Sharjah

Sharjah, the third most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, has a population exceeding 1,800,000 as of 2023. Located deliberately in the metropolitan area of Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman, this energetic city is the capital of the Emirate of Sharjah. Sharjah has created a different identity for itself in the UAE scene by means of its special mix of historical relevance and modern development.

The city’s importance goes beyond just its population relevance. Sharjah emphasizes its economic significance since it makes a significant 7.4% of the United Arab Emirates’ GDP. Covering an estimated 235 square kilometers, the city has grown to be a center for business as well as for culture. Sharjah’s dual attention has helped it to embrace innovation and modernism while yet keeping its traditional roots.

Sharjah’s government is deftly entwined with the UAE federal structure. Although it serves legal, political, military, and financial purposes alongside other emirates, it keeps jurisdiction over particular areas including civil law enforcement and local facility maintenance. Sharjah’s development path has been much shaped by this harmony between shared responsibility and autonomy.

Since the 18th century, the Al Qasimi dynasty has been in charge of Sharjah, giving its government consistency and continuity. Preserving the emirate’s cultural identity and guiding its development across the centuries has been much aided by this long-standing rule.

Sharjah’s dedication to Islamic principles and customs sets it apart among other things. The emirate has adopted a strong position on the purchase and consumption of alcohol, forbade their use without appropriate license. Reflecting the emirate’s respect for its majority of Muslims, this policy covers hotels, restaurants, and other businesses inside Sharjah. Far from a restriction, this strategy has actually increased Sharjah’s appeal among Islamic visitors, so generating a distinctive niche in the tourism industry of the area.

Globally, Sharjah’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens has not gone unseen. Sharjah’s official designation as a healthy city by the World Health Organization is evidence of the emirate’s initiatives in advancing public health and quality of life. This award says volumes about Sharjah’s dedication to provide a livable space for its varied population.

Global rankings of the city clearly show its focus on intellectual interests and education. Sharjah came in at 68th best city globally for university students in QS Best Student Cities in 2016. This acknowledgement emphasizes the emirate’s commitment to higher education as well as its attraction to local and international students looking for first-rate intellectual encounters.

One cannot stress Sharjah’s cultural value. Often referred to as the UAE’s cultural capital, the city has earned this moniker by relentless preservation and promotion of Arab and Islamic legacy. Sharjah’s designation as the Islamic culture capital in 2014, so confirming its status as a lighthouse of Islamic arts, literature, and customs, acknowledged this commitment even more.

When UNESCO named Sharjah the World Book Capital, 2019 represented yet another turning point in the cultural path of the city. This esteemed title highlighted Sharjah’s initiatives in encouraging among both locals and guests a reading and appreciation of literature. The many libraries, book fairs, and literary events hosted by the emirate have been absolutely vital in obtaining this appreciation.

Sharjah made history on January 1, 2022, by implementing a four-day working week for its public sector in a revolutionary action attracting notice from all around world. Sharjah became a leader in work-life balance programs not only in the Gulf but also throughout the Middle East with this progressive choice that brought a three-day weekend. This audacious move reflects Sharjah’s will to improve the quality of life for its employees and conform with worldwide patterns in workplace flexibility.

The continuous growth of Sharjah depends much on the state of transportation infrastructure. Leading the way in planning and execution of ambitious initiatives to improve mobility inside the emirate is Sharjah Public Transport Corporation (SPTC). Among these projects is the Sharjah Metro, one which has been under development since 2008. Once finished, it will rank among the Abu Dhabi Metro and the Dubai Metro, so further integrating the UAE’s metropolitan areas. Plans for the Sharjah Tram, which promise to offer another effective means of public transportation for both locals and tourists, have also been in motion since 2015.

Through Sharjah International Airport, Sharjah’s connection reaches outside of its boundaries. Based on 2015 data from Airports Council International, this vital transportation hub ranks as the third-largest Middle East airfreight center in terms of cargo tonsne. The airport is also well-known for being the base of Air Arabia, a trailblazing low-cost carrier that has increased air travel choices for millions of customers over the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.

October 5, 1932 saw the first international flight land at the Mahatta Fort airstrip, so beginning Sharjah’s aviation history. Acting as a refueling stop on the India-Britain route run by Imperial Airways, this historic event signaled Sharjah’s arrival into the worldwide air travel system. Later on, the site developed into a multifarious facility including a cinema, hotel, and restaurant; it then became a Royal Air Force military base until the UAE’s independence in 1971. Until 1976, when operations were moved to the recently built Sharjah International Airport, Mahatta Fort remained the principal international airport serving Sharjah.

The cultural scene of Sharjah is firmly anchored in Islamic practices and Arab legacy. From its remarkable architecture and melodic music to its traditional clothing, cuisine, and daily activities, these cultural pillars clearly shape every element of life in the emirate. Echoing from the minarets of many mosques five times a day, the call to prayer reminds us constantly of the spiritual fabric holding the society together.

Understanding the value of both religious observance and international business practices, Sharjah, together with the rest of the UAE, decided in 2006 to have Friday and Saturday as the weekend. This change allowed Muslims to honor Friday as a day of importance in line with Western ideas of a Saturday-Sunday weekend.

By creating several cultural institutions, the Sharjah ruler has been especially helpful in promoting the emirate’s cultural development. Preserving, advancing, and changing Sharjah’s rich cultural legacy depends on these groups most importantly. The Heart of Sharjah project is one such ambitious cultural legacy project aiming at restoring the old town of Sharjah to its 1950s splendor. Complementary efforts involving the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, the Sharjah Museums Department, and the Sharjah Art Foundation comprise this five-phase project scheduled for completion in 2025.

The yearly Sharjah International Book Fair is evidence of Sharjah’s dedication to literature and the written word. Attracting authors, publishers, and book buffs from all around the world, this cultural event has grown to be pillar of the emirate’s literary calendar. Intellectual conversation, cultural interaction, and the celebration of the written word in all its forms find a stage here at the fair.

Economically, Sharjah has positioned itself as a centre of industry and business. The first low-cost airline from the Middle East, Air Arabia has its headquarters in this city. With its base in the Sharjah Freight Center, inside the Sharjah International Airport complex, Air Arabia runs flights to locations all around the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.

Commonly known as SAIF Zone, the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone is now a major component of the economic scene of the emirate. SAIF Zone, which houses more than 6,000 businesses, has come to represent corporate friendly policies and appealing investment prospects. Factors that have attracted investors from more than 90 countries—100% foreign ownership and exemption from income and corporate taxes—define the zone’s appeal.

Emphasizing industrialization, especially in the Sharjah Industrial area, Sharjah has turned the emirate into a commercial powerhouse. Sharjah’s relative lower cost of starting businesses than other UAE emirates has added even more appeal to investors and businesspeople. With Sharjah showing a stunning 6.5% economic surge in 2023, reaching almost AED 145.2 billion, from AED 136.4 billion in 2022, this business-friendly environment has clearly paid off.