Facts About Sharjah You May Hear for First Time

Sharjah : 6 September 2018

Sharjah may not be as famous as Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, but there are many interesting facts and information that you may like to know about the Emirate.

Sharjah is the third most populous Emirate in the UAE and forms part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area along the southern coast of the Arabian Gulf.

Sharjah shares legal, political, military and economic functions with the other Emirates within the UAE’s federal framework. However, each Emirate has its own jurisdiction over certain authorities, such as civil law enforcement, the provision and maintenance of public utilities.

There are a lot of interesting things to know about Sharjah and its history, which we have brought together for you in this article, but we’re sure you’ll also have the curiosity to search for more.

Sharjah has been ruled by one family since the 17th century

The Ruler of Sharjah is His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, who came to power on January 25, 1972. He’s the 18th Ruler of Sharjah in the chain of Qawasim rulers who date back to 1600 CE.

Sharjah shares its borders with all the other Emirates

Sharjah is the only Emirate that has common borders with all other Emirates in the UAE. It is also the only Emirate with beaches on both sides of the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, so Sharjah is an excellent choice for living and accommodation in the UAE.

Sharjah is the capital of Arab culture

In 1998, Sharjah was chosen as the capital of Arab culture by UNESCO for its efforts in promoting and celebrating Arab culture, together with encouraging cooperation in the Arab region.

Sharjah is home to nearly a quarter of all UAE’s museums and is also the host for many prestigious events, such as the Sharjah Biennial and the Sharjah International Book Fair.

In 2014, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) listed Sharjah as the Capital of Islamic Culture thanks to its contribution to local, Islamic and Arabic cultures. In 2015, Sharjah was selected as the capital of Arab tourism.

Sharjah has a history of more than six thousand years

The history of Sharjah dates back some six millenia. The Emirate’s presence was documented early in the second century BCE in a map drawn by the Greek geographer Ptolemy.

The earliest evidence of human life in the UAE was discovered on Sharjah’s Jebel Faya, which dates back to around 8,500 BCE.

Sharjah is the cradle of modernism

Sharjah was the first place to establish an airport in the Gulf region, at Al Mahatta.

The earliest school, library and municipality were all established in Sharjah, which was also the first among the UAE seven Emirates to give women the right of education in 1942.

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