Sharjah to become the place for a wild safari or desert stargazing
Sharjah is preparing to open four new tourist attractions as part of plans to welcome more visitors.
From a luxury waterfront hotel in Kalba to an ecotourism resort in Mleiha, the new destinations will further strengthen the emirate’s reputation for its heritage and cultural landscape.
The attractions are being developed by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and are across the emirate – from Khor Fakkan on the east coast to the central region of Al Dhaid.
It is all part of a plan to open up more of Sharjah to tourism, especially the eastern and central regions, which have “massive untapped potential in the travel and leisure sectors,” says Marwan Al Sarkal, executive chairman of Shurooq.
The four sites are also part of a vision to transform Sharjah into a leading hub of nature-inspired experiences and it is hoped they will boost the emirate’s tourism appeal for overseas travellers and people living in the UAE.
Located on the east coast of the UAE, Khor Fakkan has amazing natural views of the mountains and beautiful beaches paired with a climate that tends to be a little more seasonal than the rest of the country.
Shurooq is developing the beach area in this region to include an amphitheatre, a skating rink, sport courts, picnic areas and a huge children’s play area.
A newly announced family-friendly hotel with 66 rooms will also be in the area. It will be home to the first water park in Khor Fakkan.
The region will get another Chedi Hotel by way of Al Jabal Resort – The Chedi Khor Fakkan. This villa resort will be in the mountains and will offer luxury stays fused with Emirati traditions. After The Chedi Al Bait opened this March, it will be the second Chedi in Sharjah when it opens its doors next year.
Surrounded by gravel plains and acadia trees in Al Dhaid region, the Seih Al Bardi Kabeer Safari Park will be Sharjah’s first. The 14-square-kilometre park inside Elebriddi Wildlife Protected Area is being carefully developed in partnership with the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, an expert in Sharjah’s natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
As well as attracting safari enthusiasts – a new type of visitor for the emirate – this sustainable tourism project will support conservation efforts and be home to up to 50,000 native and imported animals.
Shurooq’s new 60-room family retreat will be the first hotel to open in the wildlife park and guests can bank on seeing springboks, impalas, wildebeest, giraffes and rhinos.
Kalba is an exclave of Sharjah on the UAE’s east coast. This location gives the region a distinct ecotourism advantage – it is home to mangroves, lagoons, palm forests and mountains.
Only a few minutes from Oman’s northern border, work on the Kalba Waterfront is under way and it looks set to be one of the country’s most beautiful malls.
It will come with gorgeous views of the mangrove-lined lagoon, as well as a sprawling park where visitors can reconnect with nature. It will have an outdoor shopping promenade, al fresco waterfront dining and a children’s play zone. Few details have been announced about the luxury hotel that Shurooq will open there, but it is set to make the most of its location, directly adjacent to the waterfront. Mleiha has already built a name for itself as the place to go for adventure deep in Sharjah’s deserts.
About an hour from the city, it is renowned for dune bashing, quad biking, trekking and other desert escapades.
The site also has an intriguing history – excavations here have revealed the oldest evidence of human life outside of Africa.
Shurooq’s new addition to the Mleiha area is The Moon Retreat. This ecotourism resort is a family-friendly desert haven that will welcome its first overnight guests by the end of this year. The aptly named retreat will offer guests stargazing opportunities, thanks to very little light pollution in the vast Mleiha desert.
Sharjah wants to be a leading hub of natureinspired experiences for tourists from overseas and travellers within the UAE