Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi walked through a facility employing 30,000 researchers on Thursday, examining the infrastructure that could reshape Sharjah’s media ambitions. The Deputy Ruler of Sharjah spent 13 February touring Huawei’s sprawling R&D village in Shanghai—2.2 million square metres spanning more than 100 buildings.
The scale alone tells the story.
Huawei Village, as the complex is known, houses laboratories dedicated to artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data analytics—precisely the technologies Sharjah’s leadership has identified as priorities for its media sector. Al Qasimi, who chairs the Sharjah Media Council, examined master plans showing how the facility supports product development across telecommunications, smart city systems, and digital infrastructure.
The tour wasn’t merely ceremonial. Al Qasimi reviewed building specifications, observed employee amenities spanning restaurants to entertainment venues, and noted transport links via train, bus, boat, and electric bicycle. Then came the technical briefings.
Inside the R&D Centre, Huawei representatives walked the Sharjah delegation through specialised laboratories developing solutions for smart cities, security systems, and media infrastructure. Al Qasimi received presentations on digital systems designed to enhance service efficiency and sustainability—technologies that align directly with Sharjah’s stated goal of becoming a regional hub for media innovation.
During meetings with Huawei executives, Al Qasimi emphasised Sharjah’s determination to match technological advancement in the media sector. He framed the emirate’s ambitions clearly: employing cutting-edge technology to strengthen regional and international competitiveness in content creation.
The discussions explored concrete cooperation between Sharjah’s media entities and Huawei’s research divisions. Focus areas included artificial intelligence applications in content creation, cloud computing infrastructure, and data analytics tools to support media professionals—moving beyond theoretical interest into practical implementation.
By afternoon, the delegation had moved to Shanghai Media Group.
SMG operates eight television channels, eight radio stations, four print publications, and eleven paid digital channels. The facility houses studios and broadcasting centres running intelligent content management systems—the kind of operational model Sharjah appears keen to study.
Al Qasimi toured SMG’s four digital platforms: a television and film service, a nationwide radio network, a live news platform, and a financial monitoring service targeting investors. He observed broadcasting technology in action, including outside broadcast vehicles equipped with 4K filming systems used for covering major sporting events like the Olympic Games.
The SMG studios demonstrated high-definition transmission capabilities and live broadcasting infrastructure. For a delegation from an emirate planning its own “Shams” studio complex and developing Sharjah Media City, the visit offered a working blueprint.
Meetings with SMG’s Director General and senior officials covered media management practices and potential joint ventures. Al Qasimi stressed the importance of enhancing content quality and promoting what he termed “positive values”—language that signals editorial priorities alongside technical ambitions. The Sharjah team presented details of the Media City project and the Shams studios planned for construction.
The timing matters. Sharjah faces intensifying regional competition in the media sector. Dubai Media City has long dominated the UAE’s content production landscape, whilst Saudi Arabia has poured billions into entertainment and media infrastructure as part of Vision 2030. Abu Dhabi continues expanding twofour54, its media free zone.
Against that backdrop, Sharjah’s approach involves learning from established players—both in technology development and content operations. The Shanghai visits represent part of a broader strategy to engage international technology firms and absorb best practices in innovation and digital development.
China has emerged as a significant technology partner for Gulf states in recent years. Huawei already supplies telecommunications infrastructure across the UAE and has partnered with various emirates on smart city initiatives. The relationship extends beyond simple vendor arrangements into research collaboration and knowledge transfer.
For Huawei, Gulf partnerships offer stable markets and showcase opportunities for technologies that face scrutiny in Western markets. For emirates like Sharjah, Chinese firms provide access to advanced systems without the political complications that sometimes accompany American or European technology partnerships.
What remains unclear is the specific timeline and budget for Sharjah’s planned implementations. Al Qasimi’s delegation included officials from multiple Sharjah media entities, suggesting coordinated planning across the emirate’s broadcast, digital, and content production sectors. Yet neither the Huawei visit nor the SMG tour yielded announcements of signed agreements or committed investments.
The presentations Al Qasimi received covered artificial intelligence applications in media, cloud-based production workflows, and data analytics for audience measurement—all technologies that require substantial infrastructure investment and technical expertise to implement effectively. Sharjah’s ability to deploy these systems will depend on budget allocation, talent acquisition, and integration with existing media operations.
SMG’s operational model presents both inspiration and challenge. The group’s eight television channels and extensive digital platform network reflect decades of development and state backing. Replicating that scale and integration requires more than touring facilities—it demands sustained investment and organisational restructuring.
The outside broadcast capabilities Al Qasimi observed, including 4K systems for Olympic coverage, represent significant technical sophistication. Whether Sharjah’s planned Shams studios will match those specifications remains to be seen. The Media City project, still in planning stages, faces questions about tenant attraction, content production volume, and differentiation from established competitors.
Still, the visit signals intent. Al Qasimi’s emphasis on leveraging global R&D experience and his focus on specific technologies—AI, cloud computing, data analytics—indicate a strategic approach rather than aspirational tourism.
By Friday morning, the delegation had concluded its Shanghai agenda. The real test begins when they return to Sharjah, where ambition must translate into budgets, contracts, and operational reality.