Sharjah Investment Forum 2026 to convene 80+ speakers on October 14–15
Simon Squibb and Varun Mayya confirmed among speakers examining business adaptation and technology innovation.
Sharjah Investment Forum 2026 will convene more than 80 speakers on October 14–15 at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre. The forum is organised by the Sharjah FDI Office in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Investment under the theme Building Adaptive Economies. British entrepreneur Simon Squibb and Indian entrepreneur Varun Mayya are confirmed among this year's speakers.
Speaker sessions and focus areas#
Simon Squibb will lead a session titled Thriving in the Age of Constant Disruption. Squibb has established 19 companies, backed more than 80 startups and reached an audience exceeding 22 million followers. His session will examine how adaptability drives business competitiveness. Varun Mayya will present a keynote titled The Future is Now: Investing in What Comes Next, examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping business and investment. Mayya is a tech content creator active in the Indian and global startup ecosystem for over a decade. Squibb is pursuing a mission to help 10 million people start businesses of their own.
Forum structure and participants#
The forum will bring together ministers, investors, entrepreneurs, experts and decision-makers. Sessions will examine the forces that are reshaping business and investment, and will explore adaptation pathways for companies and economies seeking sustainable growth. Squibb's session will address how entrepreneurial thinking, agility and experimentation enable companies to navigate change and act on emerging opportunities. The forum places developments in entrepreneurship, technology and investment at the centre of direct dialogue.
Technology and business transformation context#
The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 reported that 86 percent of employers anticipate AI and information-processing technologies will transform their businesses by 2030. PwC's 2026 survey reported that 87 percent of business leaders say volatility and disruption can create opportunities to build competitive advantage. Mayya has pioneered AI avatars and several generative AI-based content techniques. Squibb brings more than three decades of experience to the session, having worked across company-building, investment and technology innovation.
Event logistics and organising bodies#
The Sharjah FDI Office, also known as Invest in Sharjah, is the organising body. The UAE Ministry of Investment is the collaborating partner. The event will take place over two days at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre in Sharjah. The forum is held under the theme Building Adaptive Economies and will examine how companies view disruption, with 87 percent of business leaders saying volatility can create opportunities according to PwC's 2026 survey.
Sources1 source across 1 domain
- economymiddleeast.comEconomy Middle EastSIF 2026 dates, speaker names, session titles, organising bodies, venue, speaker backgrounds and survey figures
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