During its expanded coordination meeting at SCCI’s headquarters, the committee reviewed a newly launched package of incentives, facilitation measures, and strategic initiatives introduced by the Sharjah Electricity, Water, and Gas Authority (SEWA) for tourism and hospitality establishments.

The measures are designed to improve the operational performance of the hotel and tourism sectors, thereby strengthening Sharjah’s business environment and enhancing its appeal to entrepreneurs and investors.

The meeting was chaired by Fadi Musharafieh, Head of the Hotels Sector Business Group, and attended by Dr Fatima Al Muqarrab, Director of the International Relations Department at SCCI; Hadef Al Tunaiji, the committee’s permanent member and SEWA’s representative; and Amjad Awad al Karim, Head of the Sectoral Business Groups Department, along with senior officials from SEWA and representatives of hotel establishments.

SEWA’s incentive package reflects an advanced model of public-private partnership, translating Sharjah’s sustainable economic vision into practical support measures for the business community. The initiatives provide investors with greater planning certainty, optimise operating costs, improve operational efficiency, and enable hospitality establishments to expand capacity in readiness for future tourism demand.

Held at the start of the summer tourism season, the meeting also highlighted the Representative Committee’s commitment to transforming strategic engagement with government entities into measurable operational outcomes for the hospitality industry. The discussions reinforced the sector’s role as a key pillar of Sharjah’s tourism ecosystem and a significant contributor to the emirate’s economic growth.

SEWA’s representatives outlined the objectives of the newly introduced incentive programme, which aims to enhance the operational efficiency and competitiveness of the hospitality sector and deliver positive spillover effects across Sharjah’s wider tourism industry.

They also presented details of the package of initiatives, introduced in June and running through the end of August, which offers a range of financial and operational incentives tailored to the sector’s seasonal operating requirements. The measures are designed to reduce operating costs, improve business resilience, and encourage the adoption of sustainable operating practices across the sector.

The meeting centred on a set of strategic priorities to support Sharjah’s sustainable economic and tourism development agenda. Discussions highlighted SEWA’s newly launched incentive initiatives for the tourism sector, strengthened direct engagement with hotel owners and senior executives, and established a sustainable institutional partnership with the hospitality industry to enhance collaboration and support the sector’s growth.

Participants also emphasised the importance of on-site monitoring to ensure the effective implementation of the incentive programme through regular visits to hotels and tourism establishments.

These visits will help operators maximise available benefits, identify operational requirements, gather feedback, and resolve any implementation challenges, thereby improving programme delivery and effectiveness. The initiative also supports the preparation of periodic reports for the relevant authorities, incorporating practical recommendations to further enhance the incentive package and strengthen its sustainable impact.

The meeting also explored ways to develop specialised training programmes for hospitality professionals to ensure the sector’s workforce continues to meet international standards of service excellence. Participants further discussed how the newly introduced incentive package could be leveraged to stimulate tourism and attract higher visitor flows during the summer season, complementing the emirate’s flagship promotional campaign, the Sharjah Summer Promotions, which runs through mid-September.

The incentive package introduced by SEWA provides a practical framework for addressing the operational challenges facing the hospitality sector and for strengthening the resilience of hotels in responding to changing market dynamics. The measures are expected to encourage the adoption of innovative solutions that support sustainable tourism growth in line with Sharjah’s ambitious vision, further consolidating the emirate’s position as a leading tourism destination at the local, regional, and international levels.

The Sharjah Chamber reaffirmed its commitment to fostering an attractive and sustainable investment environment for the hospitality sector by facilitating solutions to operational challenges and by promoting close collaboration with government stakeholders.

The Chamber also praised SEWA for its strategic initiatives, which are expected to enhance the competitiveness of hotels, improve the sector’s overall business environment, and further reinforce Sharjah’s position as a leading economic and investment destination.