With 20% Growth in Issued Licenses SEDD Issues & Renews 18,445 Licenses during 2025 Q3
Hamad Ali Abdalla Al Mahmoud: “Sharjah witness sustainable economic growth”
Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) confirmed that the emirate's economic development indicators achieved remarkable growth in the third quarter of 2025, with the total number of business licenses issued and renewed in Sharjah reaching 18,445, representing a growth rate of 3%. In detail, the Department announced that Sharjah’s economic development indicators achieved remarkable growth in the third quarter of 2025. The number of business licenses issued reached a total of 2,555, a 20% increase, while the number of renewed business licenses reached 15,890, a 0.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Commenting on this, HE Hamad Ali Abdulla Al Mahmoud, Chairman of the Sharjah Economic Development Department and Member of the Executive Council, explained that the movement of business licenses during the third quarter of this year confirms the strength of the local economy and the attractiveness of the investment environment. He added that these are indicators of sustainable growth in the Emirate of Sharjah's economy. Also, HE SEDD Chairman added that the emirate has a strategy that seeks to maintain a healthy growth rate, relying on attractive factors that include its distinguished geographical location, the significant development witnessed by the service sectors, and the continuous development of services to meet the highest international quality standards. The data indicated a significant increase in the growth rate of licenses issued by license type during the third quarter of 2025, with commercial licenses taking the lead with a total of 1,500 licenses, followed by professional licenses with 740, then industrial licenses with 135 licenses, while e-commerce licenses came in fourth with a total of 97 licenses, then Eitimad licenses came last in rank with 83 licenses. Regarding renewed licenses, commercial licenses came first with a total of 10,026 licenses, followed by professional licenses with 4,817 licenses, and industrial licenses with 797 licenses. Meanwhile, the number of Eitimad licenses reached 172 licenses, and e-commerce licenses reached 78 licenses. In the context of geographical distribution according to SEDD Branches, the number of issued licenses by the Department’s main branch reached 1,111 licenses, followed by the Industrial Areas branch with 974 licenses. The Central Region Branch also recorded 262 licenses, followed by the Khor Fakkan branch with 118 licenses, and then Kalba Branch with approximately 78 licenses, while the Dibba Al Hisn branch recorded a total of 12 licenses issued. As for the renewed licenses by SEDD Branches in the same period, the Industrial Areas Branch hit 7,220 licenses, followed by the main headquarter with 5,842 licenses. They were followed by the Central Region Branch with 1,533 licenses, then Khor Fakkan Branch hit a total of 650 licenses, while Kalba Branch registered 544 licenses, and then Dibba Al Hisn Branch reordered a number of 101 licenses.
Digital Platform Efficiency
Digital services performance showed a 14% increase in completed digital transactions, totaling 252,249 one in the third quarter of 2025. Additionally, the smart investor participation in the total completed transactions reached 16%. In terms of smart transformation, automatic and proactive transactions grew by 16%, confirming the expansion of smart service delivery to meet customer needs more efficiently. Likely, the average customer journey period witnessed a significant improvement, decreasing from 160 minutes to complete transactions in 2024 to just 40 minutes in 2025. This was achieved after the Department adaptation of a comprehensive improvement to the customer experience to meet customer requirements and enhance ease of access to digital services.
65,524 Commercial Control Transactions
It is worth mentioning that SEDD is committed to working with merchants and consumers to create a fair relationship between the two parties. Thus, SEDD communicates with consumers in Sharjah's markets through all possible means, raising awareness and informing them of their basic rights. This is achieved through platforms, websites, and ongoing field visits. This resulte in attaining a total of number of 65,524 Commercial Control transactions during the third quarter of this year, with a 26% increase over the same period in 2024.
4,140 Commercial Protection Complaints
Regarding commercial protection, the total number of commercial protection complaints reached 4,140 in the third quarter of this year. In details, consumer protection complaints accounted for the largest share, reaching 3,681, followed by commercial fraud complaints with 234, and then service agent complaints with 225 ones. Also, SEDD calls all consumers to report any case of commercial manipulation or fraud and linguistic errors on commercial signs by contacting the call center at 80080000, or visiting the official website www.sedd.ae, or reporting through SEDD smart application, as part of their active participation in protecting the market.
