Sharjah (city)
Encyclopedia
Sharjah ' onMouseout='HidePop("84764")' href="/topics/English_language">English
) (Urdu:شارجہ) is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates
. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf
on the Arabian Peninsula
.
Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah. Sharjah shares legal, political, military
and economic functions with the other emirates within a federal
framework, although each emirate has jurisdiction over some functions such as civil law
enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Sharjah has been ruled by the Al Qasimi
dynasty since the 18th century.
The city is a centre for culture
and industry
, and alone contributes to 7.4% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates
. The city covers an approximate area of 235 km² and has a population of over 800,000 (2008).
Sultan Al Omaimi, a UAE poet and researcher in folk
literature
, says that some historians speculate that Sharjah was the name of an idol worshipped in the pre-Islamic era which was known as Abed Al Shareq. It also had a feminine form called Al Shareqa.
Another theory finds that the word Sharqah comes from a fort in Andalusia as mentioned in the encyclopaedic book, "Kitab mu'jam al-buldan" written by the Muslim scholar Yaqut Al Hamawi.
Other researchers link the word Sharqah to the fact that the city is located to the Sharq, or east, of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Hence the Arabic classical form of Sharjah is Al Shareqah. It is the colloquial form that is Al Sharjah.
1727 declaring Sharjah independent. On 8 January 1820, Sheikh Sultan I signed the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like four of its neighbours, Ajman
, Dubai
, Ras al-Khaimah
, and Umm al-Qaiwain, its position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state
(be it of the lowest class: 3 guns). On 2 December 1971, Sheikh Khalid III joined the United Arab Emirates.
Like the other former Trucial States
, Sharjah's name is known by many stamp collectors
because of the large numbers of stamps that were issued by the Sharjah Post Office
shortly before the formation of the United Arab Emirates. Many of these items feature subjects unrelated to the emirates whose names they bear, and therefore many popular catalogues do not list them.
and Abu Dhabi) in the United Arab Emirates. The palace of the ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah (Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi
) is located about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) southeast of the city.
The city of Sharjah overlooks the Persian Gulf
and has a population of over 800,000 (2008). It contains the main administrative and commercial centers together with an array of cultural and traditional projects, including several museums covering areas such as archaeology, natural history, science, arts, heritage, islamic art and culture. Distinctive landmarks include two major covered souk
s, reflecting Islamic design, and 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 mosque
s. The Emirate of Sharjah is also known to be the Cultural Capital of the UAE with its rich legacy of arts, heritage and culture.
After the construction boom that took place in Dubai in 2005, towering skyscrapers and modern buildings were constructed in areas like Al Khan and Khaled Lagoon. These modern tall buildings and the subsequent increase in population coupled with poor infrastructure made Sharjah suffer from traffic jams. This was also due to its location between the northeastern emirates and Dubai. Many Sharjah residents travel 15 kilometers to visit Dubai on the weekend. Sharjah is bordered by the cities of Dubai
and Ajmān
and is about 170 kilometers away from the capital city Abu Dhabi
.
.
Sharjah city is famous for a used vehicle market located in Abu Shagara area ,which is claimed to be the biggest in the Middle East region.
Sharjah is the headquarters of Air Arabia, the first low cost airline in the Middle East, which operates to the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
, the American University of Sharjah
, Troy University
– ITS Sharjah Campus, Skyline College Sharjah
, Sharjah Men's College, and Sharjah Women's College some of those universities are grouped in one place called the University City.
Sharjah University is known to be one of the best universities in the emirates and the Middle East.
The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium
has hosted almost 200 cricket
One Day Internationals, more than any other ground, and 4 Test matches
. Football clubs include Al Sharjah and Al-Shaab in the First League, and Al Hemriah, Al The-aed , Al Khaleej and Dibba in the 2nd league.
Since 2003, there have been no major international matches at Sharjah, although the stadium has been the venue for certain other matches, such as the 2004 ICC Intercontinental Cup. The use of the venue has declined as the new 20,000 seat Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium
in Abu Dhabi has become the preferred venue for cricket in the UAE.
Also, the organisers of Sharjah Grand Prix host the Formula One World Powerboating Championships every year at Al Buhaira Corniche, Sharjah. In 2005, it was held under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) (Urdu:شارجہ) is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
on the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
.
Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah. Sharjah shares legal, political, military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
and economic functions with the other emirates within a federal
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
framework, although each emirate has jurisdiction over some functions such as civil law
Civil law
Civil law may refer to:* Civil law , a branch of continental law which is the general part of private law* Civil law , a branch of common law dealing with relations between individuals or organizations...
enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Sharjah has been ruled by the Al Qasimi
Al Qasimi
Al Qasimi is a deeply-rooted Adnani Arabian tribe known for its rich history, bravery and conquests. The Al Qasimi dynasty are from the Ashraaf; they trace their ancesty from Imam Ali. Today, two branches of the Al Qasimi tribe rule the Emirates of Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab...
dynasty since the 18th century.
The city is a centre for culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
and industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
, and alone contributes to 7.4% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. The city covers an approximate area of 235 km² and has a population of over 800,000 (2008).
Etymology
Many researchers have supposed that the word Sharqah, to which Sharjah owes its origins, comes from light. The terrain is so flat that the sun shines evenly on the land.Sultan Al Omaimi, a UAE poet and researcher in folk
Folk
The English word Folk is derived from a Germanic noun, *fulka meaning "people" or "army"...
literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, says that some historians speculate that Sharjah was the name of an idol worshipped in the pre-Islamic era which was known as Abed Al Shareq. It also had a feminine form called Al Shareqa.
Another theory finds that the word Sharqah comes from a fort in Andalusia as mentioned in the encyclopaedic book, "Kitab mu'jam al-buldan" written by the Muslim scholar Yaqut Al Hamawi.
Other researchers link the word Sharqah to the fact that the city is located to the Sharq, or east, of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Hence the Arabic classical form of Sharjah is Al Shareqah. It is the colloquial form that is Al Sharjah.
History
Historically, Sharjah was one of the wealthiest towns in this region with a settlement in existence for over 5000 years. In the early 18th century, the Qawasim clan (Huwayla tribe) established itself in Sharjah, c.Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1727 declaring Sharjah independent. On 8 January 1820, Sheikh Sultan I signed the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like four of its neighbours, Ajman
Ajman
Ajman , also spelt Ujman, is one of the seven emirates constituting the United Arab Emirates . With an area of just 260 square kilometres , Ajman is the smallest emirate by area...
, Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, Ras al-Khaimah
Ras al-Khaimah
Ras al-Khaimah is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates , in the east of the Persian Gulf. It is in the northern part of the UAE bordering Oman's exclave. The capital city and home of most residents is also called Ras al-Khaimah. The city has a population of 263,217 as of 2008. The city...
, and Umm al-Qaiwain, its position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state
Salute state
A Salute state was a princely state in India during the time of British rule which had been granted a gun salute by the British Crown ; i.e., the protocollary privilege for its ruler to be greeted - originally by Royal Navy ships, later also on land - with a number of gun shots, as recognition of...
(be it of the lowest class: 3 guns). On 2 December 1971, Sheikh Khalid III joined the United Arab Emirates.
Like the other former Trucial States
History of the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates was formed from the group of tribally organised Arabian Peninsula sheikhdoms along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman.-Advent of Islam:...
, Sharjah's name is known by many stamp collectors
Stamp collecting
Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects. It is one of the world's most popular hobbies, with the number of collectors in the United States alone estimated to be over 20 million.- Collecting :...
because of the large numbers of stamps that were issued by the Sharjah Post Office
Postage stamps and postal history of Sharjah
Civil mail from Sharjah went through the post office in Dubai until 1963. Military mail from the British Forces stationed in the area went through the RAF airport in Sharjah....
shortly before the formation of the United Arab Emirates. Many of these items feature subjects unrelated to the emirates whose names they bear, and therefore many popular catalogues do not list them.
Overview
Sharjah is the third largest city (after DubaiDubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
and Abu Dhabi) in the United Arab Emirates. The palace of the ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah (Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi
Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi
Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi III is a member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and current ruler of the Sharjah emirate...
) is located about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) southeast of the city.
The city of Sharjah overlooks the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and has a population of over 800,000 (2008). It contains the main administrative and commercial centers together with an array of cultural and traditional projects, including several museums covering areas such as archaeology, natural history, science, arts, heritage, islamic art and culture. Distinctive landmarks include two major covered souk
Souk
A souq is a commercial quarter in an Arab, Berber, and increasingly European city. The term is often used to designate the market in any Arabized or Muslim city, but in modern times it appears in Western cities too...
s, reflecting Islamic design, and 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 mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s. The Emirate of Sharjah is also known to be the Cultural Capital of the UAE with its rich legacy of arts, heritage and culture.
After the construction boom that took place in Dubai in 2005, towering skyscrapers and modern buildings were constructed in areas like Al Khan and Khaled Lagoon. These modern tall buildings and the subsequent increase in population coupled with poor infrastructure made Sharjah suffer from traffic jams. This was also due to its location between the northeastern emirates and Dubai. Many Sharjah residents travel 15 kilometers to visit Dubai on the weekend. Sharjah is bordered by the cities of Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
and Ajmān
Ajman (city)
Ajman is the capital of the emirate of Ajman located along the Persian Gulf.-Population:The city has a population of 225,000...
and is about 170 kilometers away from the capital city Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
.
Economy
The headquarters is in the Sharjah Freight Center, on the property of Sharjah International AirportSharjah International Airport
Sharjah International Airport is located in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.Sharjah Airport is the second largest Middle East Airfreight Hub in terms of cargo tonnage, according to official 2009 statistics from Airports Council International...
.
Sharjah city is famous for a used vehicle market located in Abu Shagara area ,which is claimed to be the biggest in the Middle East region.
Sharjah is the headquarters of Air Arabia, the first low cost airline in the Middle East, which operates to the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
Tourism
Al Qasba (renamed from Qanat Al Qasba, QAQ, in March 2008) is a small art, culture, leisure, and tourist area in Sharjah with the "Eye of the Emirates", the giant wheel offering aerial view of the emirate's corniche, lagoons and landscape as well as the horizons of the neighbouring Dubai, the boat ride offering a panoramic view of the walkways, bridges and some of the cultural attractions and modern skyscrapers of the emirate and Al Qasba Musical Fountain shows appeal to one and all with its dancing to the beat theme.Education
There are several public and private schools in addition to universities in Sharjah, including the University of SharjahUniversity of Sharjah
The University of Sharjah is a semi-governmental higher educational institution. Its founder, Supreme President and Chairman is the Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi himself. Founded 1997, the University of Sharjah aims to meet the Emirate of Sharjah's educational and...
, the American University of Sharjah
American University of Sharjah
American University of Sharjah is an independent, not-for-profit coeducational higher educational institution in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, founded in 1997 by Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah...
, Troy University
Troy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
– ITS Sharjah Campus, Skyline College Sharjah
Skyline College Sharjah
Skyline University College Sharjah is an educational organization, owned by Kamal Puri. It is located in University City of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates....
, Sharjah Men's College, and Sharjah Women's College some of those universities are grouped in one place called the University City.
Sharjah University is known to be one of the best universities in the emirates and the Middle East.
Sports
Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium
The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium is in the emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. It was originally constructed in the early 1980s and has been much improved over the years...
has hosted almost 200 cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
One Day Internationals, more than any other ground, and 4 Test matches
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
. Football clubs include Al Sharjah and Al-Shaab in the First League, and Al Hemriah, Al The-aed , Al Khaleej and Dibba in the 2nd league.
Since 2003, there have been no major international matches at Sharjah, although the stadium has been the venue for certain other matches, such as the 2004 ICC Intercontinental Cup. The use of the venue has declined as the new 20,000 seat Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium
The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi Arabic ملعب الكريكيت الشيخ زايد cost $22 million to build and is arguably one of the world's finest cricket grounds...
in Abu Dhabi has become the preferred venue for cricket in the UAE.
Also, the organisers of Sharjah Grand Prix host the Formula One World Powerboating Championships every year at Al Buhaira Corniche, Sharjah. In 2005, it was held under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.