The Department of Economic Development in Sharjah has reported a significant increase in the emirate’s economic development indicators during the third quarter of 2025. A total of 18,445 business licenses were issued or renewed, reflecting a growth rate of 3%.
In this period, 2,555 new licenses were granted, marking a 20% rise, while 15,890 licenses were renewed, which represents a modest growth of 0.3% compared to the same timeframe last year.
Hamad Al Mahmoud, the head of the Department of Economic Development and a member of the emirate’s executive council, noted that the business licensing activity during the third quarter demonstrates the strength of the local economy and the appeal of the investment environment. These indicators suggest a sustainable growth trajectory for Sharjah’s economy. The emirate has a strategic plan aimed at maintaining a solid growth rate, leveraging its favorable geographical location and the significant advancements in its service sectors, along with continuous enhancements to services to meet global quality standards.
Data from the report indicates a substantial rise in the issuance of licenses across various categories in the third quarter. Commercial licenses dominated with a total of 1,500, followed by professional licenses at 740, industrial licenses at 135, and e-commerce licenses at 97, with approval licenses coming in fifth at 83.
Regarding the renewed licenses, commercial licenses again led the way with 10,026, followed by professional licenses at 4,817, industrial licenses at 797, approval licenses at 172, and e-commerce licenses at 78.
The performance of digital services showed a 14% increase in completed digital transactions, totaling 252,249. The share of smart investor participation within the overall transactions reached 16%, while automated and proactive transactions in the smart transformation initiative grew by 16%.
Additionally, the average time taken for customer journeys improved significantly, reducing from 160 minutes in 2024 to just 40 minutes in 2025. Commercial oversight transactions totaled 65,524, reflecting a growth of 26% compared to the same period in 2024. The number of commercial protection complaints stood at 4,140.