(Abu Dhabi) – Under the directives of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, has embarked on a major project to develop Heart of Sharjah as part of its efforts to protect the emirate’s valuable cultural heritage.
Scheduled for completion in 2025, the 15-year restoration project is the first of its kind in Sharjah and the largest heritage project in the region. It aims to restore and revitalise the traditional areas of Sharjah to create a tourist and trade destination with contemporary artistic touches, yet ensure that it retains the feel of the 1950s to reflect what Sharjah was like over half a century ago. Destined to become a vibrant cultural destination, the new Heart of Sharjah will feature hotels, restaurants, cafes, retail outlets, art galleries, traditional and contemporary markets, archeological sites, museums, play areas and commercial offices.
The story begins in a small region in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, where the first nucleus of Sharjah started to take shape. Now many centuries later, the ‘heart’ of Sharjah is still beating strongly, with the sounds of traditional traders and workers still emanating from every corner of the emirate’s old areas.
A visit to Heart of Sharjah is a journey through history, with its souqs, forts and traditional buildings that feature authentic architectural styles all representing the emirate’s unique character. An excursion to the Heart of Sharjah is a trip to the glorious past, a past that has shaped the Sharjah of today.
Heart of Sharjah is a destination rich in evocative memories and stirring tales of its founding fathers. Its traditional buildings and facilities are part of the emirate’s authentic history and its priceless social, cultural and political lifestyle. Heart of Sharjah is home to treasures and artworks left by the UAE’s ancestors to remain as iconic monuments and to stand as testimony of the emirate’s incredible cultural legacy.
(Courtesy WAM)
