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Sharjah gov’t approves record budget for next year: Sharjah ruler Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi approved the emirate’s 2026 general budget, setting total expenditure at a record high of AED 44.5 bn, up 3% y-o-y, state news agency Wam reports.
New year, new record: The previous budget for 2025 was set at AED 42 bn, marking a 2% increase as well as the emirate’s largest budget to date at the time.
The breakdown: Some 35% of total expenditure will go towards capital projects, while salaries and wages will see 30%, according to Wam. Operating expenses are set to receive 25%, the subsidies and aid budget is 12% of the total, and 15% will go to loan repayments and interest — down 1 percentage point from last year.
Once again, the infrastructure sector is getting the largest share of total expenditure at 35%, albeit at a 6 percentage point decrease y-o-y. The economic development sector follows at a close second with 30%, up 3 percentage points, while social development spending stands at 23% (+1 pp). Government administration, security, and safety account for the remaining 12% (+2 pp).
Where will the inflows come from? Sharjah projects a 26% increase in total public revenues in 2026. Operative revenues make up 69% of total income, while capital revenues account for 10%, up 35% y-o-y. Tax revenues are set to rise sharply, doubling compared to 2025 and representing 16% of total revenues, while customs contribute 3%. Oil and gas remain at 2%.
The wider take: In October, the UAE’s cabinet greenlit a record AED 92.4 bn budget for next year, earmarking a 29.2% y-o-y leap in expenditures as revenues are set to hold steady at AED 92.4 bn.
