Sharjah Ruler Attends Opening of Second Edition of ‘Sharjah Next’ Forum
His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, witnessed on Wednesday morning the launch of the second edition of the ‘Sharjah Next’ forum. The event took place in the presence of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK). This edition is particularly significant as it is linked to a comprehensive research report prepared by Nature Research Intelligence.
Organised by SPARK, the two-day forum is held under the theme “Sustainability” and carries the slogan “From Lab to Market.” The event serves as a major gathering to advance scientific research, technology adoption, and practical economic applications across critical sectors.
Exploring Future Sectors and Sustainable Urban Models
The forum features a rich program of keynote speeches, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and specialized debates exploring key sectors shaping the future of global economies and societies. It aims to strengthen direct collaboration among researchers, industry leaders, and investors, accelerating the transition of theoretical innovations from research labs into practical commercial applications. This marks a transition from learning from others to attracting them to benefit from our expertise.”.
During the event, Sheikh Sultan inaugurated Uruk City, a pioneering model for a new generation of sustainable urban environments. By tapping an electronic tablet at the SPARK headquarters, the Ruler of Sharjah officially launched the initiative, which redefines how modern cities serve their communities and residents while acting as a global hub for technological advancement.
Sheikh Sultan reviewed a detailed model of Uruk City, which provides an integrated ecosystem where knowledge, advanced scientific research, and practical real-world application intersect seamlessly to drive sustainable growth.
Inaugural Video and Focus on Creative Nurturing
The official opening ceremony began with an inspirational video presentation highlighting the crucial importance of investing in creative ideas. The presentation emphasized the need to nurture and develop original concepts, creating a supportive ecosystem that allows them to grow and evolve into impactful initiatives and commercial projects with positive social and economic outcomes.
The project also seeks to support intellectual property protection, commercialise scientific research outputs, and transform them into innovations and projects with economic and social value.
A Decade of Innovation and the Launch of Uruk 2.0
Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SPARK, delivered a keynote address reviewing the Park’s 10-year journey of achievements. He affirmed that this decade-long effort began with the visionary leadership of the Ruler of Sharjah to build an integrated innovation ecosystem that effectively transforms academic knowledge into tangible economic assets.
Al Mahmoudi highlighted the historic launch of pioneering projects across sustainability, water technologies, future mobility, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. He noted that the ecosystem has now entered a transformative phase under the leadership of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi. Fares Saeed noted that the project’s vision became a reality thanks to the support of Sheikha Bodour and her commitment to bringing together the partners and expertise needed to realise it.
A central feature of this new phase is the “Uruk 2.0” project, designed to establish an advanced testing environment for artificial intelligence and sustainability technologies, with a specific focus on smart cities, agricultural technology, and water security. Al Mahmoudi noted that the region has historically been a cradle of innovation, tracing back to the emergence of early urban centers in Mesopotamia over 5,000 years ago, and this heritage continues through a blueprint for the cities of 2050 being constructed today. Built on harnessing technology and innovation to optimise resources and save time, giving people greater opportunities to enjoy healthier and more prosperous lives, he then watched a film outlining the city’s vision as a new concept for the future of urban living. Young people and communities, thereby contributing to greater productivity, resilience and prosperity for all, she stressed the importance of ensuring that the transition to sustainability is inclusive and creates opportunities for farmers. The founder of SEE Holding explained that the project presents a vision for a future city grounded in the principle that meeting life’s essential needs is fundamental to securing security and prosperity for all.
Strengthening Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystem Growth
Al Mahmoudi concluded his speech by calling on partners across the government, private and academic sectors, locally, regionally and internationally, to continue collaborating and to contribute to building the next phase of sustainable tech development.
He affirmed that the substantial achievements of SPARK’s first decade offer a solid foundation for continuous future progress. He also expressed his gratitude to the Board of Directors, employees, partners across the innovation ecosystem, and the forum’s sponsors and supporters, commending their role in advancing development and reinforcing the drive towards a more sustainable and innovative future.
Ministerial Address on National Climate and Food Security Goals
Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, delivered a speech praising the Ruler of Sharjah’s vision of using knowledge as the foundation for human development, preserving cultural identity, and achieving sustainable growth. She noted that this vision extends to strengthening food security and ensuring the responsible stewardship of natural resources.
The Minister highlighted the wheat cultivation initiative in Mleiha, titled “Saba Sanabel,” noting how it embodies the connection between scientific knowledge and agricultural land, drawing inspiration from the Quranic verse regarding the multiplication of grains through dedicated investment.
Dr Al Shamsi emphasized that these local achievements directly align with the UAE’s strategic national priorities under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Key goals include reaching net-zero climate neutrality by 2050, enhancing resource efficiency, advancing the circular economy, and building resilient communities.
She added that the UAE continues to lead global climate action by boosting climate finance, expanding access to technology, and building capacity in developing nations. In particular, she highlighted the launch of ALTÉRRA at COP28—backed by a USD 30 billion commitment from the UAE—as a prime example of mobilizing global climate investment.
Underlining the forum’s theme, “From Lab to Market,” Dr Al Shamsi praised SPARK’s role in bridging academic research with market requirements. She emphasized the value of strategic partnerships with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa), the National Agricultural Centre, and the “AgriPost” Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Programme to support emerging startups.
Exhibition Tour and Environmental Initiatives
As part of the forum, Sheikh Sultan toured an interactive exhibition detailing BEEAH’s comprehensive environmental and waste management efforts since 2007. The Ruler learned about BEEAH’s operations across 12 integrated facilities designed to process various waste streams and recover valuable resources. Khalid Al Huraimel, CEO and Vice Chairman of BEEAH, also delivered a speech, saying: “When BEEAH was established in 2007, guided by the vision and support of His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah, our goal was to find better solutions for waste management and to preserve resources for future generations.
He was briefed on the performance of the Sharjah Waste-to-Energy Plant, which converts non-recyclable municipal waste into clean energy, helping raise Sharjah’s overall waste diversion rate to 93%—one of the highest rates worldwide. Furthermore, Sheikh Sultan reviewed future expansion plans to push the Emirate’s waste diversion rate to 100% through new state-of-the-art recycling facilities. Today, Sharjah has successfully diverted 93% of its waste from landfills and is home to the region’s first waste-to-energy plant.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The opening ceremony was attended by senior officials, including Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Statistics and Community Development; Sheikh Majid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Districts Affairs Department; Sheikh Saud Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Director General of the Sharjah Digital Authority; alongside several members of the Executive Council, heads of local departments, government officials, academic leaders, and international industry experts.
