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A S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E N E W Y O R K T I M E S M A G A Z I N E

This supplement has been produced and sponsored by Summit Communications. It did not involve the reporting or editing staff of The New York Times.

Within the United ArabEmirates, and for thatmatter, within the de-

veloping economies of the world,the Emirate of Sharjah hasmapped a path of developmentthat is a distinguished and re-markable departure from thenorm. Under the guiding vision ofleader H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan binMohammed Al-Qasimi, the emi-rate has placed an emphasis onsocial development that is nowconverting Sharjah into the shin-ing cultural, artistic and educa-tional Mecca of the Arab world.

Sharjah is not only establish-ing a name for itself that is draw-ing larger numbers of visitors eachyear, but also presenting a suc-cessful alternative model for de-velopment. Its efforts additionallyhave greater implications for theworld at large, opening a door tothe Arab world, its rich culture andtraditions, and hanging a wel-come sign beside it.

“We are not promoting culture for theeconomy but for good and understand-ing,” states H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan. “I wouldnever bring tourists just for business. It isfor people to understand us and vice ver-sa. We like peace, which makes peoplecome together. We should first come to-gether, understand each other and peace

will come. This is my main goal.”Today Sharjah hosts more than 1,000

cultural events per year, many of whichare internationally renowned. It has builtinfrastructure for exhibitions, tourism andthe arts. It has invested in libraries and uni-versities, creating an international Uni-versity City that draws students from all

over the world and which hous-es the most prestigious universi-ty in the Gulf. It has alsoconstructed museums – current-ly 27 and counting. H.H. SheikhDr. Sultan says that the emirate’semphasis on education and cul-ture is not new, pointing out thatSharjah’s history as a trading towndeveloped its openness to othercultures a long time ago. Sharjahwas also the first emirate in theUAE to upgrade its schools andestablish a network of culturalcenters.

A central element in Sharjah’scultural expansion has been thedesire to retain traditional valuesand preserve its heritage. H.H.Sheikh Dr. Sultan says, “Besidesshowing visitors our museums,the main goal we would like toachieve from their visit is for themto have a greater understandingof our culture and beliefs.” Con-sequently, throughout the emiratetraditional Arab architecture has

been maintained, while many of Sharjah’sevents and museums commemorate Arabhistory and art. Sharjah’s universities, fortheir part, offer extensive Islamic studies.These efforts to promote Arab culture andheritage were rewarded in 1998 when Un-esco aptly proclaimed the emirate the Cul-tural Capital of the Arab World. ■

A burgeoning hubof intellectual andcreative endeavor,propelled by theemirate’s non-stopefforts to promoteacademicadvancement andcultural affairs,Sharjah is utilizingits strategic positionto release its fullpotential as aquality tourism andleisure destination

PROMOTING THE CULTUREOF UNDERSTANDING

H.H. SHEIKH DR. SULTAN BIN MOHAMMED AL-QASIMIRuler of Sharjah

SharjahOne of seven emirates

forming the enterprisingUnited Arab Emirates

SHARJAH NYTmag 15pags.qxd 20/4/07 16:31 Página 1

Sharjah / 2 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Positioned at the cross-roads of Europe, Asia andAfrica, Sharjah is an an-cient land with a colorfulhistory dating back morethan 6,000 years. Thecountry is a collection ofcontrasting landscapes,from peaceful beaches andazure sea to low, undulat-ing dunes and the ruggedHajar Mountains. Though itcovers only 1,615 squaremiles, the Emirate of Shar-jah is a picture of socialand cultural largesse. It isknown for its talent in suc-cessfully blending modern-day prosperity with arespect for the ancient andthe preservation of the au-thentic. This passion for preserving

heritage stems from the vi-sion of Sharjah Ruler H.H.Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mo-hammed Al-Qasimi. It canbe seen in his devotion tothe intertwining history ofthe Arab people and theArabian horse. As a resultof his subsequent love andthe pride of the heritageand beauty of the Arabianhorse, Sheikh Al-Qasimibegan a breeding programat his stables more thantwenty years ago. The Al-Qasimi stables en-deavor to maintain the pu-rity of the original Arabianbreeds by retaining theirqualities rather than intro-ducing different lines forcommercial purposes. Ara-bian horses originate from

the desert of Arabia, andtheir careful selection andlineage was due to theBedouin, who distin-guished a horse as Ke-hailan (of pure Arabianblood) only when its lin-eage could be traced backwithout break to one of thefive mares that belonged toa particular Arabian sheikhin history. The Arabian horse is a re-fined, intelligent, high-spir-ited horse with outstandingstamina. Its distinctivechiseled head and high tailcarriage make it one of themost easily recognizablehorse breeds in the world.It is also one of the oldest,dating back some 4,500years.

THE PRESERVATION OF A PUREBRED HERITAGE

Sharjah-based Air Arabia is the first and onlylow-fares airline in the Middle East and NorthAfrica region, with a vision to be one of theworld’s leading and innovative budget airlines.

MUSEUMS Page 3

HIGHER EDUCATION Page 4

PORTS Page 6

BANKING Page 8

QANAT AL QASBA Page 11

TOURISM Page 12

The third largest of theseven emirates and lo-cated on the south-

eastern tip of the ArabianPeninsula, Sharjah is the on-ly emirate with ports on boththe Arabian Gulf and the Gulfof Oman. Its unique locationon world trade routes hasseen its development from asmall trading town relying onfishing and pearl diving intoone of the most modern anddynamic commercial centers,as well as tourist destina-tions, in the Gulf.

One of the first emiratesto develop tourism, Sharjahhas been a growing destina-tion in the Middle East since 1932 when in-ternational flights were operated out of itshistoric airport. Efforts by Ruler H.H. Sheikh Dr.Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi to boost thecultural offering of the emirate have resulted inits growing attraction as a cultural and artistichub while significant investment has also beenmade in upgrading tourism infrastructure innew resorts, hotels, shopping centers and en-

tertainment facilities. Shar-jah’s airport, which is alsomajor regional cargo hub, isnow undergoing massive ex-pansion that will enable it tohandle the emirate’s rapidlygrowing number of visitors.

Three ports have con-tributed significantly to Shar-jah’s growth as a majormaritime trading center, andits development of world-class free zones, SAIF-Zoneat the airport and HamriyahPort and Free Zone at Ham-riyah Port, are now activelysupporting this growth. PortKhaled and Hamriyah Port, lo-cated on the Arabian Gulf,

serve the markets of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iranas well as points overland further west. PortKhorfakkan on the Gulf of Oman, connected tothe UAE interior by a modern highway, opensthe door to markets in Africa and all pointseast. In total, the ports serve a potential mar-ket of more than a billion people.

Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of SharjahH.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan

Al Qasimi says that though the free zones aroseas a response to local business needs, their pop-ularity has increased rapidly with foreign com-panies as well. “We have seen significantgrowth in the free zones; they always comeback to us because they need more land forexpansion. They are doing very well, and soSharjah airport is also growing,” he comments.

Sharjah currently accounts for more than halfof the UAE’s industrial and manufacturing out-put. Crude oil and natural gas are its primaryresources, and consequently, the emirate has

A THRIVING NATION THATIS ALSO A MODERN ANDDYNAMIC COMMERCIAL CENTERThe well-connected emirate is not only the industrial and manufacturingheart of the UAE, but it is also experiencing a cultural tourism boom

H.H. SHEIKH SULTANBIN MOHAMMED BIN SULTAN

AL QASIMICrown Prince and Deputy

Ruler of Sharjah

a thriving chemical industries sub-sector. Am-ple gas supplies have been put to good use fu-eling the industrial sector in the emirate, whichis the only place in the Gulf with a natural gasgrid. Today, the public utilities company SEWAis implementing projects to substitute petrol fornatural gas in vehicles, and nearly 300 of thecompany’s own vehicles have been success-fully switched to date.

The nation’s main bet for its sustainableeconomic development, however, continuesto lie in education. Sheikh Al Qasimi explains,“If you raise a well-educated human being,who loves art and appreciates what is aroundthem, they will know how to live in harmonywith others. This is what we are working onand this is our long-term plan.” ■

For further information contact: SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS

1040 First Avenue, Suite 395, New York,NY 10022-2902

Tel: 1 (212) 286-0034Fax: 1 (212) 286-8376

E-mail: [email protected] online version is available at

www.summitreports.com/sharjah

SUMMITCOMMUNICATIONS TEAM

IN SHARJAH Project Management:

Daoud Assad and Veronica Landry

Refined, intelligent and high-spirited, the Arabian horse is one of theworld’s finest and oldest of breeds


3 / SharjahSPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SHARJAH’Sruler, H.H.Sheikh Dr. Sultan binMohammed Al-Qasi-mi, has been tireless inhis efforts to preserve

and promote the emirate as a cultural hub. Recog-nition of Sharjah’s unique offering came in 1998 whenUnesco named the emirate the Cultural Capital of theArab World. Sharjah enjoys a Gulf-wide reputationfor its artistic excellence thanks to its annual cultur-al and literary events. Efforts to maintain traditionalarchitecture, preserve heritage sites and promote Arabculture and art have been complemented by the cre-ation of many artistic centers and museums.

Today Sharjah boasts more than 25 museums,many of which have been constructed by Sheikh Al-Qasimi over the last decade. “His Highness pas-sionately believes in museums as an enriching partof life,” comments Sue Underwood, Director of theSharjah Museums Department. “To believe that if youmiss out on the cultural element, you lose, is very

rare. Often when coun-tries are developing, theyfocus entirely on the econ-omy but what you havehere is a focus on the so-cial, educational and cul-tural aspects as well – it’sa winning combination.”

Two main areas are devoted to the arts in Shar-jah City: the Arts Area in Al Shuwaiheen, home toart institutes and galleries in five restored buildings,and the Arabic Calligraphy Square in Al Sheyoukh.The Sharjah Institute of Theatrical Arts is nearby inthe district of Al Merraija. The Arts Area is home tothe Sharjah Art Institute, artist studios, the SharjahArt Museum, the largest gallery in the Middle East,and the Sharjah Museum for Contemporary ArabArt. Arabic Calligraphy Square, which is home to theMuseum for the Art of Arabic Calligraphy and Orna-mentation, is in the heart of the old city in the Her-itage Area. The square has been rebuilt with traditional

materials such as coral, gypsum, mangrove polesand palm leaves.

The Heritage Area, a restored district of the oldcity centered around Heritage Square, is the locationof museums such as the Sharjah Heritage Museum,a maritime museum and the Islamic Museum. It al-so boasts restored historical houses and the oldestmarket in the city, Souk Al Arsah. The buildings inthe area, which were former residences of promi-nent national families, are filled with regional artifactsand antiques.

“The museums have been developed becauseHis Highness wants to preserve and interpret the cul-ture here,” explains Ms. Underwood. “The Archae-ological Museum, for instance, not only helps tointerpret and display artifacts for the public but alsoaids research. Some of the collection is continuous-ly evolving because we are still collecting.”

The work of the Museums Department, accord-ing to Ms. Underwood, is now focused on three mainareas: the upgrading of existing museums, the train-ing of staff to promote sustainable development, andthe designing of a strategy so that Sharjah’s muse-ums may compete globally. Ms. Underwood says acuratorial training program has been established inwhich fresh university graduates are instructed byexperts or are sent abroad to study. The Museums

Department is also in talks with local universities toestablish postgraduate programs in museum man-agement or heritage studies.

Initiatives underway include a new Maritime Mu-seum and Aquarium that will showcase the impor-tance of the sea in Sharjah’s history, a new IslamicMuseum and a Sharjah Cultural Trail, complete witha monorail and tours in traditional boats that sail pastthe Millennium Hotel into the old city’s heritage andarts areas. ■

LIVING UP TO ITS NAME: CULTURAL CAPITAL OF THE ARAB WORLDFrom the Arts Area to the Heritage Area, Sharjah has noshortage of cultural zones. Extra special efforts areconsistently dedicated to building new museums andrestoring old ones for a constantly evolving artistic offer

Sharjah’s museumscover topics suchas archeology,science, naturalhistory andheritage.

SUE UNDERWOODDirector of SharjahMuseumsDepartment



THE UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH has become a prominentinstitution of higher education in the Gulf region with out-standing study programs and specializations. The Univer-sity consists of 13 colleges offering around 50 degreeprograms in graduate and undergraduate programs.

Undergraduate ProgramsCollege of Shari’a andIslamic Studies• Bachelor of Shari’a

and Foundations of Religion

• Bachelor of Jurisprudence and its Foundations

College of Artsand Sciences• Bachelor of Arts in

Arabic Language andLiterature

• Bachelor of Arts in English Language andLiterature

• Bachelor of Arts in History and Islamic Civilization

• Bachelor of Arts inSociology

• Bachelor of Science inComputer Science

• Bachelor of Science inChemistry

College of BusinessAdministration• Bachelor of Science in

Accounting

• Bachelor of Science inBusiness and PublicAdministration

• Bachelor of Science inInformation Management Systems

College of Engineering• Bachelor of Science in

Civil Engineering• Bachelor of Science in

Electrical Engineering• Bachelor of Science in

Computer Engineering• Bachelor of Architectur-

al Engineering• Bachelor of Science in

Industrial Engineeringand Management

College of HealthSciences• Bachelor of Science in

Medical LaboratoryTechnology

• Bachelor of Science inMedical DiagnosticImaging

• Bachelor of Science inNursing

• Bachelor of Science inHealth ServicesAdministration

• Bachelor of Science inPhysiotherapy

• Bachelor of Science inEnvironmental Health

• Bachelor of Science inClinical Nutrition

College of Law• Bachelor of Law

College of Fine Artsand Design• Bachelor of Arts in

Fashion Design• Bachelor of Arts in

Jewelry Design• Bachelor of Arts in

Interior Design• Bachelor of Arts in

Multimedia Design• Bachelor of Arts in

Fashion Design

College ofCommunication• Bachelor of Communica-

tion in Print Journalism• Bachelor of Communica-

tion in Broadcast Jour-nalism

• Bachelor of Communica-

tion in Public Relations• Bachelor of Communica-

tion in Visual MediaCollege of Medicine• Bachelor of Medicine

and Surgery

College of Dentistry• Bachelor of Dental

Surgery

College of Pharmacy• Bachelor of Pharmacy

Community College

College of Graduate Studies and Research• Offers Master’s degrees

in Jurisprudence and it’sFoundations; Founda-tions of Religion; ArabicLanguage and Litera-ture; Translation; Historyand Islamic Civiliazation;Computer Science; EMBA; Private Law;Public Law; Civil Engi-neering; Electrical andElectronics Engineering;and Communication

THE UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH

AMERICAN UNIVERSITYTHE AMERICAN UNIVER-SITY OF SHARJAH is theleading comprehensive co-educational university in theGulf, licensed in both theUS and the UAE and serv-ing students from all overthe world. It currently of-fers the following programsof study:

Undergraduate ProgramsCollege of Arts and Sciences• Bachelor of Arts in

English Language andLiterature

• Bachelor of Arts in International Studies

• Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication

• Bachelor of Science inChemistry

• Bachelor of Science inEnvironmental Sciences

School of Architectureand Design• Bachelor of Architecture• Bachelor of Interior

Design

• Bachelor of Science inDesign Management

• Bachelor of Science inMultimedia Design

• Bachelor of Science inVisual Communication

School of Businessand Management• Bachelor of Arts in

Economics• Bachelor of Arts in

Public Administration• Bachelor of Science in

Business Administration • Bachelor of Science in

Finance• Bachelor of Science in

Management Information Systems

School of Engineering• Bachelor of Science in

Chemical Engineering• Bachelor of Science in

Civil Engineering• Bachelor of Science in

Computer Engineering• Bachelor of Science in

Computer Science• Bachelor of Science in

Electrical Engineering• Bachelor of Science in

Mechanical Engineering

Graduate ProgramsCollege of Arts and Sciences• Master of Arts in

Teaching English toSpeakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

• Master of Arts in English/Arabic/EnglishTranslation and Interpreting

School of Architectureand Design• Master of Urban

Planning

School of Businessand Management• Master of Business

Administration• Master of Public

Administration• Gulf Executive Master

of Public Administration

School of Engineering• Master of Science in

Engineering SystemsManagement

• Master of Science inMechatronicsEngineering

Thanks to the foresight of Sharjah Ruler H.H.Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasi-mi, Sharjah has become one of the most

important learning centers in the Middle East. Avisit to the emirate’s impressive University Cityreveals the inspiring vision behind this achieve-ment. Lying to the east of the city of Sharjah, thesprawling University City is graced with statelybuildings, green areas and tranquil pools andfountains and is comprised of the Uni-versity of Sharjah (UoS), the Amer-ican University of Sharjah (AUS),the Higher Colleges of Technology,Sharjah Police Academy, the Shar-jah Institute of Technology and theSharjah Library. At the heart of theemirate’s unique educational offer liesa complete range of traditional aca-demic degrees as well as an opendoor into the rich world of Islamicand Arabic studies.

“For over five decades, Sharjahhas been famous for its investmentin education as the key to develop-ment and progress. The first schoolwas established in the 1950s andserved as a center of knowledge fora select group of UAE nationals whowould later become prominent fig-ures in their communities. By themid-1970s, the number of schoolshad quadrupled in Sharjah, and bythe mid-1990s, the emirate wasstepping into a new era of educa-tional enlightenment,” commentsChancellor of the University of Sharjah, Dr. Is-mail M. Al-Bishri.

He points out that it was in 1997 that the firsttwo universities were launched in Sharjah: UoSand AUS, ushering in a new phase of educationaldevelopment in the UAE. According to Dr. Al-Bishri, the emirate’s focus on education stemsprimarily from the visionary leadership of H.H.Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi,who has always emphasized education as thekey to success in modern times, and who hasspared no effort in working to ensure that aca-

demic performance matches international stan-dards.

With a wide variety of programs that respondto the UAE’s growing market needs, UoS is com-mitted to ethical and civic responsibilities in ac-cordance with Islamic teachings and universalhumanistic commitment to a supportive mod-ern learning environment that promotes criticalthinking, independence of thought and the mas-

tery of advanced technologies, acommitment to high quality stan-dards and continuous improvementin teaching, scholarship and service,promotion of creativity and innova-tion in the pursuit of academic ex-cellence, dedication to communityoutreach emphasizing service, trans-fer of know-how and positive con-tribution to the welfare of the peopleand promotion of an internationaloutlook and respect for other indi-viduals and cultures.

For its part, AUS boasts over 4,600students from 80 different nationsand a highly qualified and experi-enced full-time faculty of 278 dedi-cated individuals. “Since the firstyear of its existence, AUS has notonly earned a well-deserved repu-tation as one of the most academi-cally competitive institutions of higherlearning in the entire region, but isalso admired for its colorful, multi-cultural campus life,” says Dr. Win-fred Thompson, Chancellor of AUS.

AUS aims to foster and encourage cross-cul-tural contact, and its strict adherence to stan-dards of academic excellence has contributedto an enviable reputation. “We are very proud ofthe fact that as an independently accredited in-stitution of higher learning, AUS is renownedthroughout the region for its excellent standardof education,” remarks Dr. Thompson, adding thatAUS alumni have been admitted to graduatestudies at some of the most competitive and pres-tigious universities worldwide, including Har-vard, Columbia and MIT. ■

UNIVERSITY CITY TAKESEDUCATION TO A HIGHER LEVELThe emirate’s two universities, UoS and AUS, have earned their well-deservedreputations among the most academically competitive institutions in theregion while promoting an international outlook and respect for all cultures

ISMAIL M.AL-BISHRIChancellor of UoS

WINFREDTHOMPSONChancellor of AUS


5 / SharjahSPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Expansion and development projectsrecently implemented by SEWA havebeen designed to keep pace with the

extensive development and constructionprocesses in the emirate under the lead-ership of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultanbin Mohammed Al-Qasimi, Member of theSupreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.

Initiatives implemented by the public util-ity to meet the requirements of the de-

velopment process and the needs of agrowing society include a piped nat-

ural gas service for domestic, com-mercial and industrial purposes.

Phase four of the SharjahNatural Gas Distribution Pro-

ject is now underway andrepresents a total invest-

ment of $163 million.

By February 2007, approximately 78,000residential units and villas had been con-nected to the piped-gas network. The sig-nificance of the project lies in the fact thatSharjah is the first emirate to introducepiped natural gas into the region.

Substituting petrol for compressed nat-ural gas (CNG) as fuel for vehicles is an-other project of the company. Developedin 2005, the first phaseof the scheme saw ve-hicles belonging to SE-WA converted to CNG.Four new stations thatwill be used to convert and supply taxisand private vehicles with CNG are cur-rently under construction and plans are inthe works to begin converting governmentvehicles to the CNG system.

SEWA has also established the new Zu-lal water facility to produce and bottlehigh quality drinking water from under-ground spring sources. The fully auto-mated production process, which includespurification, a filling plant and sterilizationwith ozone, employs the highest interna-tional standards and specifications.

In the field of human resources, theSharjah Institute of Technology has beendeveloped by SEWA to promote scientif-ic progress and provide the educational

courses needed to satisfy community de-mands in the high-tech era. Admission tothe institute is open to students holding apreparatory certificate.

Plans of the institute aim to develop ad-vanced vocational and professional pro-grams that will meet the needs of the UAEjob market. The courses will enable stu-dents to obtain UK-based qualifications of

the Business and Tech-nology EducationCouncil (BTEC) andCity & Guilds.

A Ladies Divisionhas also been established at the instituteto open opportunities to female studentswho have gained a secondary qualifica-tion. The division offers high quality vo-cational training and education accordingto BTEC qualifications. Courses are avail-able in health and social care, art and de-sign, media, hospitality, travel and tourism,beauty therapy, and hairdressing. ■

FUELING UTILITIES WITH INNOVATION AND EDUCATIONThe Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) is committed toproviding high quality supplies of electricity, water and gas to the emirate,pioneering new projects and facilities that ensure uninterrupted and reliableservices to meet the increasing demand and expanding population

SHARJAH IS THE FIRST EMIRATETO INTRODUCE A PIPED NATURALGAS SUPPLY AND CAN PROVIDEHIGH QUALITY DRINKING WATER

Advanced vocational andprofessional courses offer

practical internationalqualifications.

Sharjah generates nearly 40percent of the United ArabEmirate’s (UAE) industrial

output. Consequently, the SharjahChamber of Commerce andIndustry (SCCI), with more than30,000 members, is consideredone of its most important businesschambers, along with those of AbuDhabi and Dubai. Serving as a bridgebetween the emirate’s public andprivate sectors, SCCI is active in pro-moting Sharjah’s exports throughparticipation in international exhi-bitions and permanent trade cen-ters abroad, as well as throughsupport for local entrepreneurship.

Sharjah currently has 18 indus-trial parks dedicated to a range of

activities. “Although we have someheavy industries, our economy isbased on small and medium com-panies,” remarks SCCI ChairmanAhmed Mohammed Al Midfa,adding that the emirate wants to fur-ther diversify through new sectors,such as high tech, and expandingthe SME base. Mentioning thatSharjah, the Unesco-designated cul-tural capital of the Arab world, hasbegun to attract a large number oftourists, Mr. Al Midfa also points outthe emirate’s interest in developingits tourism sector.

Sharjah’s three ports, locatedon the Indian Ocean and theArabian Gulf, play a crucial role insupporting the UAE’s status as are-export hub, and are a lure fornew investment.

Falling under the SCCI’s umbrel-la, Expo Centre Sharjah hosts morethan 20 international exhibitionseach year to introduce the emi-rate’s facilities and services to newbusinesses and to showcase local

industries. “We are a partner, rather than an enti-ty that just leases out space,” says Director-General Saif Mohammad Al Midfa. “Sharjahhas excellent infrastructure and is the bestplace in the UAE for lower operational costs.Many businessmen and companies are set-ting up here because of high expenses and traf-fic issues found in Dubai, which is good for us.”

“The Expo Center is the most visually strik-ing and most technically advanced exhibition,

conference and event center in the Middle East,as well as the most user-friendly,” the director-general adds. “Bordering the Al Khalid Lagoon,the complex is also the only venue in the regionby the sea, which makes it ideal for marine-relat-ed events.” ■

SHOWCASING A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN REGIONAL COMMERCEThe Sharjah Chamber ofCommerce and Industrypromotes the nation’s localbusinesses and exports aswell as its ultra-moderninfrastructure and low costs

SAIF MOHAMMADAL MIDFADirector General Expo Centre Sharjah

AHMEDMOHAMMED ALMIDFAChairman of the SCCI

The visually striking SCCI-owned Expo Centre is the most advanced venue in the Middle East.



As the only emirate with ports on both theeast and west coasts of the United ArabEmirates, and the only one that borders

all of the other six emirates, Sharjah is a nat-ural transportation and shipping hub. A centerfor maritime trading for centuries, this traditioncontinues in Sharjah’s three modern ports. PortKhalid is on the Arabian Gulf, along withHamriyah Port and Free Zone , and PortKhorfakkan is on the Gulf of Oman – all of whichare owned and controlled by the Governmentof Sharjah’s Department of Seaports andCustoms.

Management at Seaports and Customs re-port directly to Sharjah Ruler H.H. Dr. SheikhSultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, who has tak-en an active interest in the ports’ developmentand expansion. Today, the ports handle all typesof vessels with cargos ranging from break-bulkto timber, logs, refrigerated vehicles, ro-ros,heavy lifts, and containers – for which the ter-minals are equipped with the latest ship-shoregantries and modern yard equipment. Two10,000-ton capacity cold stores are located atPort Khalid, and its close proximity near the cityis also beginning to draw a number of cruiselines. Also, the gas terminal at Hamriyah, 12miles northeast, receives LPG and LNG vessels.

“We believe that proper planning preventspoor performance. This we do with the guid-ance of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan. Wefollow his lead and advice step by step,” com-ments Yaqoub H. Abdulla, Director of Marketingand Promotions for Seaports and Customs. “Forexample, a couple of years ago Khorfakkanwas suffering from a lack of depth and space.

I wouldn’t say we losta lot of lines but wewere losing opportu-nities that we couldhave had if the porthad been bigger. To-day, its expansion is al-most completed. Inaddition, HamriyahFree Zone is booming.The new port has beeninaugurated and wehave just got the greenlight to expand itsdepth. I think we aremoving in the right di-rection.”

Created in 1995,Hamriyah is one of the world’s fastest grow-ing free zones, and represents a cornerstonein Sharjah’s, and the UAE’s, industrial de-velopment strategy. Spread over 12 millionsquare meters and boasting 1,500 compa-nies from over 100 countries, Hamriyah hasexperienced over 50 percent growth in itsnumber of registered companies over thepast few years. Consequently, plans for adding

an additional ten millionsquare meters are nowin the works.

Director General of theHamriyah Free Zone Au-thority Dr. Rashid AlLeem remarks, “TheUAE’s strategic locationhas attracted a lot ofmultinationals. We sup-ply one and a half billionconsumers because we are surrounded byhighly populated nations such as India, Pak-istan, Iran and Saudi Arabia, to name but afew. Because of the convenient laws and reg-ulations here, as well as the openness of ourpeople, many companies have shifted their in-ternational base for the Middle East into thispart of the world.”

Dr. Al Leem says that Sharjah’s status as anindustrial hub has permitted Hamriyah FreeZone to prosper since all the necessary ingre-dients for success are present – a deepwaterport, an inexpensive power plant for cheap util-ities, and natural gas – the only free zone to of-fer this. Hamriyah’s port has attracted a growingnumber of global cement and steel companies,

as well as oil and gas com-panies that need termi-nals close to the shoreline.The port’s location as thefirst point of contact forvessels coming in by theStraight of Hormuz has al-so served as an advan-tage as has the fact thatit is open for business 24hours a day.

Hamriyah is regarded as being highly qual-ity driven. It has earned a number of interna-tional certifications such as ISO-9001,ISO-14001, and the OHSAS 18001, concern-ing management, environment and occupa-tion health respectively. Quality control ismonitored by Lloyd’s. Chairman of Seaports andCustoms Sheikh Khaled Bin Abdullah Al Qasi-mi says, “Commitment and perseverance tohigh standards of performance and the spiritto excel have been the characteristics thathave set Hamriyah Free Zone apart from oth-ers. At Hamriyah Free Zone, conditions do notconceal its strategies but reveal its account-ability – accountability to business excellence,dedication and quality.” ■

EXPANDING A NATURAL TRANSPORTATION AND SHIPPING HUB

Khorfakkan Port offers more possibilities with added depth and space. The Hamriyah Free Zone Authority is setting up a whole new maritime city.

Integrity, perseverance and acommitment to quality servicesare the core principles linked tothe success of Sharjah PortsAuthority.

With an impressive legacy toits credit, the Sharjah Ports Au-thority has been creating eco-nomic vitality in the regionthrough providing trade andtransportation infrastructure tomeet the needs of the ArabianGulf countries, the Indian sub-continent, and the north-eastand southern African regions.Our core values have ensured

that quality services and facil-ities are on hand to help oper-ate as efficiently andcost-effectively as possible.

Being a pioneer with the firstcontainer terminal in the re-gion, we have made a signifi-cant contribution to theeconomic growth and devel-opment of the United Arab Emi-rates and the ArabianPeninsula. Through structuredthought and coordinated ac-tion, we have continued to in-tegrate three strategic maritimeaccess points: Port Khalid, Port

Hamriyah and Port Khorfakkan,to take advantage of the unique-ness of Sharjah in being theonly emirate to have seaportson both coasts of the UnitedArab Emirates.

Our vision and strategy tosynchronize administrative en-forcements, our commitmentto improving our rich milieu ofservices and our ability to beflexible have acted as catalyststowards indisputable success.Our corporate culture is one ofdedication, respect, continu-ous improvement, and innova-

tion, which are applied to ourconstant efforts to achieve ex-cellence. We believe that thevery backbone of the high qual-ity services we provide is ouremployees, who are indeedcentral to our success.

I trust that the insights pro-vided in the following pageswill provide you with enough in-formation on our strengths, ser-vices and facilities. I would liketo take this opportunity to in-vite all those who want to ex-cel to set out on a voyage ofdiscovery with Sharjah Ports.

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

A strategic location, business-friendly regulations and world-classinfrastructure for logistics andtransshipment has led to a boomingHamriyah Free Zone and ports

SHEIKH KHALED BIN ABDULLAHSULTAN AL QASIMIChairman of the Departmentof Seaports & Customs and Chairman of the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority

‘WE SUPPLY ONE AND A HALFBILLION CONSUMERS BECAUSE

WE ARE SURROUNDED BY HIGHLYPOPULATED NATIONS’RASHID AL LEEM

Director Generalof Hamriyah Free Zone Authorityand DirectorGeneral of theDepartment ofSeaports & Customs


7/ SharjahSPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Established in 1976 to operateand manage container termi-nals in the ports of Khorfakkan

and Sharjah, Gulftainer today hasbecome one of the Middle East’smost respected terminal operators.

“Our name and reputation hasspread quite nicely throughout theMiddle East,” comments Directorand General Manager Peter Richards,who believes the global profile of thecompany is set to rise considerablyin the next two years. “Three of thebiggest shipping lines in the worldrank us as number one on productivity. KhorfakkanPort is a very well-oiled machine.”

This reputation for managing a tightly run shiphas been boosted by feats such as consistentrecord-breaking moves of 213 containers in anhour and, showing great diversification, alsosuccessfully handling a sensitive 7,000 metricton consignment of coated pipes for the pe-troleum industry in only 52 hours.

Gulftainer’s Khorfakkan terminal handlednearly 10 percent more containers in January2007 compared with the same month in 2006.The recently expanded Port Khorfakkan, whichhandles approximately 100,000 containers permonth, is one of the world’s leading containertransshipment ports. It has registered double-digit growth throughout the last decade and 2006throughput was 1.9 million TEUs. “Productivi-ty and successful operations are achievable be-cause there are very short chains ofcommunication in Gulftainer,” Mr. Richards ex-plains. “Our management is very open and canbe reached at any time of the day or night. Thecompany policy is to achieve the best pro-ductivity for all our customers, safely.”

The concept of making investment performwell has always been a priority for the com-

pany. Its experience and expertisein logistics and providing seamlessinterfaces between sea and landtransportation has attracted the in-terest of many ports looking to de-velop with up-to-date managementtechniques allied with focused mar-keting strategies.

A new joint venture announcedlast November aims to revamp andenhance inland transportation with-in Pakistan. In partnership with PakShaheen, one of the country’s mostexperienced shipping agencies, the

new transport fleet will be complemented bythree state-of-the-art logistics centers with ful-ly comprehensive IT-controlled bonded con-tainer and warehouse facilities.

Gulftainer also owns one of the largest heavytransport fleets in the UAE, Speedtrucks Trans-port. With 110 heads and 175 trailers,Speedtrucks has been instrumental in secur-ing the growth of both Sharjah ports.

“If you used Khorfakkan, your cargo couldbe in your warehouse quicker than if the shipsailed to Dubai. Khorfakkan is outside of the Hor-muz Straits and Dubai is inside, so vessels take15 hours to get into Dubai, and of course, 15hours to get out again,” he remarks, pointingout the savings in steaming time and fuel. “Ifa container is discharged at Khorfakkan, it willbe loaded straight onto a truck and go direct-ly to customs in Sharjah; they will clear it andit will be in your warehouse within 12 hours –actually before the same ship can reach Dubai.”

Located next to Sharjah’s industrial areas,Sharjah Container Terminal at Port Khalidhandles more than 45 percent of the UAE’snon-oil manufacturing capacity. Gulftainer of-fers shipping lines cargo handling at bothports as well as the capacity to transportthat cargo anywhere in the Middle East. Italso boasts container repair facilities at eachport and at its new 150,000 square-meterinland container depot, where customerscan have their equipment serviced withoutthe need to go offsite. ■

ACHIEVING THE BEST PORTOPERATIONS PRODUCTIVITYWITH SPEED AND SAFETY FIRST

The Sharjah Container Terminal at Port Khalid handles around 25,000 containers per month.

Record-breaking Gulftainer is one of the nation’s largest transport companiesand its expertise is now being sought by port authorities around the globe

PETER RICHARDSDirector andGeneral ManagerGulftainer

Gulftainer offers transporters a complete one-stop shop at its Sharjah Inland Container Depot.



Started as a joint venture be-tween diverse UAE investorsand the French international fi-

nancial conglomerate, SociétéGénérale Group, United Arab Bank(UAB) was incorporated in 1975 andtoday offers clients tailor-made fi-nancial services in both corporateand retail banking. Based in Sharjahand with nine branches throughoutthe UAE, UAB has established itselfas a leading solutions provider forthe emirate’s growing industrial base.Through the provision of structuredfinance solutions for complex banking transac-tions, UAB is the bank of choice among Sharjah’scorporate clientele.

CEO Bertrand Giraud says that the nature ofbusiness in Sharjah demands adept and flexibleresponses from financial institutions. Unlike therelatively straightforward financing involved inthe real estate sector, the financing of industry,according to Mr. Giraud, is more sophisticatedand requires developing more complex productsfor the specific needs of industrial companiesand solutions that cater to their individual in-vestment strategies and development plans.

“This is where we, at United ArabBank, bring in our expertise as astrategic partner and advisor,” com-ments Mr. Giraud. “We listen to ourcustomers, analyze their needs, chal-lenge their potential and offer themsolutions to help them plan devel-opment strategies and forge prospec-tive investment policies. Beyond ourfinancing capacity we are involvedin boosting the growth of our corpo-rate customers, stimulating the de-velopment of the whole economyacross the emirate at large.”

UAB’s cautious, persistent and operation-root-ed policy allowed the bank to continue to regis-ter the impressive results posted by Sharjah’sbanking sector in 2005. Mr. Giraud says the bank’svision does not include volatile, short-term prof-it objectives. Its main policy of cautious ambition,as well as continuous enhancement of its ser-vices, will enable it to remain among the top en-during banks of tomorrow. He remarks, “We arehere to endure, to develop and to last. Through-out the years, we have forged a reputation of re-liability and efficiency among our customers andwe hope to maintain that reputation.” ■

UNITED ARAB BANK: RELIABLE,EFFICIENT AND PERSISTENTUAB has made a name for itself by offering tailor-made financial servicesin corporate and retail banking, making it the bank of choice in Sharjah

BERTRANDGIRAUDCEO of UnitedArab Bank

NAMED BEST GLOBAL AIR-PORT 2005 by London’s In-stitute of Travel Management,Sharjah International Airport

is a regional leader and aspiring global contender.New investment to the tune of $135 million is back-ing the airport’s 2015 master plan that will up-grade, expand and modernize both passengerand freight facilities in a bid to establish Sharjahas the Middle East’s favorite airport.

Built in 1932 to serve as a stopover route forBritish flights on their way to India and pointsfurther east, Sharjah International Airport has thedistinction of being the UAE’s first airport. To-day it is served by more than 40 scheduled air-lines flying to nearly 250 worldwide destinations,while 70 other airlines use the airport on sea-sonal long haul routes. In addition, since launch-ing Air Arabia, the first in a new wave of budget

airlines in the Middle East, the airport has ex-perienced an astounding 40 percent monthlyjump in passenger traffic.

“We promote the airport in different ways,”comments Director of Sharjah Airport Authori-ty, Ali Salem Al Midfa. “We highlight the im-

portance of our location, which has been bene-ficial for cargo business. Most airlines are alsolooking for transit points, especially tour opera-tors, and we do business with European carri-ers who operate during the winter season withtours to the Far East. Sharjah is a good midpointfor these operators.”

Representing the largest air-cargo hub in theMiddle East and Africa, state-of-the-art facilitieshave made the airport’s freight services famous.Lufthansa operates its second-largest cargo hubafter Frankfurt out of Sharjah International Air-port, with 360 flights and more than 48,000 tonsof cargo movement per month. The adjacentSharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF-Zone) offers world-class facilities, including pre-built warehouses, container parking, storagespace, executive offices and leased land for un-restricted development. Sharjah’s unique geo-graphical position and its status as the commercialnerve center of the UAE are additional attrac-tions that have drawn the 2,300 companies nowoperating out of SAIF-Zone.

The airport also has a growing reputation forexcellent and efficient customer service andcommercial facilities, reflected in its 36 percentincrease in passenger flights between 2005 and2006. Expansion plans will eventually quadru-ple the airport’s size and include a new check-in area, new lounges, a larger duty-free space,

food courts and expanded parking facilities. Mr. Al Midfa says that the airport’s unprece-

dented growth in traffic has obliged airport au-thorities to constantly revise the 2015 plan. “Theinitial budget for the project was $60 million, butwith the airport experiencing a 35 to 40 percentincrease in traffic on a monthly basis, this fig-ure changed for the new requirements. We areputting in extra space for aircraft and have re-ceived approval to build an extra terminal for busi-ness travelers. Also, we are planning on buildinga parallel lane for emergencies on the runwayand expansion on the cargo side will also takeplace.” ■

SHARJAH INTERNATIONALAIRPORT: EXCELLENT, EFFICIENTSERVICES AND INSTALLATIONSOne of the Middle East’s leading airports, Sharjah International Airportis capitalizing on its prime location to expand, upgrade and innovate

World-class facilities have led to a 40 percentincrease in passenger traffic every month.

ALI SALEM AL MIDFADirector of Sharjah Airport Authority



With net profits of over $54 millionlast year and growth rates register-ing 21 percent in 2005, Sharjah Is-

lamic Bank (SIB) is not only one of the UnitedArab Emirates’ leading financial institutions, butalso one of the Gulf’s top Islamic banks. RankedBest Bank in the UAE for the second consec-utive year by Wachovia last year, SIB is a re-gional pioneer in Islamic financial tools. Thebank’s successful 2006 issuing of its globalSukuk – Islamic banking’s equivalent to a con-ventional debt capital market instrument –was a first from a GCC institution. It underpinsthe broadening range of innovative Islamic fi-nancial products from Sharjah’s largest andmost profitable bank.

“SIB has always been innovative: we werethe first Islamic bank to come up with Islam-ic credit cards when there had only been deb-it cards before,” comments CEO Mohamed A.Abdulla. “Another thing that we introducedwas the Ljara product for personal finance.People have always considered Islamic banksto be very rigid. Therefore they did not go tothem for financing personal needs or when theyneeded cash. They only looked to Islamic bank-ing for financing cars or goods, etc. So we cameup with the Ljara service.”

Ljara allows customers to finance person-al expenses such as school tuition or medicalexpenses through a unique arrangement inwhich SIB first pays for the service directly andthen sells the service to the customer. For ex-ample, in the case of school tuition, SIB paysthe school directly. The client then buys thisproduct, the tuition, from the bank, and canpay in installments if desired.

The Sharjah Islamic Bank has been around

since 1976 when it was known as the NationalBank of Sharjah. Today, SIB offers a completerange of fully Shari’a compliant retail. It cur-rently boasts 18 branches throughout the UAE,with five more planned for this year. The launchof SIB’s brokerage subsidiary last year, Shar-jah Islamic Financial Services, filled a marketgap for Shariah-focused stock market servicesand is one of the first companies to allow se-curities trading through the Abu Dhabi andDubai markets simultaneously. Also last year,SIB’s global Sukuk successfully closed at $225million, with European and Asian investorsrepresenting 41 percent of the demand.

Structured as a floating rate note set to ma-ture in five years’ time, the books were closedon the London-listed Sukok within a month.According to Mr. Abdulla, the phones were still

ringing from banks around the globe after clos-ing. He says the bank is now working on a sec-ond listing on the Dubai Stock Exchange. “Themain reason behind issuing the first ratedSukuk was to know our position in the inter-national market rather than having a fund. Sowe wanted to test ourselves in the market, tosee if we are acceptable to the internationalbanks, and it was extremely successful,” heexplains.

Diversification has been key in the bank’ssuccess. Mr. Abdulla says that SIB has beencareful to avoid putting all of its eggs in onebasket. It has tempered its growth with soundpolicies in the office and a strong emphasison quality human resources.

Investment has been spread across theboard in retail, corporate, local and international

investment, along with direct investment andsupporting the community by being involvedin the general upgrade of the infrastructure ofthe emirate.

The bank ventured into tourism last year withthe purchase of the Sharjah National HotelCorporation, whose portfolio includes high-end properties like the Marbella Resort, the Hol-iday International Hotel and the Oceanic Hotelin Khorfakkan. ■

PIONEERING INNOVATION AND CONFIDENCE INISLAMIC BANKING EXPANDS SECTOR WORLDWIDEFully Shariah-compliant since 2002,Sharjah Islamic Bank has led theway in opening market opportunities

THE GLOBAL explosion of Islamicbanking over the past twodecades is testimony of the at-traction that the sector wields forboth Muslims and non-Muslimsalike. Today, there are more than250 Islamic banks worldwide.Encouraged by phenomenalgrowth, the banks are now in-troducing greater flexibility andinnovation into their Islamic fi-nancial services.

Tell us about SIB’s decisionto convert to Islamic banking.

We were the first bank in the world toconvert entirely from a conventional bankto an Islamic one, and this has been a verychallenging mission for us. We knew that

if we succeeded, people wouldfollow in our footsteps and trig-ger a larger growth of the sec-tor around the world. However,if we did not succeed, then peo-ple might have slowly forgot-ten about Islamic banking, asmaybe nobody would have hadthe courage to attempt the con-version from conventional toIslamic.

What has been the effect ofSIB’s success?

After we converted, two other banks fol-lowed suit, the Emirates Islamic Bank andDubai Bank. There are a number of Islamicbanks that are emerging around the Gulf andsome companies here are trying to form Is-

lamic finance companies as subsidiaries,since UAE regulations do not allow con-ventional banks to have Islamic windowswithin the bank.

What are your thoughts on the future ofIslamic banking?

We truly see a bright future for Islamic bank-ing not only in the UAE, but around the world.Many banks are now seriously consideringconverting into Islamic banks or having sub-sidiaries, or are opening Islamic windows incountries that permit this. Islamic bankingis a successful economy system with a lotto offer, and it is not restricted only to Mus-lims. We respect everybody’s needs andevery religion and whoever tries it will definit-ly be satisfied. Everybody should feel free todeal with Islamic banks.

INTERVIEW WITH MOHAMED A. ABDULLA

MOHAMED A.ABDULLA CEO of SharjahIslamic Bank

SIB reflects the typical Sharjah landmark: plant aseed and with the help of the bank, watch it grow.



One of Sharjah’s keytourist, cultural and enter-tainment destinations,Qanat Al Qasba (QAQ)celebrated its grand open-ing in 2005 by the Qanat

Al Qasba Development Authority and hassince become a hub for culture-basedentertainment in the emirate.

Visitors to the seaside destination canenjoy leisurely cruises along the canaland around the lagoons in abras (traditionalwooden boats), as well as experience awide range of dining and entertainmentchoices.

“There is a special feeling here,” saysQAQ Development Authority CEO MarwanAl Sarkal. “You can see the Andalusian-style architecture of the buildings, which

is really special. They are well designed.You can sit in a café next to the water, orenjoy fine restaurants offering a range ofinternational cuisines, such as Lebanese,Italian, Portuguese, Indian, etc. There arealso a lot of events and activities plannedevery day for the whole family.”

Built on 10,000 acres near the Dubai-Sharjah highway, Qanat Al Qasba is cen-tered around a 1,000-meter-long canalcrossed by three pedestrian bridges anddotted with cafés andrestaurants on bothsides.

At the heart ofQAQ’s northern quar-ter is the 400-seat Masrah Al Qasba audi-torium, which hosts regular events, playsand concerts in both English and Arabic.

The southern quarter boasts a spacious1,500-meter exhibition area for cultural andeducational activities where a number ofgalleries are located featuring plastic artsand paintings.

QAQ’s main attraction, however, is thegiant Eye of the Emirates observatorywheel. The tallest wheel of its kind in theregion, the Eye of the Emirates is 60 meters

high with 42 futuristic-looking, fully air-conditioned cabins that can take up to336 riders at a time. At the top of thewheel, visitors are treated to panoramicviews of 25 to 30 miles, including breath-taking aerial views of the Sharjah coastand Dubai.

One of Sharjah’s most important land-marks, QAQ proudly represents itself asa center for promoting heritage and cul-ture. In addition to hosting international

events, QAQ holdsactivities and exhibitsthat highlight Arab andIslamic heritagethroughout the year,

such as Arabic poetry readings, musicalconcerts, displays of local art and Arabiccalligraphy as well as regional sportingevents.

Mr. Al Sarkal says that the DevelopmentAuthority is aiming to host a number oflarge events annually. Recent successeshave included the eighth GCC Ladies’ GulfTournament, the ISSPA forum for scien-tists and engineers, and the 2006 FormulaOne Powerboat World Championship.

Development is ongoing, however,according to Mr. Al Sarkal. “Qanat AlQasba is already a great area but we wantto add more to it,” he comments. “We arenow creating an area just for kids. We havebeen working on redesigning the land-scaping and the majority of it is finished.Now, we are planning to build the kid’sarea, a gym, and a restaurant facing thesea.”

He adds that another major project inthe works is the creation of a large busi-ness center with new offices, businessfacilities and a conference center. ■

SHARJAH’S PREMIER WATERFRONT PROMENADEHAS AN EYE FOR QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT

The 1,000-meter-long canal is lined with cafés, international restaurants and shopping areas where artisans from across the Gulf display their work.

Qanat Al Qasba invites the worldto experience Arab hertitage andenjoy its culture in an enrichingand stimulating modern leisureenvironment that boasts theregion’s highest observatory wheel

The Qanat Al Qasba DevelopmentAuthority was established in 2004 tooversee the development of the QanatAl Qasba canal area into a familyleisure and entertainment district.CEO Marwan Al Sarkal comments onthe destination, which is fast growinginto a regional attraction.

How does QAQ stand in relation toother UAE destinations?

Qanat Al Qasba is a destination initself, whether we advertise it or not.This is a great area, with no highbuildings surrounding it, so you feel itis a place where you would really liketo spend time.

The Eye of the Emirates is morethan just a run-of-the-mill Ferriswheel. Can you comment onSharjah’s most visible icon?

The Eye of the Emirates has beenhere since 2005. It is one of thelandmarks of the emirate of Sharjah,and is our main attraction here atQanat Al Qasba. It was custom-designed for us and is the onlyobservatory that we have. It is air-conditioned so it can be used in thesummer or the winter. We havethousands of visitors a year and it is areal focal point for us. We have hadmany visitors coming from Oman orSaudi Arabia especially to visit theEye of the Emirates.

What has the developmentauthority been doing to promoteQAQ?

Our marketing strategy is verystrong and we are continuously tryingto get new events to attract peoplefrom all walks of life to thisdestination. The good thing is thatQanat Al Qasba is a landmark in itself.Even in the other emirates, you willnot find the architecture that is here,and really, if you want to know aboutthe Arab world, Qanat Al Qasba is oneof the pillars.

INTERVIEWWITH CEO OFQANAT AL QASBA

‘THERE’S A SPECIAL FEELING HERE;THERE ARE A LOT OF EVENTS ANDACTIVITIES PLANNED EVERY DAY

FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY’

MARWAN ALSARKALCEO of QanatAl Qasba

Qanat Al Qasba exhibits exceptional Arabic artifacts and is a hub for culture-based entertainment.



Mohamed A. Al Noman, Director Gen-eral of the Sharjah Commerce andTourism Development Authority (SCT-

DA), says, “The description the 'Cultural Cap-ital of the Arab World' has been applied toSharjah because the maintenance of a visi-ble culture is key to identifying who we are.”He adds that while the past 30 years has seena rapid rate of development throughout thecountry, each emirate is unique. “Sharjah's at-tribute is its strict adherence to tradition whilesimultaneously having a worldly outlook.”

The emirate’s efforts throughout the lastdecade to promote heritage, culture and artshave gained it a first-class reputation as apremier cultural tourism destination. Sharjahis home to a number of excellent museumsand galleries dedicated to Islamic history, artand heritage, and the city has been carefullyrestored to retain its traditional Arab archi-tecture.

More recently, Sharjah has also stood outfor its numerous international events and ex-hibits. The upgrading of its tourism and leisurefacilities with new resorts like Qanat Al Qas-ba – a major tourism and leisure landmark inthe emirate with a number of permanent cul-

tural, recreational and entertainment attrac-tions – along with its sun and beaches, havebegun to convert Sharjah into a major leisuredestination as well. The combination of year-round sunshine, five-star luxuries and the ad-venture of a unique Arabian experience is anallure that more and more tourists are findingdifficult to resist.

“The Emirate of Sharjah is known in the in-ternational tourism market as an excellentdestination, different from others in the regionand around the world. We have been steadi-ly promoting this fact for the past few yearsthrough various high-profile exhibitions,” com-ments Mr. Al Noman. The city, he adds, hasover 20 museums, a center for Arabian wildlife,superb facilities for sports, shopping, diningand entertainment and is well equipped tocater to the diverse needs of individual trav-

elers and families. Further development is in the pipeline. The

Sharjah International Airport, which has beenregistering phenomenal growth rates in pas-senger traffic, is undergoing a massive ex-pansion that will increase its capacity to eightmillion travelers. In addition, the governmentof Sharjah announced last year that it will in-vest another $545 million in the sector to fur-ther upgrade infrastructure and boostdevelopment.

SCTDA's role in the development of Shar-jah is central to the emirate's plans to aug-ment its tourism efforts. “We are responsiblefor the planning and for the devising of strate-gies to help promote tourism and commerce.We have been engaging in in-depth market-ing and promotional activities since our in-ception. For every tourism-related project and

scheme the emirate embarks upon, we arethe ones responsible for conducting the fea-sibility studies,” explains Mr. Al Noman. SCT-DA is aiming to attract tourists from 20countries this year as its 2007 calendar includesnumerous road shows abroad. In March, SCT-DA’s promotional efforts won it the Best Mid-dle Eastern Exhibitor Award at the InternationalTourism Exchange exhibition in Berlin, theworld’s largest tourism event.

Another of SCTDA’s important contribu-tions has been its involvement in organizinginternational events in Sharjah. Recent eventshave included Formula 1 speedboat racing,spring festivals and summer campaigns. Mr.Al Noman says that he believes that Shar-jah is already well on its way to becoming,a world-class international sporting desti-nation for the number of successful eventsit has organized so far and those that arescheduled to come. Sharjah has won sev-eral international awards for best event or-ganizer, and would like to eventually host alltypes of sporting events in the emirate.

“For the future, SCTDA will place an in-creased focus on developing MICE tourism,”says Mr. Al Noman, while adding, “What hasmade us unique and should continue to dif-ferentiate us from others is our strict em-phasis on culture and tradition, while at thesame time warmly welcoming travelers toour streets and our deserts. This is our am-bition and will be part of our priority for thecoming years.” ■

FURTHER DEVELOPING THE EMIRATE’S OFFER, A TOP PRIORITYThe Sharjah Commerce and TourismDevelopment Authority has excellentmaterial to work with, as the emiratehas a steadfastly growing list ofattractions and activities

The ‘Cultural Capital of the Arab World’ combines traditional architecture with modern tourism.

The emirate is highly regarded as a cultural andworld-class international sporting destination.

Director General of the Sharjah Commerce andTourism Development Authority (SCTDA), Mo-hamed A. Al Noman, comments on the emi-rate’s unique attributes and the growth oftourism.

What have been the key drivers behind therapid success and sudden expansion inSharjah’s tourism sector?

At the SCTDA, we have been pursuing anaggressive promotional campaign by attend-ing many high-profile exhibitions. Various ef-forts are underway to enhance the sector. Thegovernment has dedicated Dh 2 billion ($545million) to developing tourism and infrastruc-ture. Also, the Sharjah International Airport ex-pansion should enable our emirate to handlegreater numbers of international travelers.

Could you elaborate on any cultural andnoteworthy attractions that the emirate hasto offer?

The UAE as a whole can be a beautiful, cul-tural experience, as each emirate compliments

every other – after all,we are one country.Some of the attrac-tions Sharjah has tooffer include the Nat-ural History Museum,Desert Park, and Ara-bian Wildlife Center,which visitors can en-joy wherever they arestaying within theUAE. Each emiratehas its own attractions

and Sharjah has built a reputation for its cul-tural conservation and preservation of its au-thentic buildings and souqs. Qanat Al Qasbais a major draw for tourists and residents, andwe are always developing new exhibitionsand attractions.

What do the SCTDA's responsibilities in-volve?

Our activities include the organization andsponsorship of various events, such as the an-

nual international UIM-Formula 1 powerboatrace, Formula 2000. The Sharjah spring andsummer promotions, including the SharjahHeritage days, are just some of the main localevents that we support and sponsor. We or-ganize and represent Sharjah in different tourismand commerce exhibitions all around the world,such as the ITB in Berlin, the ATM and the UAE-Germany Business Summit.

What are some of the opportunities for for-eign investors interested in getting involvedin the development in Sharjah?

We are always seeking to find new andprofitable investment opportunities. Our ef-forts have seen us target European and Asiannations, and now the U.S. Overall, Sharjah iskeen to encourage investment that can makea positive contribution to our growth. This isnot just in tourism but also in business and in-dustry, where multinationals are being en-couraged to set up foreign direct investmentin our emirate and even for firms to establishgreen field investment.

A BEAUTIFUL, CULTURAL EXPERIENCE WITH INTERNATIONAL APPEAL

MOHAMED A.AL NOMANDirector GeneralSCTDA



Al-Hassawi Group, aKuwait-based real es-tate giant, was found-ed in the emirate ofSharjah in the UAE inthe early 1970’s by its

late founder Mubarak Abdul Aziz Al-Hassawi.Since building its first hotel, the companymaintained a steady unfailing momentum,growing from strength to strength, expand-ing into commercial, residential and officebuilding construction.

Today, the Al-Hassawi Group of Companiesin Sharjah includes the Kuwait CommercialReal Estate Centre, Sharjah Steel Pipes Man-ufacturing Company, SKM Air Conditioningand the Fawaz Refrigeration & Air Condition-ing Company.

The perseverance and hard work that wentinto achieving this miracle has been passeddown through the generations, ensuring thatthe current generation of Al-Hassawis carryon the vision of the company with just as muchgusto.

“My grandfather always felt a special con-nection with Sharjah, which was why hestarted and grew his business here. This kin-ship is understood by his sons, daughters,grandsons and granddaughters alike, and wehave all come to consider Sharjah as our sec-ond home,” explains Mubarak Saud Al-Be-

sharah, Managing Di-rector of both theGroup and the KuwaitCommercial Real Es-tate Centre Company.

Mr. Al-Hassawi’sexpansion plans for hiscompany went on toinclude the establish-ment of the Bank ofSharjah in collabora-tion with BNP Paribas,the Government ofSharjah and other in-vestors before heading full force into Sharjah'shotel industry.

The Al-Hassawi Group's present propertyportfolio in the emirate includes the Radisson

Hotel, Golden Beach Motel, Beach Hotel, No-va Park Hotel, Carlton Hotel and Al MubarakCommercial and Residential Centre: a 15-floor tower with 204 luxury apartments, sixfloors of commercial space and double-storeyretail mall.

Never ones to rely on the glory of their past,the group’s new aspirations in the UAE includetwo hotels and a ten-storey residential build-ing in Dubai's famous Palm Jumeriah and an-

other hotel in UmmAl-Quwain. Also un-derway in Sharjah isthe construction of a1 3 2 - a p a r t m e n t ,seafront residentialcomplex. The group isin discussion withSharjah’s planning au-thorities on how to ex-plore the best possibleway to develop an-other coastal sitewhich stretches over180 meters of beach

covering an area of 20,000 m2 property. Mr. Al-Besharah attributes the group’s suc-

cess to the loyalty of its personnel saying,“Many of our employees have been with us

FROM REAL ESTATE TOMANUFACTURING, AL-HASSAWICONTINUES IN FULL FORCEThe Al-Hassawi Group of Companies is a success story rooted in excellentleadership, equally outstanding personnel and acute business acumen

MUBARAK SAUD AL-BESHARAH,ManagingDirector of the Al-Hassawi Group of Compa-nies and Kuwait Commercial Real Estate inSharjah speaks about the rise of emirate's star.

How do you see the development of Shar-jah coming along?

With the way everything has been plannedand coordinated by H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan theRuler of Sharjah and H.H. the Crown Prince,the emirate has a very bright future. The lead-ers have an open mind, a great vision andwise consultants and advisers who are wellequipped to lead the way and ensure the suc-cess of the emirate’s development.

What do you think differentiates Sharjahfrom the other emirates in the UAE? What

are its comparative advantages?Sharjah has a culture that is different from

the others. Sheikh Dr. Sultan has placed aheavy emphasis on culture and this is re-flected in its architecture, which includes thebuildings and mosques and the Arabic mo-tifs and designs found across the emirate. Froma business point of view, it has picked up agreat deal over the last four to five years. I

believe Sharjah is more of a residential place;it promotes family life, which puts it in a dif-ferent category from other cosmopolitan emi-rates like Dubai. Sharjah has become theemirate of choice for residence for expatri-ates working in Dubai owing to its proximi-ty to the hub and relatively lower housing fees.

How would you describe the business at-mosphere in the emirate?

We encounter nothing but encouragementand support from the official authorities re-garding our business concerns and future ex-pansion plans. This is emphasized by the rulerextending his relentless personal support andguidance to us, which has been extremely valu-able and led to the significant business growthour group has witnessed in recent years.

INTERVIEW WITH MUBARAK SAUD AL-BESHARAH

MUBARAK SAUDAL-BESHARAHManaging Directorof the Al-HassawiGroup and Kuwait CommercialReal Estate

The company also comprises a steel pipemanufacturing firm.

The five-star Radisson offers 300 exquisiterooms and suites.

ABDUL AZIZ AL-HASSAWIChairman of the Al-Hassawi Group

since the 1970's and function in a family-likeenvironment. We have happy staff with longemployment records. This atmosphere of loy-alty was created by the founder of the groupand exists till today because we do our ut-most to maintain and consolidate the sameculture.”

In the future, the Al-Hassawi Group will con-tinue to expand in the GCC real estate sec-tor aiming to capitalize on the huge potentialthat still exists in both commercial and resi-dential property. “We endeavor to expandfurther with the help of new strategic al-liances with investors who share in our vi-sion,” ends Mr. Al-Besharah. ■

MUBARAK ABDULAL-HASSAWIFounder of the Al-Hassawi Group


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