Tourism

The new Sharjah Centre for Astronomy and Space Sciences will open to the public on 2 July 2015, providing a new education resource and adding a new cultural attraction for the growing numbers of tourists visiting the emirate. A new high-tech 200-seat planetarium is expected to be the centre’s star attraction. Sharjah has invested heavily in developing itself as a ...

According to April 2015 figures just announced by Sharjah Airport Authority, 814,648 passengers were handled by Sharjah International Airport last month, a 7 percent increase on the 761,313 passengers handled during April 2014. Overall, airport passenger numbers have grown 6 percent during the first four months of the year, compared with 2014, with 3.2 million passengers passing through the airport. ...

Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) and Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) signed a cooperation agreement at Arabian Travel Market 2015 in Dubai, to promote all tourism and cultural landmarks and historic sites in Ajman and Sharjah. Present at the signing ceremony were H.E. Faisal bin Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Director General of Ajman Tourism Development Department and H.E. Marwan bin ...

A new US$100 million (AED 367m) art and culture themed 5-star luxury beachfront hotel and resort, the Majlis Grand Mercure Sharjah, is to be built on Sharjah’s corniche and managed by global hotel operator Accor. The new development was announced this week by H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, chairman of Basma Group Sharjah and H.R.H. Prince Khaled bin ...

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) unveiled its plans for Al Noor Island at the Arabian Travel Market 2015 this week. The AED 80 million (US$23m) tourism and leisure project, which is currently under construction on the 45,470 square meter Al Noor Island in Khalid Lagoon in Sharjah, will combine nature, art and entertainment. Scheduled for completion in the fourth ...

Air Arabia Jordan, the new venture formed from Sharjah-headquartered Air Arabia’s acquisition of a 49 percent stake in Petra Airlines, will commence operations from its Amman Queen Alia International Airport base on Monday 18 May 2015. The Jordan venture’s services will start with direct flights to four countries in the region, strenghtening the group’s connectivity between Jordan and the Levant, Middle ...

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) today announced Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, a tourism development strategy that aims to attract more than 10 million tourists to the emirate by year 2021. The SCTDA’s strategic plan, which follows an indepth study of Sharjah’s tourism market, proposition for tourists and opportunities in the sector, is built on four key pillars. – ...

A master plan for the expansion of Sharjah International Airport is currently under study by the Government of Sharjah, according to UAE daily newspaper Gulf News. The plan, developed by American engineering firm Bechtel last year, supports the airport’s goal of increasing capacity from 8.5 million passengers per year to 25 million by 2025. Sharjah International Airport opened a new ...

The United Arab Emirates Central Bank is issuing a commemorative silver coin to celebrate the selection of Sharjah as Islamic Culture Capital of the Arab Region for 2014 by the Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO). The silver coin, with a face value of AED 100 (US$ 27), features a portrait of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin ...

A new leisure cruise ship terminal is to be built for Sharjah’s east coast Khorfakkan Port, in line with the emirate’s goals to continue to develop its cruise tourism business. Sharjah’s toursim sector is currently enjoying a successful 2014-2015 cruise season, expecting an estimated 36 international cruise ships bringing in more than 80,000 tourists. According to local media, the east ...