A PICTORIAL TOUR

DUBAI

Introduction by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum

SHARJAH
A PICTORIAL TOUR

Published with the support

and encouragement of
SHARJAH
A PICTORIAL TOUR
Published by Motivate Publishing

Dubai: PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE

Tel: (+971) 4 282 4060, fax: (+971) 4 282 7593
INTRODUCTION
e-mail: books@motivate.ae www.booksarabia.com

Office 508, Building No 8, Dubai Media City, Dubai, UAE The Sharjah we see today – its spectacular architecture, commitment to culture,
Tel: (+971) 4 390 3550, fax: (+971) 4 390 4845 education and the way it has embraced the 21st century without detriment to a
long heritage – is a glowing testament to the wise leadership and vision of His
Abu Dhabi: PO Box 43072, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: (+971) 2 627 1666, fax: (+971) 2 627 1566 Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, who has worked tirelessly
during the past few years to make the emirate vibrant and glorious. It is the
London: Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER Islamic architecture that makes the emirate so unique and gives Shajah its charm
e-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae
and character.
Researched and written by Pippa Sanderson The United Arab Emirates, which was founded in 1971, is composed of seven
emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ra’s al-Khaimah, Umm al-Qaiwain
Directors: Obaid Humaid Al Tayer and Ajman. The UAE is located in a strategic
Ian Fairservice
position at the centre of three of the world’s
Senior Editor: David Steele fastest-growing regions – the Middle East,
Editor: Pippa Sanderson Africa and the Indian subcontinent – with
Deputy Editor: Jennifer Evans access to an emerging market of more than
Assistant Editor: Zelda Pinto
Senior Designer: Andrea Willmore a billion people.
Designer: Chitt Francisco Sharjah, the country’s third-largest
Book Publishing Manager: Jeremy Brinton emirate, has witnessed rapid development
in the past 40 years, largely made possible
© Motivate Publishing 2006 by the discovery of oil and, more recently,
gas. The huge revenues accrued from our
natural resources have been invested in
a range of ventures, including a world-
class airport, ports, overall infrastructure
and the preservation of our national
heritage, to name but a few.
While Sharjah’s history can be
traced back 6,000 years or more, we
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or
storing in any medium by electronic means) without the written permission of the copyright holder. Applications
have witnessed more change in the past four decades than in the whole of the
for the copyright holder’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the preceding six millennia, yet our traditions and culture still play vital parts in our
publishers. In accordance with the International Copyright Act 1956 and the UAE Federal Copyright Law No 40 of everyday lives. Justifiably proud of our Arabian heritage, we have proactively
1992, any person acting in contravention of this will be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
pursued a vision to restore or recreate our finest heritage districts and their
ISBN: 1 86063 169 X traditional buildings, and display within them our rich history, culture and
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. customs. These endeavours have received international acclaim and, in 1998,
we were chosen by Unesco as the first Cultural Capital of the Arab World.
Printed by Rashid Printers & Stationers LLC, Ajman, UAE.

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 This commitment to the preservation of our heritage has also extended to the
hosting of numerous fine-arts events such as the Sharjah International Biennial of
Contemporary Art, and the improvement of the city’s educational infrastructure, which
began more than a century ago in 1903, when the emirate opened the first school in
the country, based on traditional Islamic methods.
The first modern school was opened in Sharjah in 1953 and was followed by a
school for girls in the late 1960s. Sharjah has since become one of the most important
learning centres in the Middle East, a result of Dr Sheikh Sultan’s vision and dedication
to education and culture. To continue and reinforce this pioneering status, we
established University City in the late 1990s, a seven-college campus of awe-inspiring
architectural splendour, affiliated with several well-known universities in the United
States and Britain.
At the head of University City is the American University of Sharjah and, lining
either side of the central avenue, is the University of Sharjah, the Higher Colleges of
Technology, Sharjah Police Academy, Sharjah Institute of Technology, the College of
Fine Arts and the Medical College. The buildings housing the American University of
Sharjah and University of Sharjah are particularly impressive and feature classic Islamic
architecture, which forms a portrait of the city of Sharjah.
Khaled Lagoon is Sharjah’s centrepiece and a stroll along its corniche at sunset will
offer a glimpse into our culture and traditions. The lagoon, along with its neighbour,
Al Khan Creek, features significantly in this book for the simple fact that these two
waterways, now linked by the Qasba Canal at the centre of a major heritage-themed
development project, featured significantly in our past. Qanat al-Qasba is the place
where families from all nationalities experience Arab traditions and understand the
cultural heritage, which is rich in creativity and craftsmanship. Qanat al-Qasba houses
a number of restaurants, coffee shops and waterfront terraces, an international
circus, a theatre and a cinema, as well as 'The Eye of the Emirates', an air-conditioned
observation wheel offering unrivalled views of Sharjah and beyond to Dubai. Shops
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offer a variety of items in a beautiful, souk-like atmosphere. In winter, the talented
craftsmen and artisans practice their arts and crafts while selling their goods.
The emirate enjoys a unique advantage over its peers, in that it has seaports on both
the west and east coasts of the UAE. We capitalised on this logistical advantage by
creating the ‘Sharjah Link’ – connecting the deep-water container port at Khor Fakkan on
the East Coast, Hamriyah and Khaled ports on the West Coast and Sharjah International
Airport, by a modern highway.
Although petroleum and gas still remain Sharjah’s primary economic resources,
tourism, guided by Islamic principles, is now playing an ever-increasing role in our
long-term future and we have embarked on several projects to further encourage
this growth, with the construction of an additional three world-class shopping malls,
in addition to the existing malls and nine souks. The souks are little gems that reveal
their splendour to anyone passing by.
Of course, this is not the whole picture. Sharjah relies on many other important and
diverse commercial enterprises to generate revenue, playing host to several companies
from the chemical, metal, toiletry and food and beverage industries, in addition to
the construction industry and, perhaps surprisingly, agriculture, which has developed
rapidly with heavy investment in salt-tolerant flora and water for irrigation in the
emirate’s desert areas.
Yet, what makes the success of Sharjah all the more remarkable is the fact that
the dictates and pressures of the rapidly evolving 21st century have not affected or
compromised our rich heritage, values and traditions.
Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi
Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah
 A satellite view of Sharjah and its
suburbs, which shows in vivid
detail the city grid and complex
network of roads. From right to
left, Sharjah's Khaled Lagoon and
Al Khan Creek; and Dubai's Al
Mamzar lagoons. (Courtesy
MAPSgeosystems)

MAPSgeosystems
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 Above: Archaeological excavations near Mleiha, between Dhaid and Madam,
have revealed the sites of a number of ancient settlements.

Right: Human habitation in Sharjah can be traced back some 6,000 years.
The small community, which was believed to have been called Sarcoa,
concentrated on farming and hunting, and coastal fishing and pearling, as
principal sources of food and trade. In the more combative times of the past,
their livelihoods – and safety and security – had to be guarded fiercely.

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 Above: Hospitality runs deep in Arabian culture and nowhere is this more
evident than in the drinking of coffee from a traditional coffee pot, or dalla.

Left: The dhow on the shore in the still of an Arabian night is an evocative,
timeless sight. It's only the modern street lighting and motorcar that identify
the scene as coming from contemporary times.

Previous spread: The UAE military band in full swing provides strident enter­
tainment for the crowd during the Sharjah Heritage Days festival. A colourful,
vibrant sight, traditional bagpipes add to a heady mix of brass and drum.

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 Falconry is an integral part of desert traditions and was originally developed
for the practical reason of supplementing a diet of milk, bread and dates with
meat. Both saker and peregrine falcons were employed, with an occasional
lanner falcon thrown into the mix. Their principal quarry was the houbara
bustard and stone curlew. Nowadays, falconry is a popular sport.
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The performance of traditional dancing presents a vibrant sight. There are
some 10 different genres with distinct identities; the most popular being the
ayyalah and liwa. The liwa originates from East Africa and includes the blow­
ing of a long flute-like instument called a mizmar, which is accompanied by
the rapid beat of several drums, such as the shindo, jasser and jabwah.
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Three small boats in the still
waters of Al Khan Creek bask
in the rays of a stunning sunset,
with the central business district
of Sharjah in the distance.

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 The small dhow yard on Al Khan
Creek builds and repairs wooden
dhows, and the skilled craftsmen
continue to use the same
tradi­tional tools of the trade,
including the hammer, saw and
adze, to secure the planks of
wood to the keel before attaching
the ribs to the inside of the hull.
Maritime trade, fishing and pearl-
diving were principal industries in
old Sharjah. As a consequence,
dhow building and re-fitting were
fundamental occupations, as
fishermen, pearl-divers and
merchants plied the warm Gulf
waters to fish or dive for a rich
selection of edible marine life or
pearls, or to sail further afield to
trade with foreign nations.

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