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لشارقة Sharjah
Motto: [citation needed]
Anthem: Ishy Bilady
Capital (and largest city)		Sharjah 25°22′N, 55°24′E
Official languages		Arabic
Government		constitutional monarchy
-	Emir	Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi
-	Crown prince	Ahmed bin Sultan Al-Qasimi
Establishment		1727
Area
-	Total	2,590 km²  1,000 sq mi
Population
-	2007 estimate	656,941
Currency		UAE dirham (AED)
Time zone		GMT+4 (UTC+4)
-	Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+4)
Internet TLD		.ae
Calling code		+971-6

The Emirate of Sharjah (Arabic: الشارقة ash-shaariqah) is a small emirate that extends along approximately 16 kilometres of the United Arab Emirates's Persian Gulf coastline and for more than 80 kilometres into the interior. The emirate covers 2,600 km² (1,003m²)

The total population is 636,000 (2003).

Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Education 4 Sports 5 Kalbã (Khwor Kalba) 6 References 7 External links 7.1 U.A.E. based News Papers

Sharjah is the third largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates, and is the only one to have land on both the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Sharjah is ruled by Sheikh Dr Sultan ibn Muhammad Al-Qasimi of the Supreme Council of the UAE and Sheikh of Sharjah.

In addition Sharjah owns three enclaves on the east coast, bordering the Gulf of Oman. These are Kalba, Dibba al-Hisn, and Khor Fakkan, which provides Sharjah with a major east coast port. In the Gulf, the island of Sir Abu Nuáir belongs to Sharjah while Sharjah also disputes the ownership of the island of Abu Musa with Iran. The emirate has a total area of 2,590 square kilometers, which is equivalent to 3.3 per cent of the UAE's total area, excluding the islands.

The city of Sharjah, which overlooks the Persian Gulf, has a population of 519,000 (2003 census estimate). It contains the main administrative and commercial centers together with an especially impressive array of cultural and traditional projects, including several museums. Distinctive landmarks are the two major covered souks, reflecting Islamic design; a number of recreational areas and public parks such as Al Jazeirah Fun Park and Al Buheirah Corniche. The city is also notable for its numerous elegant mosques. The Emirate of Sharjah is also known to be the Cultural Capital of the UAE. The Expo Centre of Sharjah is well known for the annual book fair that is famous all over the region. The Emir personally takes keen interest in this event which brings together hundreds of publishers from all over the world and thousands of titles. Links with the outside world are provided by Sharjah International Airport and Port Khalid. Sharjah also encompasses some important oasis areas, the most famous of which is Dhaid where a wide range of vegetables and fruits is cultivated on its rich and fertile soil.

Sharjah has one Omani enclave, the Madha territory, wherein lies an UAE exclave, called Nahwa.

Sharjah is a sister city to Dubai and Ajmān (two fellow emirates) on both its borders. The three urban areas have now expanded to each others borders. Sharjah is about 170 kilometers away from the capital city Abu Dhabi.

Sharjah is the only Emirate in which the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol is banned. It also maintains the strictest decency laws in the UAE, introduced in 2001, with a conservative dress code required for both men and women. Mixing between unmarried men and women is illegal: "A man and a woman who are not in a legally acceptable relationship should not, according to the booklet, be alone in public places, or in suspicious times or circumstances."^[1]

Historically, Sharjah was one of the wealthiest towns in this region with a settlement in existence for over 5000 years. In the early 18th century the Qawasim clan (Huwayla tribe) 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 four of its neighbours, Ajman, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwain, its 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).

On 2 December 1971 Sheikh Khalid III joined the United Arab Emirates. 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" in its name shortly before the formation of the United Arab Emirates. Many of these items feature subjects unrelated to the emirates whose names they bear, and therefore many popular catalogues do not list them.^[2] For example, the 2003 edition of the Scott catalogue, dominant in the United States, lists no stamps of Sharjah after 1965.

The historically known rulers were:

• c.1727 - 1777 Sheikh Rashid ibn Matar ibn Rahman al-Qasimi
• 1777 - 1803 Sheikh Saqr I ibn Rashid al-Qasimi
• 1803 - 1840 Sheikh Sultan I ibn Saqr al-Qasimi (d. 1866) (1st time)
• 1840 Sheikh Saqr ibn Sultan al-Qasimi
• 1840 - 1866 Sheikh Sultan I ibn Saqr al-Qasimi (2nd time)
• 1866 - 14 April 1868 Sheikh Khalid I ibn Sultan al-Qasimi (d. 1868)
• 14 April 1868 - March 1883 Sheikh Salim ibn Sultan al-Qasimi (d. 1919) - since 1869 jointly with the following:
• 1869 - 1871 Sheikh Ibrahim ibn Sultan al-Qasimi
• March 1883 - 1914 Sheikh Saqr II ibn Khalid al-Qasimi (b. 18.. - d. 1914)
• 13 April 1914 - 21 November 1924 Sheikh Khalid II ibn Ahmad al-Qasimi
• 21 Nov 1924 - 1951 Sheikh Sultan II ibn Saqr al-Qasimi (d. 1951)
• 1951 - May 1951 Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saqr al-Qasimi
• May 1951 - 24 June 1965 Sheikh Saqr III ibn Sultan al-Qasimi (b. 1925 - d. 1993)
• 24 June 1965 - 24 Jan 1972 Sheikh Khalid III ibn Muhammad al-Qasimi (b. 1931 - d. 1972)
• 25 Jan 1972 - 1972 Sheikh Saqr ibn Muhammad al-Qasimi (acting)
• 1972 - 17 June 1987 Sheikh Dr. Sultan III ibn Muhammad al-Qasimi (1st time) (b. 1939)
• 17 June 1987 - 23 June 1987 Sheikh `Abd al-`Aziz ibn Muhammad al-Qasimi (b. 1937 - d.2004)
• 23 June 1987 - Sheikh Dr. Sultan III ibn Muhammad al-Qasimi (2nd time)

Obeid and Hiba

There are several universities in Sharjah, including the University of Sharjah, the American University of Sharjah, Troy University - ITS Sharjah Campus, Skyline College Sharjah, Sharjah Men's College, and Sharjah Women's College.

The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium has hosted almost 200 cricket One Day Internationals, more than any other ground, and 4 Test matches.Al Sharjah First league Sharjah sport clups Al Shaab First league Al Hemriah 2nd league Al The-aed 2nd league Al Itthab 2nd league AL Khaleej 2nd league Dibba 2nd league

Since 2003 the increasingly crowded cricket calendar has precluded the holding of any major international matches at Sharjah although the stadium has been the venue for certain other matches, for example in the 2004 ICC Intercontinental Cup. The use of the venue has declined as the new 20,000 seat Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi has become the preferred venue for cricket in the UAE.

Kalba is a fast growing city in the emirate of Sharjah, along the eastern coast of United Arab Emirates, located about 8 km from Fujairah, on the UAE Oman border. It is accessible by road from Fujairah (8 km), and Hatta (40 km approx), via two sea ports (Fujairah and KorKalba) and the airport at Fujairah. The road from Kalba to KorKalba extends till the border with Oman, and is one of the exit entry points between UAE and Oman.

Kalba is famous for its back-waters and the surrounding mangrove forest. It also boasts of ancient forts and a hot water spring at Wadi Halu.

In 1903 a tiny entity, called Kalbã after this city as its capital, achieved de facto independence from Sharjah. On 8 December 1936 it was recognized by Britain. In 1952 it was re-incorporated into Sharjah.

It has only had three rulers:

• 1903 - 30 April 1937 Sheikh Said ibn Hamad al-Qasimi (b. 18.. - d. 1937)
• 30 April 1937 - 1951 Sheikh Hamad ibn Said al-Qasimi (d. 1951)
• 1951 - 1952 Sheikh Saqr ibn Sultan al-Qasimi (b. 1920)

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1. ^ 2001 Gulf News article about Sharjah's decency laws
2. ^ Carlton, R. Scott. The International Encyclopædic Dictionary of Philately. Krause: Iola, 1997, page 173.

• Sharjah Municipality Official website (in Arabic)
• Cranley Independent Reports and Information on Sharjah Hotels
• Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority
• Sharjah Police
• WorldStatesmen
• History of Kalba at uaeinteract.com
• The Dawoodi Bohras in Sharjah
• VLM Sharjah Hotel Directory

• Sharjah is at coordinates 25°22′20″N 55°24′37″E / 25.3723, 55.4103Coordinates: 25°22′20″N 55°24′37″E / 25.3723, 55.4103

• ProDUBAI - Syndicated News Portal
• Gulf News
• Khaleej Times
• Emirates Today
• 7 Days
• Gulf Today
• Emirates Evening Post

Sharjah travel guide from Wikitravel

	Emirates and capitals of United Arab Emirates
	Emirates: Abu Dhabi | Ajman | Dubai | Fujairah | Ras al-Khaimah | Sharjah | Umm al-Quwain Capitals: Abu Dhabi | Ajman | Dubai | Fujairah | Ras al-Khaimah | Sharjah | Umm al-Quwain