Sharjah Consultative Council discusses economic development

The session was held at the council’s headquarters in Sharjah, chaired by His Excellency Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Council. Attending were His Excellency Hamad Ali Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Member of the Sharjah Executive Council and Chairman of SEDD, alongside senior officials including His Excellency Fahad Ahmed Al Khamiri, Director of SEDD, Dr Muddathir Abdullah, Legal Adviser, Hamad Omar Al Madfa, Director of Legal Affairs, and Maryam Nasser Al Suwaidi, Director of Registration and Licensing.

The session opened with the Secretary-General of the Council, Ahmed Saeed Al Jarwan, presenting the general topic of discussion, highlighting that SEDD was established in 1999 under an Amiri decree by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The creation of SEDD came through the merger of the Economic Department and the Industrial Development Department to promote sustainable economic development and strengthen the business environment.

Following this, His Excellency Hamad Ali Abdullah Al Mahmoud delivered a speech expressing gratitude to the council members for their continuous support. He affirmed that SEDD’s mission is to develop Sharjah’s economy and provide distinguished services to investors, adopting the latest technologies and working towards service innovation and simplification.

He reviewed the department’s key services and policies, stressing its vital role in supporting economic and investment sectors and ensuring Sharjah remains a leading destination for entrepreneurs and investors.

Fourteen council members then engaged in discussions, raising questions and offering suggestions. Topics included proposing incentives and legislation to enhance the sustainability of economic activities and address business leakage from the emirate.

Among the key interventions, His Excellency Rashid Abdullah bin Huwaiden highlighted concerns regarding the protection of small and emerging enterprises, especially those supported by the "Ruwad" programme. He pointed to challenges such as high commission rates by digital platforms like "Talabat", and called for regulatory solutions to protect these businesses.

Her Excellency Dr Fatima Khalifa Al Moqarrab proposed three pillars for discussion: learning from successful local and international economic models, strategies for helping national companies expand globally under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA), and mitigating the impact of tax systems on the private sector, particularly given the lack of a Federal Tax Authority office in Sharjah.

His Excellency Amer Mohammed Al Zarouni discussed the importance of institutional coordination to streamline business procedures, while His Excellency Abdullah Tarish Al Ketbi addressed the need for collaboration with educational institutions to prepare qualified Emirati talent for the labour market.

Further questions were raised concerning commercial licensing processes, the use of foreign trade names, compliance with anti-money laundering regulations, and the need to better regulate sectors such as the used car parts trade in Sharjah’s industrial areas.

Suggestions also included establishing a quality rating system for private sector services, supporting local farmers to enhance food security, facilitating banking services for businesses in sensitive sectors, and implementing policies to ensure balanced economic growth between development and environmental protection.

Finally, His Excellency Hamad Ali Abdullah Al Mahmoud and his team presented a positive economic outlook for Sharjah. They reported that SEDD’s revenues for 2024 reached AED 1.07 billion, a growth of 11%, with 72,406 active business establishments. Licence issuance and renewals also recorded significant growth rates of 6% and 7% respectively.

The session concluded with a note that further discussions would continue in subsequent coverage to present additional interventions by council members.