Sharjah Alive: March 2012

Tuesday 20 March 2012

MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show (27th - 31st March 2012)

The MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show will be held in the Sharjah Expo Centre from 27th to 31st March 2012.

Thursday 15 March 2012

Sharjah Art Foundation Free Events

The Sharjah Art Foundation has arranged a number of free events (including free shuttle bus transport from various locations in Dubai) .... further details can be found on their web site at http://www.sharjahart.org/

Wednesday 14 March 2012

Middle East Motor Tuning Show (15th - 17th March 2012)

The Middle East Tuning Show (the premier exhibition showcasing car customisation, and including two drifting arenas) will be held in the Sharjah Expo Centre from 15th to 17th March 2012 - more details under www.memts.com

Saturday 10 March 2012

The Perfect Wedding Show (7th - 10th March 2012 )

Held in two halls of the Sharjah Expo Centre (next to the Al Tawuum Mall) from the 7th through to the 10th March 2012 inclusive, the Perfect Wedding Show includes a superb selection of stands and booths with everything that a bride- (and groom-) to-be will need to plan their wedding day.

Welcome to Sharjah Alive !!

Sharjah is the third largest of the seven United Arab Emirates (or States) and covers an area of 2,590 square kilometers (1,003 square miles) with a population of over 890,000 (2008). The Federation was formed on 2nd December 1971 and comprises the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. The President is His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan who is also the ruler of the Emirates’ capital, Abu Dhabi.

Sharjah is the only Emirate to have land on both the Persian Gulf (west coast) and the Gulf of Oman (east coast). The Emirate of Sharjah comprises the city of Sharjah (the seat of the Emirate), and other minor towns and enclaves such as Kalba, Dibba Al-Hisn and Khor Fakkan. The Emirate of Sharjah is also the Cultural Capital of the U.A.E.

The city of Sharjah, which overlooks the Persian Gulf, has a population of 519,000 (2003). It contains the main administrative and commercial centres together with an especially impressive array of cultural and traditional projects, including several museums. Distinctive landmarks are the two major covered souks, reflecting Islamic design; a number of recreational areas and public parks such as Al Jazeirah Fun Park and Al Buheirah Corniche. The city is also notable for its numerous elegant mosques.

Sharjah borders Dubai to its south and Ajman to its north. These three urban areas have now expanded up to each others' borders, so that as you drive from Dubai into Sharjah and on to Ajman, if it were not for the road signs, you would never notice that you had left one Emirate and entered another. Sharjah is about 170 kilometers north of the U.A.E. capital city, Abu Dhabi.

Sharjah is the only Emirate in which the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol is banned. It also maintains the strictest decency laws in the UAE, introduced in 2001, with a conservative dress code required for both men and women. Mixing between unmarried men and women is illegal under Sharia law.

So, enough of the background information (if you are interested, there is more available on Wikipedia) .... and I hope that you enjoy reading about some of the recent events and activities in Sharjah that I attended. I will update this blog as frequently as possible with items on the sights and attractions plus restaurant reviews in Sharjah, in the hope that this will inspire and encourage you to make a visit to this fascinating Emirate.

Please click on any of the photographs to view a larger version of them.