Sharjah Economic Development Department “SEDD” released the data results for the past year 2023. The report included the most important developments and events witnessed by the economic sectors and the procedures and efforts taken by the Department in all sectors and activities.

This is done to provide a comprehensive tool for customers in the economic sectors in Sharjah and introduce them to the most important results SEDD has achieved, in confirmation of its efforts aimed at achieving balanced and sustainable economic performance and enhancing business continuity in various fields.

In this context, Hamad Ali Abdulla Al Mahmoud, Chairman of Sharjah Economic Development Department “SEDD”, said that the Department is moving towards its sustainable goals in which it realizes the scale of the challenges and the level of rapid changes that require the presence of methodologies and thoughtful work plans, and looks forward to the future in economic and development work.

This is done in implementation of the wise vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the continuous pursuit of Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Executive Council, to ensure attaining global competitiveness and raise performance indicators in various fields.

He added that SEDD worked to issue the best and most comprehensive annual reports, with the aim of documenting the economic development achievements of the Department and pointed out that the statistics and data included in the report reflect the extent of the efforts made by SEDD in carrying out its tasks. Also, he stressed that the Department focuses on continuous development in accordance with what is required by its strategic objectives and its aspirations to provide distinguished and exceptional economic services.

According to data issued by SEDD, the indicators achieved remarkable growth, as the total number of business licenses issued grew by 2% to 7,738 ones whereas renewed licenses achieved a growth of 4.4%, with 58,627 ones during 2023. This contributed to the emirate achieving a growth in the number of issued and renewed licenses, which amounted to 4.1%, with a total of 66,365 thousand issued and renewed licenses during 2023. The report also recorded a qualitative increase in issued commercial and industrial licenses, “Eitimad” licenses, and e-Commerce, with rates reaching 6%, 15%, 21%, and 19%, respectively, in 2023 compared to 2022. Also, SEDD paid great attention to regulating the practice of economic activities and sectors by setting policies, standards and regulations in accordance with the current economic situation.

From his side, Fahad Al Khamiri, Director of Registration and Licensing Department, said that the data issued by SEDD confirmed the increase in the total number of issued and renewed licenses in all economic sectors during 2023. He pointed out that the most important activities of the issued licenses included gas stations, money exchange shops, transporting petroleum products, selling gold and jewelry, clinics, medical centers and schools.

Al Khamiri added that Sharjah is constantly seeking to provide many incentives that contribute to enhancing the continuity of development in various fields. This has strengthened the economic and industrial sectors, whereas SEDD focuses to work on a number of development sectors, not just economic activities. Such thing was accomplished through continuous development of business environment through business reconciliation processes, the use of the latest systems and technologies such as the Smart Investor and continuing to adopt quality systems for business continuity management. This ensured the quality performance of digital services in the business environment, and development in the areas of human capital in building innovative capabilities and investing in national capabilities and competencies in universities.

On the other hand, Khalfan Al Herathi, Director of SEDD Branches Department, said that the Department pays great attention to economic development in all cities and regions of the emirate. Thus, SEDD branches issued 7,738 new licenses during 2023, with a growth of 2%. The main branch in Sharjah and the Industrial Area Branch, came in first place with 6,474 licenses issued, and the Central Region Branch came second with 659 licenses issued, then the Eastern Region Branch with 605 licenses issued. In details, Khor Fakkan Branch topped the Eastern Region Branches with 280 licenses issued, followed by Kalba Branch with 265 issued licenses, and then Dibba Al Hisn Branch with 60 issued licenses.

As for renewed licenses by branch, Sharjah City branches, which included the Department’s main headquarter and the Industrial Area Branch, came in first place with 47,649 renewed licenses, the Central Region came in second with 6,084 renewed licenses, then the Eastern Region Branch hit 2,542 renewed licenses. In details, Khor Fakkan Branch topped the Eastern Region Branches with 2,420 renewed licenses, followed by Kalba Branch that reached 2,044 renewed licenses, and then Dibba Al Hisn Branch with 430 renewed licenses.

Al Herathi stressed that the indicators specify sustainable growth for the emirate’s economy, which depends on attractive elements that include the distinctive geographical location and is supported by the continuity of the development movement. It should be noted that the number of tourist and urban facilities and tourism and commercial projects have been allowed to be practiced, which will contribute to increasing the demand for investment in them.

When it comes to protecting and supervising markets, Salim Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director of Commercial Control and Protection Department at SEDD, confirmed that the Department processed 14,664 commercial protection complaints that it received during 2023, with a growth rate of 24%.He pointed out that the growth in the number of complaints is evidence of the success of the Department’s efforts in educating investors and consumers about their rights and duties. He emphasized that consumer protection complaints accounted for the largest share of the number of complaints received by SEDD, reaching 13,081 complaints out of the total complaints processed, while the number of service agent complaints hit 797 complaints, and the commercial fraud complaints amounted to 786 complaints.

According to data issued by the Department during the same period, the total number of commercial and gold scales that were calibrated reached 948 scales. Also, the percentage of scales conforming to the specifications and standards approved in the country reached 99% of the total scales that were calibrated during 2023.

Al Suwaidi added that the Department always seeks to enhance consumer culture by educating consumers and investors about their rights and duties. This is done through an ideal commercial environment with a high culture of awareness and neutrality in purchasing and selling procedures in all economic sectors, following the highest international standards and practices. These results confirm the effective role played by SEDD in preserving consumers’ rights, and the extent to which it is able to educate consumers and enhance the economic and commercial position of the emirate.

Also, as part of its concerns and efforts to ensure the safety of all economic practices in economic establishments in Sharjah, SEDD carried out 205,256 inspection campaigns on the emirate’s markets during 2023, distributed across all cities and regions of the emirate.

Additionally, Hamad Al Midfa, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs Department, said that Sharjah has succeeded in keeping pace with the successive economic changes at various local, regional and global levels and has continued to advance to promising economic prospects in various sectors. This is done by ensuring the implementation of policies and regulations adopted in the Department, derived from federal and local legal legislation, and formulating administrative decisions, policies and internal circulars regulating the course of work.

Also, Hamad Al Midfa stressed that the Department has adopted the best innovative solutions that are in line with the Government of Sharjah approach to achieving a qualitative shift in procedures, as the Department is keen to constantly improve its services and develop its legal system, to provide the best and finest services and facilitate them for customers, raise operational efficiency, and use modern technologies to complete transactions. In addition, He pointed out that SEDD certified 18,176 company contracts during 2023, with a growth rate of 7% compared to the previous year, and the contracts that were documented varied to include a service agent contracts, Memorandum of Association contracts, sales contracts and other commercial company contracts.

On the other hand, Ali Ahmed Al Naqbi, Deputy Director of Information Technology Department, confirmed that 2023 witnessed major developments in modernizing and improving SEDD digital services, which had pivotal implications and results on the emirate’s economy. He carried on that the Department made great efforts to link and integrate with Sharjah Unified Application, which resulted in the largest number of SEDD digital services being available on Sharjah Digital Platform.

In detail, Al Naqbi illustrated that the Department won first place in the data governance evaluation among Sharjah Government departments. It also completed 100% of the new licensing system project, completed the WhatsApp Business project, the first version, with 6 services, developed the Department’s portal with a latest and modern identity, and comprehensive automation of internal operations and services in the Department. It is worth mentioning that the total digital transactions received by the SEDD reached 333,143 in 2023, with a growth rate of 2.7%.

As for the industrial sector, Mariam Nasir Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director of Industrial Affairs Department at SEDD, pointed out that the total number of industrial licenses issued and renewed in Sharjah reached 3,079 licenses, with a growth rate of 10% compared to the same period in 2022.

Mariam Al Suwaidi stressed that the industrial sector is one of the main drivers supporting economic development in Sharjah and plays a pivotal role in enhancing the emirate’s domestic product. She emphasized that Sharjah would continue to work on achieving targeted economic diversification through government laws and legislation that support and encourage the industrial sector.