Sharjah's organic growth strategy has shielded it from the negative repercussions of the global economic downturn, says the Marwan Jassim Al Sarkal, chief executive of Sharjah's investment and development authority. This left its officials free to solve infrastructure problems – such as traffic congestion and power shortages – which were threatening to limit the emirate's growth.

While the airports of Dubai and Abu Dhabi have focused on long-haul flights for wealthy passengers, Sharjah's smaller international airport has acquired a reputation for speed and efficiency while carving out a niche for short-haul flights aimed at middle-class travellers.

Sharjah is positioning itself as a safe, family-friendly holiday destination and is anticipating increased demand, particularly at the high end of the travel and leisure sector.

Marine and air freight services, waste management and education are just some of the areas in which Sharjah is leading the way not only in the United Arab Emirates, but throughout the whole of the Middle East.

The seven emirates that make up the UAE have shown a degree of collaboration in making the country a world leader in the aerospace sector, but that doesn't mean that the competition between them has been anything less than fierce. 

There are signs that Dubai's real estate sector is finally recovering, with investor interest particularly focused on the residential market.

Dubai's economy has long been dependent on its real estate and tourism sectors but, in a bid to diversify, the emirate has started focusing on logistics, financial services and energy, with government-backed initiatives – including an airport city, a financial free zone and a new solar park – driving the rapid growth of each of these sectors.

The property crash that hit Dubai in 2008 put an end to years of rapid growth. While these wounds are not yet fully healed, the emirate is returning to strength and is retaining its allure to investors as the safest of havens with the finest infrastructure in the Middle East.