Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) took its proposition to NPE2015, the world’s largest international plastics trade shows and conferences in Orlando, Florida, as part of the free zone’s effort to bring new firms to its 380,000 square meter Food, Plastics and Packaging Park and grow Sharjah’s plastics industry. Held every three years, the plastics industry trade show attracts 60,000 professionals from ...

Sharjah’s higher degree of economic diversification compared to other Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) members diminishes the impact of the recent oil price drop on the emirate’s economy, according to Moody’s Investors Service annual Sharjah Credit Analysis, published this week. Moody’s expects Sharjah’s economic growth to remain solid with a low government debt burden, although the report noted that debt levels are ...

Sharjah will showcase investment opportunities for local and global businesses and investors at the 5th edition of Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) from 30 March – 1 April 2015 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) is a Silver Sponsor of the annual event. AIM is an emerging markets FDI-focused event established by the UAE ...

Global port terminal operator Gulftainer, recorded an 8 percent growth in container volume in 2014, handling a total of 6.4 million twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) across its global operations portfolio. Gulftainer is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sharjah-based Crescent Enterprises and operates Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) located at Port Khaled in the heart of the city of Sharjah, Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) ...

Sharjah’s Department of Statistics and Community Development has announced that the emirate’s 2015 population census will commence in October 2015. The Sharjah Census will provide the necessary data for the government’s strategic planning and comprehensive human and infrastructure development, as well supporting further socio-economic studies to help guide progress and prosperity in the emirate. [Click to read about the Sharjah ...

Expo Centre Sharjah chief executive officer Saif Mohammed Al Midfa has been elected as the chairman of Arabian Gulf Chapter of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), the leading association for the global exhibition industry. The IAEE’s Gulf chapter represents the region’s US$1.3 billion (AED 4.8b) meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry. IAEE is the largest association ...

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Air Arabia (AIRARABI:DFM), the largest low-cost carrier operator in the Middle East and North Africa, have signed an MoU to promote Sharjah’s strategic projects and brands across the globe. The MoU, signed by Mr Adel A. Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, and HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, ...

Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) issued an unsecured US$ 500 million (AED 1.8b) 5-year Islamic bond or sukuk on Tuesday, which was oversubscribed by more than seven times. According to SIB, the bank’s fourth sukuk received around 120 orders worth US$ 3.6 billion (AED 13 b). Sharjah Islamic Bank issued its first successful Islamic bond in 2006 and currently has two sukuk, one US$400 million ...

India’s largest manufacturer of polymer emulsions for paints and coatings, textiles and adhesives has officially opened a new US$ 51 million (AED 187m) emulsions plant in Sharjah’s Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) commencing operations in April. Visen Industries Ltd. (VIL) is the market leader in India with regular customers like Asian Paints, Berger Paints, Kansai Nerolac and Jotun Paints. The ...

Sharjah’s hotels registered more than two million guests during 2014, according to the latest statistics from Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). Sharjah’s tourism received a boost during the past year as the Islamic Cultural Capital for 2014 and its new status as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2015 is expected to bring even more focus to emirate. Sharjah ...