The Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah) has launched ‘Sharjah AcquireHub,’ the region’s pioneering government-backed digital platform designed to streamline mergers and acquisitions (M&A) within Sharjah. Developed through a strategic partnership with Transworld Business Advisors, a global leader in business advisory services, this platform aims to accelerate economic growth, strengthen market resilience, and attract high-caliber investments to Sharjah by providing a transparent and secure environment for M&A transactions.
Sharjah AcquireHub caters to a variety of stakeholders, including international investors, SMEs, entrepreneurs, and local businesses, by connecting capital with high-potential opportunities in the emirate. The platform enhances market liquidity and offers flexible solutions for growth, strategic exits, or corporate restructuring. Its comprehensive process features seamless online registration, tailored advisory support, and post-transaction assistance, all underpinned by strict confidentiality measures such as NDAs and thorough due diligence. This secure, structured ecosystem empowers investors, buyers, and financiers with the clarity and protections essential for confidently pursuing acquisitions or strategic partnerships, while also providing a trusted platform for business owners in Sharjah seeking to exit, enabling them to list their companies for potential acquisition.
Supporting SMEs and entrepreneurs
The platform is the result of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between H.E. Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, and Ahmad Ibrahim, CEO of Transworld GCC, formalized in the presence of H.E. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, CEO of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). This partnership highlights Sharjah’s ongoing commitment to fostering robust public-private collaboration and enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of its investment ecosystem.
Sharjah AcquireHub serves as a strategic gateway for investors looking to access high-potential opportunities in the emirate, particularly within the dynamic and lucrative mid-market segment. It provides advanced tools and clear pathways to engage with the global M&A landscape, which reached a value of $3.5 trillion in 2024, representing a 15 percent increase over the previous year, according to Bain & Company.
The platform addresses the growing momentum in M&A and exit activity at the regional level, with 701 deals totaling $92.3 billion recorded across regional markets in 2024, as stated in the EY MENA M&A Report. This upward trend underscores the necessity for a locally-rooted yet globally-aligned platform that offers secure, regulated support for facilitating such strategic transactions.
Moreover, it presents a strategic opportunity for SMEs and entrepreneurs to integrate into a broader growth environment through partnerships and alliances that promote development, secure exits, or repositioning. This contributes to the stability of the SME sector, which comprises over 94 percent of businesses in the UAE. Sharjah has experienced significant growth in business establishment and sustainability, with 71,320 new and renewed licenses issued in 2024, reflecting a 7 percent increase.
Read more: Invest in Sharjah, SAEED highlight Sharjah’s investment opportunities
Commitment to integrated investment
At the macroeconomic level, Sharjah AcquireHub functions as an enabler of innovation and economic transformation, offering a more agile and effective approach to restructuring and capital allocation. By directing resources towards high-value projects and enterprises, the platform empowers policymakers to prioritize strategic sectors, thereby advancing economic diversification and reducing reliance on traditional industries.
Its launch reaffirms Sharjah’s commitment to fostering an integrated investment environment supported by a long-term economic vision. Anchored by a knowledge-based, diversified economy and consistent support for key sectors such as industry, technology, and healthcare, and bolstered by its strategic geographic position, Sharjah is uniquely positioned to serve as a regional hub for high-impact M&A activity.
H.E. Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of Invest in Sharjah, stated: “In our ongoing efforts to position the emirate as a regional hub for M&A, our collaboration with Transworld Business Advisors creates new pathways for domestic and international investors, leveraging global expertise alongside Sharjah’s development vision and technological capabilities. The platform reflects evolving business dynamics and reinforces Sharjah’s leadership in shaping the future of investment across the region.”
Driving M&A readiness
For his part, Ahmad Ibrahim, CEO of Transworld GCC, remarked: “We are proud to be part of this partnership, which exemplifies meaningful collaboration in building a cohesive and sustainable investment ecosystem, and we are confident in the long-term impact this platform will have in enhancing the investment landscape and unlocking new growth opportunities. At Transworld, we believe that digital transformation and strategic partnerships will be central to driving the next phase of economic advancement.”
Transworld Business Advisors is recognized as a leading force in the global M&A landscape, having completed over 2,500 transactions in 2024 alone. With a presence spanning more than 250 offices across 27 countries and a network of over 1,000 specialized dealmakers, the firm ranks among Axial’s Top 100 global M&A advisory firms.
As a partner in the Sharjah AcquireHub initiative, Transworld Business Advisors is leading the development of the platform’s operational framework and will also deliver M&A readiness workshops for local businesses, launching an international matchmaking program to connect vetted companies with prospective investors. Additionally, it will conduct targeted roadshows in high-potential global markets to promote strategic acquisition opportunities in Sharjah.
Curated investment opportunities across Sharjah will be showcased on the Invest in Sharjah website and updated regularly. The platform allows company owners to express their interest in pursuing expansion or exit strategies. It also serves as a gateway for investors aiming to enter the UAE market through well-structured, strategic transactions.
