The Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) issued and renewed 19,327 business licenses in the third quarter of 2026, an increase of 5%, the department said on Tuesday in figures published by the state news agency WAM and the government outlet Sharjah24.
The total comprised 1,738 new licenses and 17,589 renewals.
Commercial licenses led new issuance with 1,012. Professional licenses followed with 345, Etimad licenses with 138, e-commerce licenses with 137 and industrial licenses with 106.
Commercial licenses also led renewals with 11,454. Professional licenses came next with 4,686, followed by industrial licenses with 927, Etimad licenses with 352 and e-commerce licenses with 170.
Hamad Ali Abdalla Al Mahmoud, Chairman of SEDD and a member of the Sharjah Executive Council, said the figures showed the emirate’s ability to support business expansion and attract investment. He cited Sharjah’s diverse economic activities, its growing services sector, its location and improvements to government services.
Fahad Ahmed Al Khamiri, Director of SEDD, said the department is focusing on digital services, simpler procedures and more efficient dealings with investors to make it easier to set up and expand businesses.
SEDD issued and renewed 38,169 licenses in the first half of 2026, according to earlier department figures.
