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Sharjah |
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With its art museums, twenty galleries, and restored heritage areas, Sharjah is considered the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates. Art and culture are two priorities in this emirate, so you will definitely experience the special Arabian way of life and the Islamic culture upon your visit. Its museums not only provide information about an extraordinary past, but also educate young children with fun and interactive exhibits.
Sharjah is the headquarters for the UAE Authors' and Writers' Union which is responsible for over a hundred publications. Maybe that’s one of the contributing factors as to why it also has an Expo Center, famous for its yearly book fair during which hundreds of publishers gather from all over the world. |
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Sharjah is the third largest emirate in the UAE, and is located between Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. It is ruled by H. H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi. It is a sister city to Dubai and Ajman, both of which border it.
The emirate contains three major regions within it: Kalba, Khor Fakkan and Dibba al – Husn. Kalba has ancient forts and a hot water spring at Wadi Halu.
Sharjah is connected to the other emirates by refined highways; it has a well known international airport and three major ports: Khalid, Khorfakkan and Hamriyah.
Khalid is its main seaport and it is found in the commercial center of Sharjah town. Khorfakkan, is known to be one of the world’s best container transshipment hub ports. |
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In addition, Sharjah hosts the main administrative and commercial centers of the UAE; its customs increase the income of UAE’s economy through import and other taxes. It supervises and controls the movement of goods into and out of the country; and keeps improving the services it offers to importers and exporters through the plans implemented by the Department of Seaports and Customs.
What make Sharjah appealing to tourists are the serene villages of Khorfakkan and Kalba that provide an escape from the crowded city.
You can enjoy swimming in the emirate’s clear waters or tanning in the sun (Health tip: Always make sure you’re well protected from the sun with a high SPF sunscreen). A popular resort is Al Khan Lagoon (between Sharjah and Dubai) where you can jet ski or ride boats. This resort has a more relaxed dress code than other resorts. |
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Once in the city, you can expect to see many elegant mosques, in addition to 21 public parks such as Al Jazeirah Fun Park and Al Buheirah Corniche which are perfect for spending free time with friends and family. Green projects are being implemented in order to provide open spaces for a range of outdoor activities such as football, basketball, walking, and jogging.
Sharjah is well known for its various souqs where you can find almost anything you are looking for. It has two major souqs with Islamic designs, but the charming Central Market is the most famous amongst them. In contrast with its cultural markets, the city also has the very modern Mega Mall, which has a variety of shops with local and international brands, coffee shops, and a supermarket.
The biggest mall, however, is the Sahara Center Mall, which is situated exactly between Dubai and Sharjah. This mall includes cinemas and restaurants. |
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In order to ‘take a piece of the city’ with you after your departure, you can purchase traditional jars of different shapes and sizes containing water, grain or oil from the Heritage Museum. In addition to that, you can visit Souk Al Arsah or the Old Iranian Bazaar, where you will find carved wooden chests, embroidery for dress decoration, and baskets made of date palm fibers.
Sharjah has some of the best gold shops in the UAE and the number of its international restaurants and cafes are increasing.
In the past, Sharjah was one of the wealthiest towns, and excavations have shown that there were settlements in this city over 5,000 years ago. The Islamic Museum displays exceptional collections of historical objects.You can experience the entire history of Sharjah by visiting Al Hisn, the Sharjah fort, which was originally built 145 years ago, but was restored in 1997.
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The ruler chose Al Shuwaihiyeen, one of the most ancient areas in Sharjah, to be restored; a mosque and five architecturally acclaimed heritage buildings successfully underwent that process. This city is home to many perfume shops which sell the traditional Arabic incense.
If you visit Bait Al Naboodah, you will see many of the features and charming appearances of the traditional Sharjah houses.
Sharjah is literally a very active city; it is the cricketing center in the UAE and it hosts One Day Internationals. It also has a professional football club, the Sharjah FC, which has elevated the sport’s level in the UAE. |
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| Due to the presence of many art institutions, it is evident that art is a crucial element in Sharjah. The Sharjah Art Museum, situated in the heart of Sharjah city, displays a collection of marvelous works of art and hosts many exhibitions. The Sharjah Art Galleries found in Obaid al Shamsi house prepare lectures, seminars, and art bazaars on a regular basis. The Cultural Center actively promotes local plays and exhibitions. |
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| The first organized school was established in 1953, and since then, education has been important in the city. Now, the city also has a leading educational institution in the Gulf region that aims to recover the intellectual life in the Middle East, the American University of Sharjah. |
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Through the determination of its ruler, Sharjah’s natural wealth has allowed it to become a prosperous, charming, and advanced city. |
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