Long before Dubai's skyscrapers begin to mirror the sun, the desert is already awake. It hums softly under a pale, pearly sky, cool and almost shy after a night of stars. If any phrase could bottle that feeling, it might be this: Morning desert safari Dubai desert lovers. It sounds like a search query, but it's really an invitation-to step away from the city's glitter and listen to the quiet heartbeat of the dunes.
The journey begins in the half-light, when the roads are empty and the city feels like it's holding its breath. As the car leaves the last suburb behind, you notice the world flattening, sand collecting along the edges of the asphalt, the horizon widening into a clean line. Your guide deflates the tires-an old, practical ritual that signals the shift from city logic to desert sense. The first crunch of rubber on sand is unmistakable. Soon, you're gliding.
Sunrise in the dunes arrives like a whispered promise, and then-suddenly-like a declaration. At first, the light is soft and pewter. Then the edges of the dunes glow as if lit from within. Shadows stretch long and elegant, the kind photographers call generous. The desert seems to exhale, revealing the day in deep oranges and gold. For a few minutes, everything is color and curve, a living sculpture garden reshaped by the wind. If you've come for a morning desert safari in Dubai, this is the moment you were hoping for: serenity before spectacle.
The quiet doesn't last long if you're here for dune bashing. The 4x4 climbs and dips across the ridgelines, each descent a swoop that lifts your stomach, each ascent a slow, deliberate climb. The driver reads the dunes the way a sailor reads waves, choosing angles that are thrilling but precise. You realize how alive sand is-how it holds and slips, how it sings under the tires. It's not for everyone, and if you're prone to motion sickness, it helps to look at the horizon and breathe. But for those who love a moving horizon, it's the desert's roller coaster, and the morning's cool air makes it feel elemental and clean.
Then comes a different kind of movement: sandboarding down a gentle face, the board carving a creamy trail; or a slow camel ride that sways like a lullaby. Camels are the comedy and dignity of the desert rolled into one. Their eyelashes are dramatic, their noses a marvel of adaptation, their patience ancient. It's easy to laugh at their grumbles-their commentary on our clumsiness-and still feel honored by their company. Some mornings include a brief falconry demonstration, a chance to see a bird that has stitched itself into the region's history cut across the sky with a surgeon's precision. You feel the shift from adrenaline to admiration.
For desert lovers, the magic is in the details: beetle tracks stippling the sand like punctuation; the resilient green of a ghaf tree, whose roots tap deep into memory; the improbable bloom of a desert flower after a rare rain. If you're very lucky and very quiet, you might catch sight of a desert fox or the elegant silhouette of an Arabian oryx.
Morning desert safari Dubai desert escape
Morning desert safari Dubai early desert ride
Morning desert safari Dubai early thrill ride
Morning desert safari Dubai red desert tour
But even without wildlife, the landscape tells stories-of wind and water, of patience and surprise. The silence is not empty; it's articulate.
Culture, too, speaks softly here. You might be offered Arabic coffee, poured from a long-spouted dallah into tiny cups, fragrant and slightly bitter, a perfect foil for dates. It's a small ceremony of welcome, a sip-sized bridge between worlds. Guides often share pieces of Bedouin heritage: how people navigated by stars, where they found water, which plants they trusted for medicine or shade. It's a reminder that the desert isn't a backdrop; it's a teacher that has shaped lives for centuries.
Photographers call this time the golden hour for good reason, and in the desert the gold feels amplified. The sand becomes a character with moods-suede in the shade, velvet in the wind, satin under full sun. If you're shooting, think in lines and layers: the crest of a dune like a calligraphy stroke; footprints marching away into perspective; the contrast between shadowed hollows and sunlit ridges. Step gently, then step aside; your footprints are temporary, but sometimes the best shot is the one you don't disturb.
Practicalities matter, too. Mornings are cooler and calmer, especially from November to March, but even at other times of year, dawn spares you the harsher heat. Wear layers you can peel off as the sun steps up. Closed shoes keep sand from burning your feet; a light scarf can serve as sunshade, windbreak, or a little bit of privacy when the breeze kicks up. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and water are non-negotiable. If your itinerary includes dune bashing, buckle up and let your guide know if you prefer a gentler ride-there's an art to tailoring the thrill. Respect the landscape: don't litter, don't feed wildlife, and choose operators who stay on designated routes and prioritize conservation. The desert keeps receipts; it remembers our choices.
One of the morning safari's secret gifts is the space it leaves in your day. You return to the city by late morning with sand in your shoes and silence in your head, and somehow both feel like souvenirs. Brunch tastes better after a sunrise of effort and awe. Morning desert safari Dubai desert escape The rest of the day becomes a grace note rather than a chase.
Why morning, specifically, for desert lovers? Because the desert's character shifts with the light, and dawn is when it shows you its gentlest face. The air is crisp; the wind is often still; the dunes hold the night's cool. Animals move more freely before the heat. Morning desert safari Dubai red desert tour Photographs carry more nuance. And there's a sense of having arrived early to a private showing, of having witnessed the opening act before the crowd gathers. Evening safaris are social and spectacular in their own right, with campfires and crimson sunsets. But morning is intimate.
In the end, a morning desert safari in Dubai isn't only an activity; it's a recalibration. The city teaches you to look up; the desert teaches you to look across. The city hurries you; the desert invites you to wait. Desert lovers know this: the gift of the dunes is perspective. You measure your footsteps against the scale of a horizon that doesn't argue. You listen-to sand slipping under its own weight, to a bird's single note, to your own breath.
Morning desert safari Dubai desert lovers might sound like a marketing line, but out here it becomes something else: a reminder that wonder is most powerful when it's simple, that beauty is often a matter of being present at the right time. Morning desert safari Dubai early thrill ride Dawn is the desert's right time. Go early. Walk gently. Drink the coffee, watch the light, say thank you to the sand. Then carry that quiet back with you, like a secret you're willing to share.
This article is about the motorsport cup. For the baseball league, see Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball. For manufacturer of ATVs, see Can-Am motorcycles. For other uses, see Can-Am (disambiguation).
Can-Am
The logo of the Can-Am Challenge Cup
Category
Sports car racing
Country
United States, Canada
Folded
1987
The Canadian-American Challenge Cup, or Can-Am, was an SCCA/CASC sports car racing series from 1966 to 1974, and again from 1977 to 1987.
The Can-Am rules were deliberately simple and placed few limits on the entries. This led to a wide variety of unique car body designs and powerful engine installations. Notable among these were Jim Hall's Chaparrals and entries with over 1,000 horsepower.
History
[edit]
The Can-Am race at Edmonton International Speedway in 1973
Can-Am started out as a race series for Group 7 sports racers with two races in Canada (Can) and four races in the United States of America (Am). The series was initially sponsored by Johnson Wax. The series was governed by rules called out under the FIA Group 7 category with unrestricted engine capacity and few other technical restrictions.
The Group 7 category was essentially a Formula Libre for sports cars; the regulations were minimal and permitted unlimited engine sizes (and allowed turbocharging and supercharging), virtually unrestricted aerodynamics, and were as close as any major international racing series ever got to have an "anything goes" policy. As long as the car had two seats, bodywork enclosing the wheels, and met basic safety standards, it was allowed. Group 7 had arisen as a category for non-homologated sports car "specials" in Europe and, for a while in the 1960s, Group 7 racing was popular in the United Kingdom as well as a class in hillclimb racing in Europe. Group 7 cars were designed more for short-distance sprints than for endurance racing. Some Group 7 cars were also built in Japan by Nissan and Toyota, but these did not compete outside their homeland (though some of the Can-Am competitors occasionally went over to race against them).
SCCA sports car racing was becoming more popular with European constructors and drivers, and the United States Road Racing Championship for large-capacity sports racers eventually gave rise to the Group 7 Can-Am series. There was good prize and appearance money and plenty of trade backing; the series was lucrative for its competitors but resulted, by its end, in truly outrageous cars with well over 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) (the Porsche team claimed 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) for its 917/30 in qualifying trim[1]), wings, active downforce generation, very light weight and unheard of speeds. Similar Group 7 cars ran in the European Interserie series from 1970 on, but this was much lower-key than the Can-Am.
On-track, the series was initially dominated by Lola, followed by a period in which it became known as the "Bruce and Denny show", the works McLaren team dominated for five consecutive seasons (1967-1971) until the Porsche 917 was perfected and became almost unbeatable in 1972 and 1973. After Porsche's withdrawal, Shadow dominated the last season before Can-Am faded away to be replaced by Formula 5000. Racing was rarely close—one marque was usually dominant—but the noise and spectacle of the cars made the series highly popular.
The energy crisis and the increased cost of competing in Can-Am meant that the series folded after the relatively lackluster 1974 season; the single-seater Formula 5000 series became the leading road-racing series in North America and many of the Can-Am drivers and teams continued to race there. F5000's reign lasted for only two years, with a second generation of Can-Am following. This was a fundamentally different series based initially on converted F5000 cars with closed-wheel bodies. There was also a two-liter class based on Formula Two chassis. The second iteration of Can-Am faded away as IMSA and CART racing became more popular in the early 1980s but remained active until 1987.
Can-Am remains a well-remembered form of racing due to its popularity in the 1960s and early 1970s, the limited number of regulations allowing extremely fast and innovative cars and the lineup of talented drivers. Can-Am cars remain popular in historic racing today.
Notable drivers
[edit]
Notable drivers in the original Can-Am series included virtually every acclaimed driver of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Jim Hall, Mark Donohue, Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones, George Follmer, Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, Denny Hulme, Jacky Ickx, Bruce McLaren, Jackie Oliver, Peter Revson, John Surtees, and Charlie Kemp all drove Can-Am cars competitively and were successful, winning races and championship titles. Al Holbert, Alan Jones and Al Unser Jr. are among the drivers who launched their careers in the revived Can-Am series.
Pioneering technology
[edit]
Can-Am was the birthplace and proving ground for what, at the time, was cutting-edge technology. Can-Am cars were among the first race cars to use sport wings, effective turbocharging, ground-effect aerodynamics, and aerospace materials like titanium. This led to the eventual downfall of the original series when costs got prohibitive. However during its height, Can-Am cars were at the forefront of racing technology and were frequently as fast as or even faster around laps of certain circuits than the contemporary Formula One cars. Noted constructors in the Can-Am series include McLaren, Chaparral, Lola, BRM, Shadow and Porsche.
Manufacturers
[edit]
McLaren
[edit]
A McLaren M1A, one of the early Can-Am competitors that was equally at home in other sportscar series.McLaren Can Am Chassis restored by Racefab Inc. for vintage racing
McLaren cars were specially designed race cars. The Can-Am cars were developments of the sports cars which were introduced in 1964 for the North American sports car races. The team works car for 1964 was the M1. For 1965 the M1A prototype was the team car and bases for the Elva customer M1A cars. In late 1965 the M1b(mk2) was the factory car in 1966 with Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon as drivers. In 1967, specifically for the Can-Am series, the McLaren team introduced a new model, the M6A. The McLaren M6A also introduced what was to become the trademark orange color for the team. The McLaren team was considered very "multinational" for the times and consisted of team owner and leader Bruce McLaren, fellow New Zealander Chris Amon and another "kiwi", the 1967 Formula One world champion, Denny Hulme, team manager Teddy Mayer, mechanics Tyler Alexander, Gary Knutson, Lee Muir, George Bolthoff, Frank Zimmerman, Tom Anderson, Alan Anderson, David Dunlap, Leo Beattie, Donny Ray Everett, and Haig Alltounian (all from the US), Don Beresford, Alec Greaves, Vince Higgins, and Roger Bailey (UK), Tony Attard (Australia), Cary Taylor, Jimmy Stone, Chris Charles, Colin Beanland, Alan McCall, and Alistair Caldwell (NZ). The M6 series used a full aluminum monocoque design with no uncommon features but, for the times, there was an uncommon attention to detail in preparation by the team members. The M6 series of cars were powered by Chevy "mouse-motor" small-block V8s built by Al Bartz Engines in Van Nuys, California. They were models of reliability. This was followed in 1968 by the M8A, a new design based around the Chevy big-block V8 "rat motor" as a stressed member of the chassis. McLaren went "in house" with their engine shop in 1969. The M8B, M8C, M8D and M20C were developments of that aluminum monocoque chassis. McLaren so dominated the 1967-1971 seasons that Can-Am was often called the "Bruce and Denny show" after the drivers who very often finished first and second. There was even a one-two-three finish at the Michigan International Speedway on September 28, 1969: McLaren first, Hulme second, and Gurney third. Nine months later, Bruce McLaren lost his life, on June 2, 1970, at Goodwood when the rear bodywork of his prototype M8D detached during testing resulting in a completely uncontrollable car and a fatal high-speed crash. Team McLaren continued to succeed in Can-Am after Bruce's death with a number of other drivers, but the works Porsche effort with a turbocharged flat-12 engines and a high development budget meant that they could not keep up with the 917. Although private McLarens continued in the series, the works team withdrew to concentrate on Formula One (and USAC, for several years). Team McLaren went on to become a several time F1 champion and is still a part of that series.
Porsche
[edit]
The Porsche 917/30 carried Mark Donohue to the 1973 championship.
The Porsche 908 spyder was used in Can-Am, but was underpowered (350 hp) and mainly used by underfunded teams. It did win the 1970 Road Atlanta race, when the more powerful cars fell out. The 917PA, a spyder version of the 917K Le Mans car, was raced, but its normally aspirated flat-12 was underpowered (530 hp). In 1971 the 917/10 was introduced. This was not turbocharged, but was lighter and had cleaner body work, and Jo Siffert managed to finish fourth in the championship.
For 1972 the 917/10K with a turbocharged 900 horsepower five-litre flat-12 was introduced. Prepared by Roger Penske and driven by Mark Donohue and George Follmer these cars won six of the nine races. In 1972 Porsche introduced an even more powerful car, the 917/30KL. Nicknamed the "Turbopanzer" this car was seen as a monster. With 1,100 or 1,580 horsepower (820/1161 kW in race or qualifying trim)[citation needed] available from its 5.4 litre flat-12 and weighing 1,800 lb (816 kg) with better downforce this car won six of eight races in the 1973 championship.[2] Porsche's dominance was such that engine rules were changed to try to reduce the lack of competition for one marque by enforcing a fuel-consumption rule for 1974. This kind of alteration of rules to promote equality is not unknown in other forms of American motorsport. The category that the car had been created for and competed in was discontinued and in 1975 Donohue drove this car to a closed-course world-speed record of 221 mph (average)(356 km/h) at the Talladega Superspeedway (then called the "Alabama International Motor Speedway"). It was capable of 240 mph (386 km/h) on the straights.[3]
Chaparral
[edit]
Chaparral's infamous 2J "Sucker Car" was banned from Can-Am after 1970, due to its unique downforce-producing fans.
Jim Hall's Chaparrals were very innovative, following his success in the United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC). The 2 series Chaparrals (built and engineered with a high degree of covert support from Chevrolet's research and development division) were leaders in the application of aerodynamics to race cars culminating with the introduction of the 2E in 1966, the first of the high wing race cars. The 2E was a defining design, and the 2G was a development of that basic design. The FIA banned movable aerodynamic devices and Chaparral responded with the 2H 1969. The 2H broke new ground, seeking to reduce drag but did not achieve much success. The 2J that followed was perhaps the ultimate example of what Group 7 rules could allow in a racing car. It was a twin-engined car, with the by-then usual big-block Chevrolet engine providing the driving force, and a tiny snowmobile engine powering a pair of fans at the back of the car. These fans, combined with the movable Lexan "skirts" around the bottom of the car created a vacuum underneath the car, effectively providing the same level of downforce as the huge wings of previous vehicles, without the drag. Although far too mechanically complex to survive in racing environments, the theory was sound, and would appear in Formula One a few years later in the BT46B "Fan Car" of 1978.
Lola
[edit]
The Lola T70, T160-165, T220, T260, and T310 were campaigned by the factory and various customers, and were primarily Chevy powered. The Lola T70 driven by John Surtees won the first Can-Am championship in 1966. Lola continued to experiment with new designs versus McLaren which refined the design each year. The 1971 Lola T260 had some success with Jackie Stewart taking two victories. In 1972 a radical new design, the Lola T310, made its appearance. The T310 was the longest and widest Can-Am car of the era versus the short stubby T260. The T310 was delivered late and suffered handling problems the entire year with its best finish a fourth at Watkins Glen.
Others
[edit]
1974s Shadow DN4A
While McLaren and Porsche dominated the series for most of its existence, other vehicles also appeared. Well-established European manufacturers like Lotus, CRD, in the form of their Merlyn Mk8 Chevrolet, Ferrari and BRM, appeared at various times with limited success, while March tried to get a share of the lucrative market in 1970–71, but could not establish themselves. Ford also flitted across the scene with a number of unsuccessful cars based on the GT40 and its successors. American specialist marques like McKee, Genie and Caldwell competed, alongside exotica like the astonishing four-engined Macs-It special.
British-born mechanic and engineer Peter Bryant designed the Ti22 (occasionally known as the Autocoast after one of the team's major backers) as an American-built challenger to the British McLarens and Lolas. The car made extensive use of titanium in its chassis and suspension, and Bryant experimented with aerodynamics and with early use of carbon-fibre to reduce weight. Although the car was quick it did not achieve consistent success; problems with the team's funding saw Bryant move on to Don Nichols' UOP-sponsored Shadow team. The Shadow marque had made its debut with an astonishing car with tiny wheels and radiators mounted on top of the rear wing designed by Trevor Harris; this was unsuccessful, and more conventional cars designed by Bryant replaced them; Bryant was sidelined when Shadow moved into Formula One but after his departure, turbocharged Shadows came to dominate as Porsche and McLaren faded from the scene.
Decline and revivals
[edit]
Al Holbert driving a VDS-001 in the revived Can-Am in 1982.
The last year for the original Can-Am championship was 1974. Spiraling costs, a recession in North America following the oil crisis, and dwindling support and interest led to the series being canceled and the last scheduled race of the 1974 season not being run.[4]
The Can-Am name still held enough drawing power to lead SCCA to introduce a revised Can-Am series in 1977 based on a closed-wheel version of the rules of the recently canceled Formula A/5000 series. This grew steadily in status, particularly during the USAC/CART wars of the late 70s and early 80s, and attracted some top road-racing teams and drivers and a range of vehicles including specials based on rebodied single seaters (particularly Lola F5000s) and also bespoke cars from constructors like March as well as smaller manufacturers. To broaden the appeal of the series a 2L class was introduced for the last several years—cars often being derived from F2/Formula Atlantic. The series peaked in the early 80s but as the CART Indycar series and IMSA's GTP championship grew in stature it faded. In 1987 the series changed as Indycars started to become a source of cars. The SCCA took away the Can-Am name but the series continued as the Can-Am Teams Thunder Cars Championship. After a single year the teams took the sports bodies off and evolved into American Indycar Series.
In 1991, after 18 months of development, a Shelby Can-Am series was created using a production line of Sports bodied cars designed by Carroll Shelby powered by a 3.3 litre Dodge V6. The series ran for five years before it was dropped by the SCCA. A large number of cars were relocated to South Africa and ran from 2000 onwards.
The name was once again revived in 1998, when the United States Road Racing Championship broke away from IMSA. Their top prototype class was named Can-Am, but the series would fold before the end of 1999 before being replaced by the Grand American Road Racing Championship. The Can-Am name would not be retained in the new series.
Circuits
[edit]
Main article: List of Can-Am Challenge Cup circuits
Champions
[edit]
Year
Driver
Team
Car
1966
John Surtees
Team Surtees
Lola T70-Chevrolet
1967
Bruce McLaren
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
McLaren M6A-Chevrolet
1968
Denny Hulme
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
McLaren M8A-Chevrolet
1969
Bruce McLaren
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
McLaren M8B-Chevrolet
1970
Denny Hulme
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
McLaren M8D-Chevrolet
1971
Peter Revson
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
McLaren M8F-Chevrolet
1972
George Follmer
Penske Racing
Porsche 917/10
1973
Mark Donohue
Penske Racing
Porsche 917/30 TC
1974
Jackie Oliver
Shadow Racing Cars
Shadow DN4A-Chevrolet
1975–1976
No series
1977
Patrick Tambay
Haas-Hall Racing
Lola T333CS-Chevrolet
1978
Alan Jones
Haas-Hall Racing
Lola T333CS-Chevrolet
1979
Jacky Ickx
Carl Haas Racing
Lola T333CS-Chevrolet
1980
Patrick Tambay
Carl Haas Racing
Lola T530-Chevrolet
1981
Geoff Brabham
Team VDS
Lola T530-Chevrolet / VDS 001-Chevrolet
1982
Al Unser Jr.
Galles Racing
Frissbee GR3-Chevrolet
1983
Jacques Villeneuve Sr.
Canadian Tire
Frissbee GR3-Chevrolet
1984
Michael Roe
Norwood/Walker
VDS 002-Chevrolet / VDS 004-Chevrolet
1985
Rick Miaskiewicz
Mosquito Autosport
Frissbee GR3-Chevrolet
1986
Horst Kroll
Kroll Racing
Frissbee KR3-Chevrolet
1987
Bill Tempero
Texas American Racing Team
March 85C-Chevrolet
Under 2 Litre class champions
[edit]
Year
Driver
Team
Car
1979
Tim Evans
Diversified Engineering Services
Lola T290-Ford
1980
Gary Gove
Pete Lovely VW
Ralt RT2-Hart
1981
Jim Trueman
TrueSports
Ralt RT2-Hart
1982
Bertil Roos
Elite Racing
Marquey CA82-Hart
1983
Bertil Roos
Roos Racing School
Scandia B3-Hart
1984
Kim Campbell
Tom Mitchell Racing
March 832-BMW
1985
Lou Sell
Sell Racing
March 832-BMW
References
[edit]
^
Nevison, Robert (director) (2008). CAN-AM: The Speed Odyssey (documentary).
^http://www.wspr-racing.com/wspr/results/canam/canam1973.html 1973 Can Am results
^"Donohue Hits 221 for Closed Course Record". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. AP. August 10, 1975. p. 1B. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
^Lyons, Pete (1995). Can-Am. Osceola, Wisconsin: Motorbooks International. p. 240. ISBN 0-7603-0017-8.
Bibliography
[edit]
Can-Am, Pete Lyons, Motorbooks International
Can-Am Races 1966–1969, Brooklands Books
Can-Am Races 1970–1974, Brooklands Books
Can-Am Racing Cars 1966–1974, Brooklands Books
Can-Am Challenger, Peter Bryant, David Bull
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Can-Am (autosport).
CanAm History site Archived 2005-08-31 at the Wayback Machine
Can-Am History, by Michael Stucker
Bruce McLaren Trust Official site
Can-Am Results 1966-1986
CanamCircus by Stéphane Lebiez
Historic Can Am
The History of the Canadian - American Challenge Cup
v
t
e
Circuits of the Can-Am Challenge Cup (1966–1987)
Canada
Edmonton
Mont-Tremblant
Mosport
Sanair
Trois-Rivières
United States
Brainerd
Bridgehampton
Caesars Palace
Charlotte
Dallas
Gateway
Green Valley
Hallett
Laguna Seca
Lime Rock
Michigan
Mid-Ohio
Milwaukee
Phoenix
Pueblo
Riverside
Road America
Road Atlanta
Sears Point
Stardust
St. Petersburg
Summit Point
Texas World
Watkins Glen
Willow Springs
v
t
e
Classes of auto racing
Formula
racing
Active
F1
F2
F3
F4
F600
Formula 1000
Formula Atlantic
Formula Car Challenge
Formula Continental
Formula E
Formula Enterprises
Formula Ford
FF1600
Formula Regional
GB3
Formula Vee
IndyCar
Super Formula
Supermodified
BOSS GP
Monoposto Racing Club
V de V Challenge Monoplace
Defunct
F3000
F5000
Formula A (SCCA)
Formula B (SCCA)
Formula C (SCCA)
FCJ
Formula Dream
Formula Holden
S5000
Formula Junior
Formula Libre
Formula Mondial
Formula Pacific
Formula Super Vee
Australian National Formula
Tasman Series
One-make
formulae
Active
Formula Car Challenge
Formula Enterprise
Indy NXT
MRF Challenge
SRF
USF Pro 2000
USF2000
USF Juniors
FIA Formula Championship
2
3
Defunct
ADAC Formel Masters
Barber Pro
CFGP
Formula Asia
Formula
Abarth
Alfa
BMW
Chrysler
König
LGB
Swift
Hyundai
Lightning
Maruti
Masters
China
Russia
Mazda
Nissan
Opel/Vauxhall
Palmer Audi
RUS
Rolon
Formula Renault
2.0L
GP2
GP3
Toyota Racing Series
S5000
Kart racing
Active
Direct-drive
OK
OK-J
OK-N
OKN-J
60 Mini
Gearbox
KZ
KZ2
KZ2-M
Superkart
Defunct
KF1
Touring
car racing
Active
BTCC
NGTC (TCN-1)
TCR (TCN-2)
Stock Car Pro Series
Stock Series
Supercars
Top Race V6
Turismo Nacional
Turismo Nacional BR
TC2000
Defunct
Appendix J
BTC-T
Group 1
Group 2
Group 5
Group A
Group C
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Group N
Aus
Group S
Class 1
Class 2
Super 2000
Diesel 2000
DTM
ETCR
Superstars
V8Star
WTCC
WTCR
Stock
car racing
Active
ARCA
Allison Legacy Series
IMCA Sport Compact
Late model
Legends
Modifieds
NASCAR
Cup
O'Reilly
Truck
Canada
Whelen Euro Series
Mexico
Super Stock
Street Stock
Turismo Carretera
Defunct
ASCAR
AUSCAR
IROC
SRX
Oval
BriSCA F1
BriSCA F2
V8 Hotstox
Hot Rods
Superstocks
Superstox
Sprint car racing
Midget car racing
Quarter midget racing
Rallying
Active
Groups Rally
Group Rally1
Group Rally2
Group Rally3
Group Rally4
Group Rally5
Group R-GT
Defunct
Group 1
Group 2
Group 4
Group A
Group B
Group S
Group N
Group R
Super 1600
Super 2000
World Rally Car
Sports
prototypes
Active
LMDh
LMH
LMP
LMP2
LMP3
Clubmans
Defunct
DP
DPi
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6
Group 7
Group A
Group C
Group CN
GC
GC-21
IMSA GTP (1981–1993 era)
LMP
LMP1
LMPC
S2000
Grand
touring
Active
GT3
GT2
GT4
GT500
GT300
Trans-Am
Defunct
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Group B
Group D
GT1 (1993–1999)
GT1 (2000–2012)
GT2 (1993–1999)
GT2 (2005–2010)
GT3 (1998–1999)
LM GTE
IMSA
AAGT
GTO
GTS
GTU
GTX
Appendix K
Drag
racing
Active
Top Fuel
Dragster (TF/D)
Funny Car (TF/FC)
Top Alcohol
Dragster (TA/D)
Funny Car (TA/FC)
Pro Stock (PS)
Pro Modified (Pro Mod)
Gas
Super Stock
Super Comp/Quick Rod
Top Doorslammer
Altered
Competition
Radial vs. The World
Pro 275
X275
Outlaw 10.5
Defunct
Top Gas
Modified
Pro FWD
Off-road
Baja Bug
Dune buggy
Rallycross
Autocross
Trophy truck
Group T1
Group T2
Group T3
Group T4
Group T5
Truggy
Side by Side (UTV)
About Sharjah
Capital of the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
This article is about the city. For the emirate, see Emirate of Sharjah. For the star, see HIP 79431.
Metropolis in United Arab Emirates
Sharjah
Location within the Persian Gulf
Show map of Persian Gulf
Sharjah
ٱلشَّارقَة
Metropolis
Sharjah
Clockwise from top:
Al Khan Lagoon, Heritage District, Al-Noor Mosque, Cultural Palace, Blue Souk, Al-Qasba Canal
Flag
Coat of arms
Sharjah
Location of Sharjah in the UAE
Show map of United Arab Emirates
Coordinates: 25°21′27″N55°23′27″E / 25.35750°N 55.39083°E / 25.35750; 55.39083CountryUnited Arab EmiratesEmirateSharjahGovernment
• TypeAbsolute monarchy • SheikhSultan bin Muhammad Al-QasimiArea
• TotalUS$ 58.9 billion (2023) • Per capitaUS$ 32,100 (2023)
Sharjah (/ˈʃɑːrdʒə/; Arabic: ٱلشَّارقَةaš-Šāriqah, Gulf Arabic: aš-Šārja[3]) is a major port city and the third-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi.[4][5] It is the capital of the Emirate of Sharjah and forms part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area. The emirate shares legal, political, military and economic functions with the other emirates of the UAE within a federal framework. 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 center for culture and industry, and alone contributes 7.4% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates.[6] The city covers approximately 235 km2 and has a population of over 1,800,000 (2022–2023).[1] Sharjah has been officially named as a WHO healthy city.[7] The 2016 edition of QS Best Student Cities ranked Sharjah as the 68th best city in the world to be a university student.[8] Sharjah is regarded as the cultural capital of the UAE,[9][10] and was the Islamic culture capital of 2014[11] and Sharjah World Book Capital for 2019 by UNESCO.[12]
On 1 January 2022, Sharjah made history when its public sector adopted a four-day working week and a three-day weekend, becoming the first government sector in the Gulf region and the entire Middle East to fully adopt a four-day working week.[13]
Etymology
[edit]
The origin of the name of Sharjah is unknown, with most common interpretations linking the origin of the word Sharjah to the word sharq (Arabic: شَرْق, lit. 'east') due to the fact that the city is located to the east of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and that Sharjah was the easternmost settlement at the time.[14]
However, other interpretations have disputed the origin of the name based on location, and suggested instead that it refers to the word shurūq (Arabic: شُروق, lit. 'sunrise'). Further theories have linked the name to a pre-Islamic idol called Abed Al Shareq that transformed into Sharjah. The origin of the word has also been linked to the Andalusi Arabic usage of the word, which was used to refer to a fort.[15]
History
[edit]
An old door in Sharjah, displaying the historical architecture of the city.
Sharjah was historically one of the wealthiest towns in this region with a settlement in existence for over 5000 years.[16] In the early 18th century, the Huwayla tribe of the Qawasim clan established itself in Sharjah c. 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 its neighbors Ajman, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah's 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).
In 1829, English author and traveler James Silk Buckingham described Sharjah as such:
"In the course of the night, we had passed the port of Sharjee, on the Arabian coast, which is not an island, Niebuhr's chart, the only one in which it is inserted; but a small town, on a sandy beach, containing from five to six hundred inhabitants. It is situated in lat. 25° 34' north, and lies eleven leagues south-west of a small island, close to the shore, called Jeziret-el-Hamra; and three leagues south-west of Sharjee is Aboo Hayle."[17]
With the approach of the 20th century, Sharjah extended inland to the area now known as Wasit Suburb, the area between the city and Al Dhaid being under the control of the tribes of the interior. With a population of 15,000 inhabitants, Sharjah had some four or five shops in Layyah and a bazaar of around 200 shops in main Sharjah.[18]
In the midst of World War II, Nazi propaganda infiltrated the town. Loud propagating of pro-Hitler speeches could be heard emanating from the Sheikh of Sharjah's palace during a period in 1940, and messages sharing a similar sentiment graffitied on walls in the town center according to British intelligence reports at the time, for the messages being propagated by the Germans was one of anti-imperialism, it found a sympathetic audience among some of the emirate's populace, particularly Abdullah bin Faris, a secretary of the Sheikh who was responsible for the broadcasts. After the Sheikh was confronted by the British, he wrote a letter reaffirming his support for the British war efforts and disputed the charges laid out against bin Faris. Attached to the letter was a petition signed by 48 prominent individuals testifying to bin Faris' character, which, according to the British, had been misrepresented to the signees. The incident resolved after the Sheikh and bin Faris ceased transmitting propaganda and doubled down on their support to the British.[19]
On 2 December 1971, Sharjah, together with Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Qawain, and Fujairah joined in the Act of Union to form the United Arab Emirates. The seventh emirate, Ras al-Khaimah, joined the UAE on 10 February 1972 following Iran's annexation of Ras al-Khaimah's Tunbs islands.[citation needed]
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. These stamps that were printed in profusion became worthless to collectors and came to be known as Dunes.[20] Many of the items featured on these stamps were unrelated to the emirate and therefore many catalogues do not list them.[21]
Districts and landmarks
[edit]
Sharjah City in the Northwest of the EmirateSharjah City is statistically subdivided into 32 districts. This consists of Sir Abu Nu’ayr island to the Southwest, and the Iran-controlled island of Abu Musa to the Northeast. The map does not show the two latter island districts.
Map all coordinates in "Sharjah" using OpenStreetMap
Panoramic view of Downtown SharjahEye of the Emirates, a 60-metre (200 ft) tall Ferris wheel at Al Qasba.[23] Moved to Al Montazah Parks in 2018.[24]Map of Sharjah's districts
Sharjah is the third largest city in the United Arab Emirates after Dubai and Abu Dhabi.[25] The palace of the ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, is located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of the city.
The city of Sharjah overlooks the Persian Gulf and has a population of over 1,600,000 (2022). It includes the main administrative centres of the Government of Sharjah along with commercial, cultural and traditional projects. The city hosts several museums of archaeology, natural history, science, arts, heritage, Islamic art and culture.[26] Distinctive landmarks include two major covered souks, reflecting Islamic design, and a number of recreational areas and public parks such as Al Montazah Fun Park and Al Buheirah Corniche. The city is also acclaimed for its numerous elegant mosques.[27]
Downtown Sharjah
[edit]
Main article: Downtown Sharjah
Downtown Sharjah or Sharjah City,[28] Al Majaz is a large-scale, mixed-use complex in Sharjah. It serves as the cultural and commercial heart of the emirate. It is characterized by a blend of traditional architecture, modern amenities, and numerous cultural landmarks.
Rolla Sharjah
[edit]
Main article: Rolla Sharjah
It is one of the older parts of the city. It is a key of commercial and residential hub within the emirate. Situated east of Khalid lake Rolla Sharjah stands out as a prominent community within the city as a historical and significant landmark within the city of Sharjah. The neighborhood derives its name from a historic banyan tree that once flourished in the area. Rolla is an integral part of the Al Ghuwair development.[29]
Muwaileh Commercial
[edit]
Main article: Muwaileh Commercial
Muwaileh Commercial is a Suburb, Community city and residential area in Sharjah, with direct access to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) and Maliah Road. Its a prominent and rapidly developing area in Sharjah. It borders Industrial Area 15 and 17 to the south, and is close to the University City of Sharjah.[30] It also features a diverse range of residential options, consisting of apartment buildings.
Rolla Square
[edit]
It is named after the large rolla (banyan tree) that once stood in the square,[31] which inspired the sculpture at the center of the park, Rolla Square is a common location for people to stroll, unwind and enjoy the tranquil environment during the weekends.[32] Rolla Square Market in Rolla Square is a vital part of the Sharjah shopping experience. Its mix of traditional market vibes where visitors can get their products at affordable prices and a wide range of products makes it a favorite for shoppers looking for deals and unique finds.[33]
Bank Street
[edit]
Bank street is located near the main area of Rolla, many bank branches and offices are located on the street. The street has an urban park which is unique as local residents were invited to nominate significant urban features — like benches, trees, playgrounds, and signage — from various cities worldwide that hold personal meaning to them, representing anything from remarkable stories to fleeting memories. These objects were selected from the residents' home countries or places they came across during their travels. They were either replicated in exact 1:1 scale or purchased and transported to the designated site.[34][35]
Al Hisn Sharjah
[edit]
Main article: Sharjah Fort
Al Hisn, also known as Sharjah Fort was a fortified complex built in 1823 as the headquarters of the then-independent Emirate of Sharjah and the residence of the Al Qasimi family. Its situated in the center of the city, and was closed for renovations from 1996 to 2015, and it reopened its doors as an open-air museum under the administration of the Sharjah Museums Authority.[36] The materials that were used for the building of the fort — ceilings are made out of chandal (mangrove poles), kumbar (rope), du’un (bound palm branches) and haseer (palm matts). The walls, with a thickness of 70–80 cm, are plastered with corals, harvested from the Gulf seabed and held in place using jus – a mortar formed by crushing and burning corals, limestone and shells.[37]
"Smile, You're in Sharjah" roundabout
[edit]
Located between the Blue Souq and Fish Market, near the Union Bank Tower, the floral call to cheer up engraved on the roundabout has given its name to the roundabout itself. "Smile, You're in Sharjah" is a welcome sign, spelled out in flowers in the middle of a roundabout notorious for its rush-hour traffic jams.[38]
Gold Souq
[edit]
Sharjah Central Souq, or Gold Souq (Arabic: سوق, lit. 'market'), stands as Sharjah premier shopping destination and comprises a gold souq, clothing souq, and antiques and jewellery shops. It stands out due to its design by British architects Michael Lyle & Partners under the guidance of Sharjah's ruler, H.H Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the building was completed in 1978. Its architecture evokes a grand-scale traditional bazaar. It is situated along the Khalid Lagoon and offers a stunning view of sunset, reflecting its beauty across the water.[39] The Central Souq which is also called the Blue Souq includes around 600 shops and each shop has the unique masterpiece design.[40]
Mahatta Fort
[edit]
Mahatta Fort, now known as the Al Mahatta Museum, is a museum on the site of the first airport built in the region in 1932 by Imperial Airways. The adjacent fort was constructed by then-Ruler of Sharjah Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi as a rest stop for travelling crew and for protection against any potential attacks.[41][42] The fort and airport were used extensively by the Royal Air Force during World War II, and after the war the fort became the headquarters of the Trucial Oman Scouts.[43] The airport remained in use up to 1977, when Sharjah International Airport opened. The runway strip was converted into a highway and the buildings were renovated into Al Mahatta Museum, which opened in 2000.[43]
The Heart of Sharjah
[edit]
Sharjah Heritage District
The Heart of Sharjah is an ongoing[needs update] renovation and preservation project of the former old city center of Sharjah.[44] The project aims to develop the former old city center into an open-air museum with various smaller museums, galleries and commercial centers. The project is home to a 5-star hotel and the traditional Souk Al Arsa, a covered souk with an array of items for sale, including antiques.[45]
Al Qasba Canal
[edit]
Main article: Al Qasba Sharjah
Al-Qasba Canal is a 1-kilometer-long canal that runs through the center of Sharjah. Located along its waterfront are several apartments, shops, and tourist attractions of the Al Qasba community.[46] The theatre in Qasba celebrates different types of cultural events every year. It became more crowded during the festival season.[47]
Sharjah Heritage Museum
[edit]
The Sharjah Heritage Museum is situated near the Bait Al Naboodah, directly across from Souq Al Arsah. It is built around a shaded courtyard as a reconstruction of traditional family life. There are many rooms which have display of traditional furniture along with household items including children's costumes, toys, and jewellery.
Sharjah National Park
[edit]
Main article: Sharjah National Park
Sharjah National Park spanning nearly 630,000 sq ft (59,000 m2) is the city's largest green space, offering a wide range of attractions ideal for families which is popular among both locals and tourists, it features amenities such as barbecue areas with picnic tables and grilling stations, a playground with swings and slides under sheltering canopies, and a duck pond. Moreover, visitors can explore cycling tracks and a miniature clay model of Sharjah's landmarks. There is a small mosque for prayers nearby[48]
Sharjah Aquarium
[edit]
Since its opening in 2008 Sharjah's Aquarium which is located in Al Layyeh, has become an attraction to adults and children. Managed by the Sharjah Museums Authority, renowned for its educational initiatives, the aquarium features 20 tanks across two floors, housing diverse sea creatures in a sprawling 6,500 square meter space. The Sharjah Underwater Walk is a unique experience at the Sharjah Aquarium which allow visitors to explore marine life closely. Visitors can walk along the aquarium floor while submerged in water, surrounded by a variety of fish and other sea creatures.[49] Ready to explore? Here is everything one should know about this captivating attraction.[50]
Al Noor Island
[edit]
Main article: Al Noor Island
Aerial view of Al Noor Island
Inside Al Noor island with Sharjah skyline in the back
Al Noor Island is located in the Khalid Lagoon covering an area of 45,470 m2 (489,400 sq ft). It has been developed by Shurooq to be a state of art culture and a leisure destination that engages people with nature and inspires Sharjah's fast growing tourism sector.[51] The island is accessible via a short boat ride from the mainland and also can reach through the pedestrian bridge that connects it to the mainland. It is designed to offer a serene escape from city life, boasting stunning lighting displays, art sculptures, and a tranquil Literature Pavilion such as the 'OVO' and 'Torus' displays. The island's is intended to convey a peaceful ambience consistent with being a family-friendly destination.[52]
Maryam Island
[edit]
Maryam Island is a beachfront destination that oversees the Arabian sea. It is one of the largest projects in the emirate with an investment of 2.4 billion Dirhams (US$650M).[53] Waterside development is planned to spread across 460,000 m2 (5,000,000 sq ft), with a built-up area of 310,000 m2 (3,300,000 sq ft).[54][55] The Maryam Island development will feature 38 residential buildings with over 35,000 units. This community will offer residents many facilities which includes a 900-metre waterfront promenade, fitness clubs, swimming pools for kids and adults, an indoor garden, 4,000 square metre Maryam Park, jogging tracks, basketball courts, and a playground for children.[56]
Wildlife Centers
[edit]
The Arabian Wildlife Center opened in 1999 and was home to more than 100 species of animals. Situated at a convenient location, this center was quite close to the Sharjah International Airport. The Sharjah Wildlife Centre has introduced a pair of rare long-eared hedgehogs which is one of the fascinating species at the centre. These hedgehogs are known for their distinctive long ears, which help them detect predators and navigate their environment.[57] Despite the hot and dry conditions in most of Arabia, there were a number of mammal species who adapted to these conditions.[58] The Breeding Centre for Endangered Wildlife, a sister facility,[59] was a member of the EAZA, like Al Ain Zoo in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi,[60] but is now closed to the public.[61] The fauna, including the Arabian leopard, which are found in the mountains in the eastern part of the country,[59] were transferred to Al Hefaiyah Conservation Centre in the eastern area of Kalba.[62] In 2001, The center assisted Yemeni zoos in Sana'a and Ta'izz with the management of their animals.[59]
Al Majaz Waterfront
[edit]
Al Majaz Waterfront is a leisure area, a waterfront landmark of Sharjah Featuring an audio-video dancing fountain, miniature golf and a number of restaurants. At a distance of 1 km from Blue Souk, 18 km from Sharjah International Airport and 14 km from Dubai International Airport.[63]
In 2023 a redevelopment project was done involving a complete overhaul of the park, including the installation of a new irrigation system, construction of new walking paths, children's play areas, and a parking plot valued around 5.5 million AED which took 6 months to complete.[64] This is the main attractions for family and friends in Sharjah where many activities like waterside destination which includes mini golf, a splash park, a mini-train and many more attractions are available for kids.[65]
Rain Room
[edit]
Main article: Rain Room
Rain Room, an experiential artwork created by Hannes Koch and Florian Ortkrass of Random International in 2012, was permanently installed for the first time in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, in 2018. This artwork allows people to visit the installation and walk through a rain downpour without getting wet, as their movement in dark spaces is detected by motion sensors. The Sharjah Art Foundation constructed a purpose-built visitor center located in the city's residential area of Al Majarrah to house the permanent installation of Rain Room.[66][67] The Sharjah Rain Room recycles about 1,200 liters of rainwater during each visit.[68]
The Flying Saucer
[edit]
Main article: The Flying Saucer, Sharjah
Reconstructed in 2015 and launched as a redeveloped arts and community center in 2020, The Flying Saucer, Sharjah is a brutalist building dating back to the 1970s. It was re-opened after a two-year renovation project by the Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF).[69] The Flying Saucer building looks like a circular with a dome-like structure on top and its roof is wide, disc-shaped with a smooth and clean finish which is supported by several V shaped columns.[70]
The Sharjah Light Festival is held every year since 2010 in various landmarks around Sharjah. It is a display of lights using projectors and lasers on buildings. Usually, the shows have a small storyline or a theme.[71][72]
Places of worship
[edit]
Sharjah's largest mosque, the "Sharjah Mosque"[73][74] was inaugurated in May 2019. Located in the area of Tay, at the junction of the Emirates Road and the road to Mleiha. It can accommodate up to 25,000 worshipers, with an interior capacity of over 5,000 people.[75] Two coins, one gold and one silver, each inscribed with a verse from the Quran, were issued by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, and designed by the Sharjah Islamic Bank, to commemorate the occasion.[76] Earlier, the King Faisal Mosque, named after King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, had been the largest in the Emirate[77] and country,[citation needed] with an area of 10,000–12,000 m2 (110,000–130,000 sq ft).[78][79]
In 1997, a Syriac Orthodox church, St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Soonoro Patriarchal Cathedral, was consecrated to accommodate a growing population of Syriac Christians, many of whom are migrant workers from Kerala and southern India.[80]
Mosque
Al-Noor Mosque
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church
St. Philip the Apostle Russian Orthodox Church
Al Rahmaniyah Parks
[edit]
In March 2021, the Sharjah Investment and Development authorities opened two parks in Al Rahmaniyah, Kshisha and Shaghrafa, built in a total area of 147,700 m2 (1,590,000 sq ft). It included a female-only park, along with entertainment, social, sports and educational facilities.[81] It also includes an artificial pond where visitors can feed the duck. Barbecues are prohibited on the site of the park, so visitors can bring their own food into the park.[82]
House of Wisdom
[edit]
In December 2020, Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi inaugurated a library inspired by the original House of Wisdom in Baghdad. The building was designed by Foster and Partners, extending over 12,000 m2 (130,000 sq ft).[83] On the grounds of the library is a large art piece entitled "The Scroll", a contemporary interpretation of the ancient Arabic scrolls, made by Gerry Judah. It was made to celebrate the Emirate of Sharjah being named the UNESCO World Book Capital for 2019.[84]
UNESCO world heritage status
[edit]
The Faya Palaeolandscape in Sharjah, UAE, has advanced in its nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status under the “Cultural Landscape” category. Located in Sharjah's Central Region, Faya offers one of the oldest and most continuous records of early human presence in Arabia, dating back over 210,000 years. Recent archaeological studies have shifted the perception of Faya from a mere transit point to a site of repeated human settlement, owing to its favorable conditions such as access to water, flint resources, and natural shelters. Led by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the nomination emphasizes Faya's significance as a "living archive" that enhances our understanding of human evolution and resilience. A comprehensive conservation plan for 2024–2030 has been developed to ensure the site's preservation, aligning with UNESCO's standards and reinforcing the UAE's commitment to protecting its ancient cultural landscapes.[85]
Climate
[edit]
Sharjah has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), with warm winters and extremely hot summers. The average daytime temperature during the summer ranges between 38 °C (100 °F) to 42 °C (108 °F), and on some days the temperature exceeds 45 °C (113 °F) mainly during the hottest months of July and August. During winter, the average daytime temperature rarely exceeds 30 °C (86 °F). Rainfall is generally light and erratic, and occurs generally from November to July. February and March account for nearly two-third of the year's rainfall.[86]
Climate data for Sharjah (Sharjah International Airport) 1991-2020
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °C (°F)
32.5
(90.5)
38.7
(101.7)
42.5
(108.5)
44.6
(112.3)
46.9
(116.4)
48.5
(119.3)
49.0
(120.2)
48.5
(119.3)
47.7
(117.9)
43.0
(109.4)
37.7
(99.9)
33.9
(93.0)
49.0
(120.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
24.8
(76.6)
26.5
(79.7)
29.6
(85.3)
34.9
(94.8)
39.7
(103.5)
41.9
(107.4)
42.9
(109.2)
42.9
(109.2)
40.7
(105.3)
36.9
(98.4)
31.4
(88.5)
26.9
(80.4)
34.9
(94.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)
18.5
(65.3)
19.9
(67.8)
22.7
(72.9)
27.1
(80.8)
31.4
(88.5)
33.7
(92.7)
35.5
(95.9)
35.3
(95.5)
32.6
(90.7)
29.0
(84.2)
24.4
(75.9)
20.5
(68.9)
27.6
(81.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
12.8
(55.0)
13.8
(56.8)
16.3
(61.3)
19.7
(67.5)
23.7
(74.7)
26.5
(79.7)
29.2
(84.6)
28.9
(84.0)
25.9
(78.6)
22.2
(72.0)
18.1
(64.6)
14.5
(58.1)
21.0
(69.7)
Record low °C (°F)
3.4
(38.1)
2.5
(36.5)
5.8
(42.4)
10.9
(51.6)
13.0
(55.4)
17.8
(64.0)
21.7
(71.1)
22.2
(72.0)
18.4
(65.1)
12.3
(54.1)
8.1
(46.6)
4.9
(40.8)
2.5
(36.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)
22.4
(0.88)
12.2
(0.48)
23.2
(0.91)
4.8
(0.19)
0.1
(0.00)
0.5
(0.02)
2.9
(0.11)
0.022
(0.00)
0.3
(0.01)
2.1
(0.08)
6.9
(0.27)
18.2
(0.72)
93.7
(3.69)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)
2.9
2.6
3.6
1.6
1.5
1.0
1.7
0.0
2.0
1.0
1.9
2.8
22.6
Average relative humidity (%)
69
67
63
53
47
52
53
53
59
62
64
69
59.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours
235.1
230.7
265.4
296.3
333.1
307.3
319.0
302.6
279.8
286.5
251.8
229.5
3,337.1
Source 1: NOAA (humidity 1981–2010)[87][88]
Source 2: National Center of Meteorology Climate Yearly Report 2003-2019[89]
Transport
[edit]
Sharjah Airport
Development of transportation services in Sharjah is a critical long-term task. Planned by the SPTC since 2008, the Sharjah Metro[90][91] will be the third metro system in the UAE after the Dubai Metro and the Abu Dhabi Metro. The Sharjah Tram has been planned since 2015,[92] and will be the second tram system in the country after the Dubai Tram.
Air
[edit]
The Sharjah International Airport is the third-largest Middle East airfreight hub in cargo tonnage, according to official 2015 statistics from Airports Council International.[citation needed] Sharjah International Airport is the home base of Air Arabia, a low-cost carrier.
The first international flight in Sharjah landed on 5 October 1932 in the Mahatta Fort airstrip as part of a refueling stop on Imperial Airways's India–Britain route. The former airport hosted a cinema, hotel, and a restaurant, and would eventually become a Royal Air Force military base until the UAE's independence in 1971. Mahatta Fort was the main international airport for the city until 1976, when traffic moved to Sharjah International Airport.[93]
Road
[edit]
There are two major series of highways in Sharjah, which are "E" and "S". E represents roads connecting other emirates, and S for roads within the emirate.
The major roads in Sharjah include:
E 88: Al Dhaid Road, connecting to the Emirate of Fujairah.
E 102: Sharjah–Kalbah Road, connecting to Fujairah and Kalba.
E 311: Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, connecting to Dubai, Ajman and Ras al-Khaimah.
E 11: Al Ittihad Road, connecting to Dubai.
E 611: Emirates Road, connecting to Dubai, Ajman and Ras Al-Khaimah
S 112: Maliha Road/King Faisal Street.[citation needed]
Taxi
[edit]
Emirates Cab
The Sharjah Public Transportation Corporation organizes and supervises the operations of taxis in Sharjah Emirate. Sharjah taxi service is provided through franchise companies. They are the major taxi operators in the emirates. If one goes from one emirate to another, taxi drivers will charge 20 dirhams as rent. They cover all parts of the Emirate and cities, including shopping centers, residential areas and airport.
Sharjah Taxi: Sharjah City and Eastern Regions.
Emirates Cab: Sharjah City.
City Taxi: Sharjah City and Eastern Regions.
Union Taxi: Sharjah City.
Advantage Taxi: Sharjah City and Central Regions.[94]
The Sharjah Transport Corporation also provides shared transportation with the purpose of serving certain routes in Sharjah on a fixed rate for each route without using the meter. Sharjah Sharing Taxi routes are carefully selected to support people with low income covering areas with frequent needs for quick transfer within the same location, to ease the traffic situation in Sharjah.[94]
Intercity transport
[edit]
The SRTA operates passenger bus services nationwide, between Sharjah City (Sharjah Al Jubail Bus station), Ras Al Khaimah, Khor Fakkan, Kalba, Fujairah, Masafi, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Hamriyah Free Zone, Dhaid, Al Madam, Dibba Al Hisn, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai.[citation needed]
Utility services
[edit]
Utility services in the emirate are provided by the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, which provides electricity, water and LPG connections to about 2 million consumers. They have over 4,000 employees serving areas as far as Dhaid, Kalba and Khorfakkan. Telephone services in the emirate, both fixed lines and mobile services, are provided by the government-owned Etisalat and du communication.[95][96]
Culture
[edit]
Modern Art exhibition by Barjeel Art Foundation at the Sharjah Art Museum
UAE culture mainly revolves around the religion of Islam and traditional Arab culture. The influence of Islamic and Arabic culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle are very prominent. Five times a day, Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets of mosques, which are spread across the country. Since 2006, the weekend has been Friday and Saturday, as a compromise between Friday's holiness to Muslims and the Western weekend of Saturday and Sunday.[97]
The sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in the emirate without an alcohol license and alcohol is not served in hotels, restaurants or other outlets in Sharjah. This has helped Sharjah increase the number of Islamic tourists who visit the country.[98] Sharjah was designated the 2019 World Book Capital by UNESCO.[99]
A cultural heritage project, Heart of Sharjah, has been undertaken to preserve and restore the old town of Sharjah and return it to its 1950s glory. A five-phase project intended for completion in 2025, the project is being undertaken by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, together with the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, the Sharjah Museums Department, and the Sharjah Art Foundation.[100]
Sharjah International Book Fair is a cultural event held every year in Sharjah.
Economy
[edit]
Sharjah Central Souq at night
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. Its headquarters are located in the Sharjah Freight Center, on the property of the Sharjah International Airport.[101][102]
The Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, popularly known as "SAIF Zone", is one of the prominent free-trade zones in the UAE. More than 6000 companies operate from SAIF Zone. The cost of setting up business in Sharjah is less than in any other emirates of the UAE, and the focus of industrialization (Sharjah Industrial area) has in recent years turned Sharjah into a commercial center.[citation needed] Thanks to its 100% foreign ownership and exemption from income and corporate taxes, SAIF Zone has attracted investors from more than 90 countries.[103] This led to a business friendly atmosphere leading to a 6.5 percent surge, reaching approximately AED 145.2 billion in 2023, compared to 136.4 billion in 2022, which marked a 4.9 percent growth from 2021.[104]
Demographics
[edit]
According to the 2022 census, the total population of the emirate was 1.8 million, with 1.6 million of them residing in the city of Sharjah. Of the 1.8 million total population of the emirate, 208,000 were Emirati citizens, and the remainder were expatriates.[1]
Like the rest of the UAE, Arabic is the official and national language of the emirate and is used in all official capacities. However, all traffic signs, information posts, and government press releases are also written in English.[105] South Asian languages such as Tamil, Hindi, Odia, Urdu, Malayalam, Telugu, Bengali etc are spoken widely by the residents of emirate. Russian is also used by the Russian and Central Asian community. Islam is the predominant religion in the emirate.
Education
[edit]
There are several public and private schools in addition to universities in Sharjah, including the University of Sharjah, University of Al Dhaid (which has a strategic relationship with the UK's University of Liverpool, and together they have established the University of Al Dhaid College of Veterinary Medicine, American University of Sharjah, Skyline College Sharjah, Al Qasimia University, Westford School of Management, Exeed School of Business and Finance, Sharjah Men's College and Sharjah Women's College. Few of these universities are located in an area called the University City. Private schools in the city include the International School of Creative Science, Wesgreen International School, Westminster School, Victoria English School, Sharjah Indian School, Sharjah English School, Delta English School, Emirates National School, American Community School Sharjah, Indian School Sharjah, the International School of Choueifat, Sharjah, Sharjah High School, DPS Delhi Private School, Gulf Asian English School, Our Own English High School and the American School of Creative Science.
Human Rights
[edit]
LGBTQ rights
[edit]
In addition to the UAE federal laws which criminalize homosexuality, the penal code in Sharjah actively discriminates against LGBTQ individuals. For example, Article 176 of the Sharjah Penal Code (1970) punishes "unnatural crimes (Sodomy)"—defined as "sexual intercourse with another person in contravention of the laws of nature" or "allowing a male to have intercourse with them in contravention of the laws of nature"—with imprisonment up to 10 years. Article 181 establishes that "sexual intercourse" is deemed to have occurred once the sexual organ has entered in the slightest degree, regardless of whether that entry is accompanied by secretion of semen.[106] See also LGBT people and Islam
Healthcare
[edit]
See also: Al Zahra Hospital
Healthcare in Sharjah can be divided into two different sectors, Public and Private. Public hospitals in the emirates are administered by the government of Sharjah through the Ministry of Health. The emirate also has 9 public medical centers to provide primary health care services.
Sports
[edit]
One Day International at Sharjah in 1998 (Australia v India)
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium has hosted almost 238 One Day International cricket matches, which is more than any other ground, and 4 test matches.[needs update] Sharjah FC plays in the UAE Pro League. Sharjah also has a chess club.[107]
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium was one of the three stadiums to hold 2020 IPL matches.
Sharjah hosts the final round of the Union Internationale Motonautique Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship every year in December.[108] They also have a circuit powerboat team, Sharjah Team. Rusty Wyatt and Filip Roms drive for them in F1.[109] Andrè Faye Solvang won the 2024 UIM F4 World Championship for the team.[110]
Notable people
[edit]
Ebtisam AbdulAziz
Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Almusallam
Hussain Ayed
Emira D'Spain
Ahmed Khalil
Shaykha al-Nakhi
Lubna Khalid Al Qasimi
Sultan Al-Jasmi
Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi
Asmaa al-Zarouni
Abdullah bin Salem bin Theban
Twin towns – sister cities
[edit]
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in UAE
Sharjah is twinned with Granada, Spain.[111]
Gallery
[edit]
The Buhaira Corniche has numerous upscale hotels. The Sharjah Commerce Tourism Development Authority is also located along the corniche.
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, located in Al-Nabba
The interior of Sahara Center, one of the biggest malls in Sharjah
Night view of the boats docked to the east shoreline of Al-Khan Lagoon
Eye of the Emirates and the Al Qasba Canal by night
Night view of the New Sharjah Chamber of Commerce
Panoramic view of the Expo Centre Sharjah by night
Off-road vehicles in deserts of Sharjah
See also
[edit]
United Arab Emirates portal
Al Heera Beach Sharjah
Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates
Sharjah Police Force
Sharjah Art Foundation
Hamriyah Port
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
Sharjah Cup
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External links
[edit]
Sharjah at Wikipedia's sister projects
Media from Commons
Travel information from Wikivoyage
Data from Wikidata
(in Arabic) Official website
Official Sharjah Tourism Website
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