130 international speakers, including ministers, officials and sports stars, meet on the “Sharjah Investment 2025” platform.

The eighth session of the “Sharjah Investment Forum 2025” opens the way for an audience coming from 142 countries, to benefit from the experiences and expertise of 130 speakers, including ministers, government officials, and heads of international institutions in the region and the world. The forum, which is being held this year within a unified agenda with the “World Investment Conference,” discusses the transformations of the global economy, sustainable investment paths, ways to develop the career path, and build partnerships that enhance The future of sustainable development.

The event puts its audience in direct dialogue with the most prominent global entrepreneurs, thinkers and experienced media and sports stars, as they will present, on the 22nd and 23rd of next October, at the Al Jawaher Center for Events and Conferences, pioneering insights into their experiences in transforming their expertise into successful investment opportunities, in a way that supports the pioneering investment paths of the United Arab Emirates and the Arab region.

Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, Head of the Sharjah Government Relations Department, will participate in a high-level session examining practical strategies that support economic growth and build investment flexibility to confront geopolitical tensions, financial fluctuations, and climate turmoil.

The list of ministers participating in the opening events and main sessions includes His Excellency Mohammed Hassan Al Suwaidi, Minister of Investment of the United Arab Emirates, and His Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, as they discuss the UAE’s trends in promoting economic diversification, attracting sustainable investments, and linking them to the goals of climate neutrality and green transformation.

The list of international ministerial speakers also includes His Excellency Mikael Japarov, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Miguel Medina, Minister of Investment of the Republic of Honduras, and His Excellency Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Minister of Investment of Pakistan, who will review their countries’ experiences in enabling investment and the transition towards a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

As for the level of senior government officials, Fahd Al-Gergawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al-Hawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Investment, and Osama Amir Fadl, Assistant Undersecretary for the Industrial Projects Sector in the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, are participating in the forum, who will discuss regional integration tools and opportunities for joint growth among emerging markets.

A number of leaders and heads of international institutions and organizations and CEOs of well-established companies will also participate in the forum, most notably Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Al Zarouni, President of the World Free Zones Organization, Dr. James Zhan, Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Investment Conference, Professor Ray Kwon Chung, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and member of the Board of Directors of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, which supports sustainable development goals, and Dr. Matthew Stevenson, Head of Investment and Services at the World Economic Forum; Günter Bigger, Director-General of the Sustainable Development Goals and Innovation Directorate at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization; Creon Butler, Director of the Global Economics and Finance Program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House); Wolfgang Engel, Director-General of the Institute of International Finance; Science and Technology, Walid Farghal, Director General of Qimma AIM Investment, and Ismail Ershahin, Director and CEO of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WIPA).

This year, the forum attracts, through its sessions and dialogues, an elite group of directors and CEOs from well-established companies, including Mohamed Alabbar, founder and managing director of Emaar Properties, who presents his vision on the future of investment in smart cities and the experience economy, and Shaker Zainal, executive vice president and chief business officer at the Emirates Development Bank, speaking about the role of development institutions in Financing innovation and empowering entrepreneurs, and Khalifa Al Hajri, CEO of the Emirates Growth Fund, which presents prospects for developing sustainable financing tools that enhance economic growth. Jigar Sagar, founder of Tri Leaf Holdings Limited, will also participate in a session examining private capital trends towards green sectors and future technologies.

The forum is enriched with its qualitative presence with the participation of a group of influential figures in the fields of sports, as Edgar Davids, the Dutch professional football player and one of the most prominent stars of the game in the world, participates, speaking about the experiences of leadership and teamwork in the world of sports, and his inspiration in business and investment environments. Amir Khan, the British professional boxer, will also participate, showcasing his journey in building a global sports career and turning it into a story of investing in the abilities, determination and new opportunities for young people. Patrice Evra, the former Manchester United captain, will also join them to share his experience in transitioning from the world of sports to the world of entrepreneurship, with a focus on supporting projects that promote mental health and social equality.

This year, the forum comes under the slogan “Leading the Global Transformation: Investing towards a Resilient and Sustainable Future,” and is organized by the Sharjah Foreign Direct Investment Office (Invest in Sharjah) in cooperation with the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WIPA) and the Ministry of Investment in the UAE, through more than 160 events, amid expectations of attracting more than 10,000 participants from various countries of the world.