Sharjah Alive: April 2012

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

Sharjah Heritage Days Festival (4th - 20th April 2012)

The Sharjah Heritage Days Festival ....

.... begins today (4th April 2012) and runs until the 20th April ....

.... with lots to see and do, both for young kids ....

.... and old kids too !!

An old (ca. 1920) Noba plate camera from Mexico !!

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.

Sharjah Alive

Sunday, 15 April 2012

King Mufasa advises Simba

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

Sharjah Heritage Days Festival (4th - 20th April 2012)