Sharjah Chamber membership surge: nearly 30,000 new and renewed registrations in H1 2026
Sharjah Chamber membership growth reached nearly 30,000 new and renewed registrations in the first half of 2026, reflecting strong investor confidence and export activity across the emirate.
Sharjah Chamber membership totals and headline figures
Sharjah Chamber membership rose substantially in the first half of 2026, with the chamber reporting roughly 30,000 combined new and renewed records. The total includes about 2,800 new memberships and 26,100 renewals, underscoring steady business retention alongside fresh company formation.
The chamber also recorded approximately 900 new and renewed free zone memberships, indicating continued interest from firms operating within Sharjah’s special economic zones. These totals demonstrate both depth and breadth in the emirate’s business base during the January–June period.
Breakdown by sector and membership types
Memberships spanned industrial, commercial and professional categories, reflecting Sharjah’s diversified economy. Industrial registrations remained prominent as manufacturers and exporters scale operations, while commercial and professional memberships signaled ongoing growth in trade and services.
Free zone membership activity, though smaller in absolute terms, points to targeted growth among companies benefiting from preferential regulatory and logistical frameworks. The mix suggests expansion across traditional and emerging sectors rather than concentration in any single industry.
Trade documentation and certification activity
Alongside membership growth, the chamber issued around 30,000 certificates of origin in the first half of 2026, supporting the documentation needs of exporters and re-exporters. The chamber also completed 911 authentication and attestation transactions, facilitating contract, shipment and compliance processes for firms trading internationally.
Rising volumes of trade documentation are consistent with increased export activity and signal smoother customs and compliance flows for businesses using Sharjah as a trading hub. The administrative throughput provides a practical measure of the emirate’s external trade momentum.
Top export destinations and trade values
Saudi Arabia led Sharjah’s export and re-export markets in H1 2026, receiving more than AED 1.5 billion in goods from the emirate. Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Ethiopia followed among the top destinations, illustrating the geographic diversity of Sharjah’s trading network.
This regional and cross-continental reach highlights Sharjah’s capacity to serve Gulf Cooperation Council partners while also accessing African markets. The export spread supports resilience by reducing reliance on any single market.
Chamber leadership perspective
Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director General of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the first-half indicators reflect a strong and attractive investment environment. He described the results as the outcome of sustained efforts to boost private-sector competitiveness and enable continued business expansion.
Al Awadi emphasized that the chamber’s services and facilitation work are aligned with broader economic objectives to diversify activity and attract entrepreneurs and investors. The official commentary framed the membership and trade figures as progress toward longer-term growth targets for the emirate.
Implications for investors and businesses in Sharjah
The upturn in Sharjah Chamber membership and trade documentation suggests improving conditions for both existing businesses and new market entrants. Increased renewals indicate business confidence, while new registrations show the emirate’s ongoing capacity to draw companies and start-ups.
For investors, the mix of industrial, commercial and professional memberships—together with active free zone participation—points to opportunities across manufacturing, logistics, services and specialized professional sectors. Firms looking to expand regionally may find Sharjah’s export links and certification infrastructure particularly supportive.
Sharjah’s first-half results also underscore the importance of streamlined administrative support in sustaining trade growth, as evidenced by high volumes of certificates of origin and attestations. Continued enhancements to such services would likely bolster the emirate’s appeal to exporters and international partners.
The chamber’s H1 2026 performance positions Sharjah as a growing regional trade hub with a resilient private sector and diversified market access.
