al Sayegh expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for his insightful vision that paved the way for this ongoing economic success. He noted that His Highness's directives continue to form a solid foundation for achieving financial stability and sustainable growth in the emirate. He also thanked His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council, for his continuous support of government efforts across various fields.
In concluding his speech, Al Sayegh affirmed that the Central Finance Department would continue its diligent efforts to achieve the strategic objectives set by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, while ensuring the completion of major development projects that contribute to strengthening the economic structure and providing an attractive work environment for investors. He stated that the 2025 general budget is an important step towards ensuring the emirate's financial stability and optimizing the use of financial resources to serve the aspirations of the wise leadership in achieving prosperity for the people of Sharjah.
Ahmed Saeed Al Jarwan, Secretary-General of the Council, noted that the budget project was received by the Council on December 12, 2024, from the General Secretariat of the Sharjah Executive Council. The project was then urgently referred to the Committee on Financial, Economic, and Industrial Affairs for study and report submission.
Al Jarwan added: "In accordance with Articles 86, 87, and 88 of the Council's internal regulations, His Excellency the Council President has urgently referred the aforementioned draft law to the Committee on Financial, Economic, and Industrial Affairs for study and report submission to the Council. The committee, to their credit, has convened a meeting for this purpose."
Dr. Fatima Khalifa Al-Muqarrab, rapporteur of the Committee on Financial, Economic, and Industrial Affairs, presented the report on the discussion of the Sharjah government budget project for the fiscal year 2025. She explained that the committee conducted a comprehensive study of the proposed estimated budget for the central and decentralised departments of the Sharjah government, focusing on all aspects of the budget and its distribution among various vital sectors in the emirate.
The committee reviewed all financial items related to government departments, including social sectors such as education and health, economic sectors such as industry and trade, as well as development projects that contribute to supporting the emirate's infrastructure. They also studied ways to enhance government support for decentralised sectors to ensure sustainable development in various regions.
The committee addressed all observations made during the budget review meetings, which included identifying government spending priorities for the 2025 fiscal year and ways to improve the efficiency of implementing various programmes and projects. In this context, the committee ensured that the budget aligns with the strategic objectives of the Sharjah government, especially in areas of infrastructure investment, enhancing the role of technology in improving government services, and supporting projects that contribute to improving the standard of living for citizens and residents in the emirate.
Dr. Fatima Khalifa Al-Muqarrab highlighted key recommendations in the committee's report, focusing on:
- Enhancing allocations for sectors directly affecting citizens' welfare, such as education and health
- Allocating financial resources to support development projects that create new job opportunities and strengthen the private sector
- Emphasising the importance of supporting financial resource sustainability to ensure Sharjah's continued balanced economic growth
The committee stressed the importance of collaboration between all parties involved in budget implementation, with regular monitoring of project execution to ensure compliance with financial plans and programs set at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Following the report, council members engaged in constructive discussions, emphasising the importance of developing project implementation mechanisms and prioritizing spending in line with community needs and Sharjah's leadership vision.
The Central Finance Department's Director-General and his assistants presented the budget project to the Consultative Council, reflecting:
- Cooperation between government entities and executive and legislative authorities
- The government's commitment to applying best practices in public fund management
- Consideration of current economic changes and financial challenges
- Focus on infrastructure investment, support for vital sectors like health and education, and projects improving quality of life for citizens and residents
- Aims for sustainable economic growth, enhanced government performance, and improved public services
The Central Finance Department seeks to balance community needs with financial sustainability through the 2025 budget, viewing upcoming challenges as opportunities to continue improving Sharjah's financial performance.
The session concluded with the budget's approval. Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Council Chairman, thanked the Central Finance Department for their efforts in preparing the budget and praised the Council's Economic, Industrial, and Financial Affairs Committee for their work on the budget report.