Sharjah

Thursday 09 February 2012 (UAE)

Sharjah overview

The emirate of Sharjah is one of 7 that make up the country called the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sharjah is also the name of a city in the emirate of Sharjah.

Sharjah was named as the Cultural Capital of the Arab World by UNESCO in 1998 for its art, culture, and heritage preservation.
Sharjah is the OIC Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014. Announced by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in October 2009 (WAM news 14 October 2009).

Activities, entertainment and events in Sharjah

Things to do in Sharjah
See also Tourism in Sharjah heading.

Art and culture in Sharjah

Al Qasba - small art and culture area with a Ferris wheel, restaurants, cafes
Museums in Sharjah - lots of them, and art galleries too. Mostly showing Islamic and Arabic art and artifacts.

Business in Sharjah

Crime in Sharjah

Bag snatching appears to be a problem in Sharjah since 2009 according to a Khaleej Times report 16 July 2011 - "Two to three cases are being reported at various police stations everyday," according to an anonymous senior Sharjah Police Officer. Things to watch out for are:
- Purse snatching at shopping malls, banks, ATMs, car parks, etc - usually one person snatches and a waiting accomplice on a motorcycle escapes with them.
- Fake (or real) car problems - one person will alert the driver to a flat tyre or mechanical problem, their accomplice will snatch bags or other valuables from the car after the driver gets out to have a look. Possibly the problem is created by the thieves.
Sex in Sharjah - tourists, visitors, residents should be aware that as in the rest of the UAE, having sex with someone you are not married to is a crime. Sharjah is more conservative than other emirates so such activities are less likely to be ignored, and punishments might be harsher in Sharjah. Living together with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or sharing a hotel room, is more risky in Sharjah, and in April 2010 there were news reports of Sharjah Police launching a crackdown on catching unmarried couples living together in Sharjah. There have been cases of women who have been raped finding themselves locked up for the crime of sex out of wedlock after reporting the rape.

Economy and Industry in Sharjah

Industry is a significant part of the economy of Sharjah. An Oxford Business Group (OBG) report in July 2010 said Sharjah contributed about 48% of the industrial GDP for the whole of the UAE. The same report said that there were over 1600 industrial enterprises operating in Sharjah, providing jobs for more than 75,000 employees,
Most industrial production is light to medium scale, with not so much heavy industry.
Sharjah Free Zones - Sharjah Airport Free Zone (SAFZ) and Hamriyah Free Zone (HFZ) are two important economic trade zones.
Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) - CEO is Marwan Al Sarkal
Emirates Industrial City (EIC)

Education and educational institutes in Sharjah

Sharjah college directory
Sharjah nursery directory
Sharjah school directory - list of (mostly) private schools with international curriculums in Sharjah, with comments and ratings. For those wanting a western education in Sharjah, the top choices would be Sharjah English School (UK curriculum, but don't confuse it with Sharjah British School which is seen as less desirable by many), Victoria English School (UK curriculum), Victoria International School (Australian), American Community School Sharjah (US curriculum, not open until 2010 or 2011?). For Indian education, the most preferred are probably Delhi Public School in Sharjah, and maybe Sharjah Indian School (if it hasn't been shut down).
Sharjah university directory - American University of Sharjah, and Sharjah University in Sharjah University City are the two most well-known institutes.

Geography of Sharjah

The main part of the emirate of Sharjah lies between Dubai and Ajman on the Arabian Gulf coast. The Arabian Gulf is also called the Persian Gulf but it's impolite to say that in the UAE and other GCC countries, whereas it's impolite to call it the Arabian Gulf in Iran.
Kalba, Khorfakkan (Khor Fakkan), and Dibba are three regions and towns in the UAE that are politically part of the emirate of Sharjah, but physically located on the East Coast where the emirate of Fujairah is.
Other towns in the emirate of Sharjah include Al Dhaid (Daid),
Telephone area code for Sharjah city and surrounding emirate is 06, but for East Coast parts of Sharjah is 09 (same as for Fujairah).

History of Sharjah

1971 - The United Arab Emirates was formed with Sharjah as one of the first 6 emirates (Ras Al Khaimah joined in 1972).

Important and famous people in Sharjah

People in Sharjah

Infrastructure in Sharjah

Driving from Dubai to Sharjah, it is quite noticeable that Sharjah roads and infrastructure in general is some way behind that of Dubai.
Sharjah post offices - a list

Petrol shortages in Sharjah

From about May 2011, many petrol stations stopped supplying petrol in Sharjah and the Northern Emirates. Petrol stations affected might or might not be EMARAT, ENOC, EPPCO. Apparently due to something called "technical upgrades" but as the press repeatedly pointed out, there did not appear to be any sort of upgrades in progress.
Rumours were that the petrol station companies had stopped supplying petrol because they no longer wanted to subsidise the cost (petrol out of the pump is cheaper than the production costs due to government regulated price). Media could not get any official comment from the gas companies.
However, ADNOC petrol stations continued to supply petrol (but of course there were long queues of cars waiting to be filled up). There were reports that ADNOC would take over the operation of the other petrol stations but those reports were not officially confirmed.

Power cuts in Sharjah

Sharjah is earning an undesirable reputation for crippling power cuts in the summer (since about 2007 or 2008), due apparently to poor electricity supply infrastructure, or bugs in the system, or something else depending on who you listen to.
Whatever the talk, residents, particularly in the industrial areas, suffer long periods without electricity in the summer months, when air-conditioning is most needed.
Areas affected might include Abu Shagara, Al Majarah, Al Nahda, Al Qasimia, Al Rolla, Al Wahda, Industrial Areas.
Visitors and new residents who think that it is possible to make do without a/c in the UAE should think again. Find a sauna somewhere and sit in it for 12 hours or more while trying to do what you'd normally do during that period. Then you'll have some idea of how uncomfortable it is in Sharjah without power. If you think we're joking about using a sauna as a test, well, wait until after a power cut and then let us know if you still think we were trying to be funny.
The irony is that UAE newspapers regularly carry pictures of areas in Sharjah with streetlights on during the day, and other obvious electricity wastage while some areas suffer from power cuts.
Attempting to contact the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) seems to be a mostly fruitless exercise based on reports and anecdotal stories from suffering residents.
Probably the most practical solution is to live in a different emirate in the first place, or try to find out which areas are free of power cuts before choosing a place, or at least buy a generator before the summer when they're still available.
One rumour doing the expat gossip circuit is that Sharjah wants to clear out the Industrial Areas and use them for other activities. Given the political structure existing in the UAE, that seems an unlikely explanation - if the government and rulers want to do something, generally they can and will simply go ahead and do it.

Landmarks in Sharjah

Living in Sharjah

Politics and government in Sharjah

Politics in Sharjah

Population and demographics in Sharjah

Population of Sharjah

Religion in Sharjah

Shopping in Sharjah

Sharjah shopping mall directory - list of shopping centers in Sharjah. The three big (gish) ones worth a visit are:
- Sharjah Mega Mall - several levels with a good range of shops
- Sharjah City Center - not as big as it sounds but it has a Carrefour
- Sahara Center - good range of shops and children's play area, decent food court, and a Spinneys supermarket
For better value shops and a large supermarket, try the Sharjah Safeer Mall on Al Ittihad Road. It has an impressive children's entertainment area with roller coaster on the top floor.
Sharjah does not sell any Haram products, for example pork and alcohol

Tourism in Sharjah

Arabian Wildlife Center - see also Sharjah Natural History Museum (same location). Opening times Saturday 1100-1730, Sunday-Thursday (closed Tuesday) 0900-1730, Friday 1400-1730. Entry prices AED 15 adults, AED 5 children aged 12-15, free for kids < 12 years old. Tel +971-6-5311212 or +971-6-5311999, website www.breedingcentresharjah.com.
Blue Souk, or The Central Market - distinctive shopping center next to the Khalid Lagoon in Al Majaz area with blue tiled roof and 500+ shops. Built in 1979. Some traditional items and antiques for sale, lots of carpets, and otherwise fairly ordinary. But attracts tourists wanting to take a photo. Imagine Karama in Dubai with a pretty roof and you'll get the idea. Opening times 0900-1300 and 1600-2300 Saturday-Thursday, 0900-1200 and 1600-2300 Fridays. Tel +971-6-5623333 (Sharjah Municipality).
Hotels in Sharjah - note that none of the Sharjah hotels have bars or restaurants that serve alcohol, nor can you get any from room service. Duty-free alcohol is available at Sharjah Airport but keep it discreet if you bring it to a hotel.
See also Activities, Events, Entertainment in Sharjah heading

Transport in Sharjah

Travel - Getting to and from Sharjah

Sharjah by air

Air Arabia - Sharjah based budget airline, and list of Air Arabia destination cities
Sharjah International Airport

Weather and climate in Sharjah

Spring - hot
Summer - welcome to the sauna, very hot and humid, especially when SEWA cuts your electricity which is common in Sharjah.
Autumn - hot
Winter - pleasant during the day but can be surprisingly cool at night

Last update Friday 16-Sep-2011. Page development 1H 2T 3D 4L 5C.

Sharjah guide - start here for everything you want to know

List of emirates in UAE

Related websites (new window)

Sharjah directory - add your link free

www.dubaifaqs.com/sharjah.php

Abu Dhabi AUH ABD ADB, Ajman AJM, Al Ain AAN, Dubai DXB, Fujairah FUJ, Ras Al Khaimah RAK, Sharjah SHJ, Umm Al Quwain UAQ information guide

Sharjah addthis_pub = 'dubaifaqs';