Sharjah driving growth in Northern Emirates says latest Oxford Business Group report

The business annual The Report: Emerging Sharjah 2007, is the first incisive, world class publication on the political and economic landscape of the northern emirate.

The unprecedented growth of Sharjah has given OBG much to report on, according to Bébhinn Kelly, OBG's director for the Northern Emirates. "Sharjah is promoting its economy at an ideal time. Buoyant oil prices have guaranteed impressive economic growth in the UAE since 2002, when GDP at market prices reached Dh273bn ($74.3bn). Since then it has continued to rise sharply," says Kelly. "While Sharjah has benefited from the UAE's overall growth, it has tried to chart its own economic course. The emirate has a longer modern economic history than the rest of the UAE, as it has been an important trading centre since the 18th century.

"Sharjah's growth has been substantial in recent years, with the number of companies operating in the emirate rising from just 17,000 in 1999 to 40,000 by 2005. GDP has grown by 9 -10% annually since 2001 and stood at Dh35bn ($12.8bn) in 2005. Manufacturing, real estate and construction have all been particularly strong sectors," Kelly explained.

OBG is committed to cooperating with locally-based institutions to combine the publisher's international expertise with their world class, on-the-ground knowledge. Official research partners, both government and private owned, for 'Emerging Sharjah 2007' include: Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority, Al Tamimi & Company and PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Written by a team of international analysts based on the ground for six months, the powerful 100-page business annual will be an extensive, independent, unbiased and accurate economic report about Sharjah.

Over 200 interviews with key business, industry and government leaders have been conducted for the annual. Contributors to this year's edition are key opinion leaders, both regional and international, including: Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler, Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman, SCTDA, Ahmed Mohammed al-Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Peter Richards, General Manager, Gulftainer, Mohamed Ali al-Noman, Director, SCTDA, Ismail al-Bishri, Chancellor, University of Sharjah, Essam al-Tamimi, Managing Partner, Al Tamimi & Company, Sheikh Tariq bin Faisal Al Qasimi, Chairman, Sharjah Economic Development Department, Hamid Jafar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Crescent Petroleum, Anthony Harris, Director, Robert Fleming Insurance Brokers Middle East, and former UK Ambassador to the UAE.