Bordering all of its other Emirate sisters, and with ports on both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, there is a lot more to Sharjah to differentiate it from the rest of the Emirates.
Sharjah was crowned the cultural capital of the Arab world in 1998, was the capital of Islamic Culture for 2014 and has been most recently named Arab Tourism Capital of 2015. It encompasses more than 22 museums and 1000 mosques and offers unique programs committed to the creation, dissemination and application of multidisciplinary knowledge in the field of urban planning.
Such programs provide specialists with tools that enable the management of urban growth, prescribing urbanization policies and advancing social development. Sharjah empowers individuals with the highest ethical standards matching the values of local cultural settings, principles of social justice, and concerns for environmental protection and sustainability. Cultural institutions are dedicated to the conservation of cultural heritage, active interaction with other cultures, the construction of museums and other cultural, scientific and artistic centers in the Emirate.
Sharjah holds an array of distinctive landmarks, including two major covered souks and a number of urban landmarks such as Al Montazah Fun Park, Al Buheirah Corniche, Al Majaz open-air Roman- style amphitheater, the Flag Island, the Eye of the Emirates, the Arabian Wildlife Center, Al Noor Mosque, the Sharjah Cultural Square and the Sharjah Art Museum among many others.
