Sharjah24: The Youth Council of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised a dialogue session titled “Sharjah Youth Towards Industry… From Creativity to Production”, held as part of the “Make it in the Emirates 2026” exhibition at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The session focused on the role of young Emiratis in driving the future of national manufacturing, and on transforming creative ideas into sustainable, high-value production projects that support the UAE’s National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology. It also underlined the importance of strengthening youth participation in advancing the country’s industrial and economic development.
Senior participation and interactive discussion
The session was attended by His Excellency Dr Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and Dr Maryam Sultan bin Hadda, Chair of the Sharjah Youth Council, along with a group of officials, experts, and young entrepreneurs.
The discussion was moderated by Aisha Saleh, Chair of the Sharjah Chamber Youth Council, with contributions from Dr Khalid Al Ali, member of the Sharjah Youth Council; Maha Mansour Al Zarouni representing the Sharjah Chamber; and jewellery designer Shamma Mohammed Al Falasi.
The speakers shared personal experiences from the industrial and creative sectors, highlighting how young talent is increasingly contributing to manufacturing, design, and entrepreneurship.
Sharjah’s enabling environment for youth industry
Participants stressed that Sharjah provides a supportive ecosystem for young entrepreneurs through flexible regulations, competitive incentives, and targeted development programmes. This environment, they noted, enables youth to launch and scale innovative industrial projects with confidence.
Aisha Saleh emphasised the importance of connecting creativity with production capabilities, noting that the Sharjah Chamber is working through its youth initiatives to convert innovative ideas into practical, production-driven outcomes that contribute to the national economy.
She also highlighted efforts to equip young entrepreneurs with training and mentorship programmes aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, helping them build skills in advanced manufacturing, digital tools, and smart industry applications. These efforts aim to ensure the sustainability and global competitiveness of youth-led enterprises.
Innovation, entrepreneurship, and future skills
The session also explored key themes including innovation, entrepreneurship, and the evolving needs of the advanced manufacturing sector. Speakers discussed challenges facing young professionals and the importance of structured support systems, including incubation programmes, digital marketing tools, artificial intelligence applications, and business continuity strategies.
Several successful youth experiences were showcased, including the transformation of creative skills in jewellery design into competitive industrial production lines, reflecting the growing link between creative industries and manufacturing.
Smart manufacturing and global competitiveness
Speakers highlighted the growing importance of smart manufacturing technologies, automation, and Fourth Industrial Revolution tools in ensuring the competitiveness of emerging projects in both local and global markets.
They also stressed the importance of strong public-private partnerships in strengthening supply chains, improving product quality, and enhancing the global competitiveness of Emirati products. Innovation and sustainability were identified as essential pillars for ensuring the long-term success of youth-led industrial ventures.
Sharjah’s industrial ecosystem and future vision
The session further emphasised the value of Sharjah’s integrated industrial ecosystem and the support provided by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, particularly in the areas of smart manufacturing, innovation, and export development.
Participants noted the importance of aligning academic skills with labour market needs and leveraging advanced technologies to strengthen the UAE’s position as a global hub for advanced manufacturing.
The Chamber’s participation in “Make it in the Emirates 2026” also showcased Sharjah’s industrial ecosystem and included strategic meetings with industry leaders and investors, reinforcing efforts to develop a new generation of Emirati industrial entrepreneurs aligned with the UAE’s “Project 300 Billion” vision.
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