The Sharjah Investment Office, in collaboration with the American University of Sharjah and with the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the American University of Sharjah and Chair of its Board, organized the “Sharjah Day” event at the Royal Society of Arts in London.
This gathering brought together prominent leaders from government, academia, and industry to discuss Sharjah’s evolving role as a global center for innovation, knowledge, and investment. The event attracted distinguished investors and business leaders from the United Kingdom who have well-established interests in advanced manufacturing, education, and research sectors within the emirate, highlighting the growing international interest in collaborating with Sharjah’s innovation ecosystem. Lord Evans of Watford was among the attendees.
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi stated, “Sharjah Day embodies our belief in the power of collaboration to drive knowledge, creativity, and progress. Our growing ecosystem demonstrates that investment in education and research can translate into long-term economic opportunities and international partnerships.
By linking our universities, innovation centers, and creative industries with global centers of excellence such as Cambridge and London, we are solidifying our position as a leading hub for inclusive and sustainable growth in the Middle East.”
Baroness Elizabeth Simmons of Vernham Dean, President of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, noted, “I draw inspiration from the potential to deepen partnerships between the UK and the Emirate of Sharjah in innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. I commend Sharjah’s ambitions to establish itself as a global business and investment center.
There are immense opportunities for collaboration across future industries driven by technology, which are reshaping the international economic landscape and business practices.”
The event featured a session titled “Discover Sharjah,” which included participation from Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park; Mohammed Al Musharrekh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah; Sara Al Hifnani, Executive Director of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center, “Shurooq”; Khaled Al Huraimel, CEO and Vice Chairman of the “Bee’ah” Group; and Mark Johnston, Global CEO of the renowned British firm “JSB Safety,” which has established its main branches in Sharjah.
Following that was a panel discussion titled “Sharjah Equation,” which featured Najla Al Medfa, Vice President of “Shurooq,” and Oliver Cornock, Editor in Chief at the Oxford Business Group.
The event also saw the launch of the “Sharjah Model,” a report exploring the pathway to developing a sustainable ecosystem for talent development, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the Emirate of Sharjah, prepared by the Oxford Business Group. During the program, new Memorandums of Understanding were signed, including an agreement between the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority “Shurooq” and the Oxford Business Group to publish the “Sharjah Report 2026,” and another agreement between Invest in Sharjah and the Financial Times to support sectoral analyses and market entry strategies.