Sharjah Pictorial Tour

download Sharjah Pictorial Tour

of 12

Transcript of Sharjah Pictorial Tour

  • 8/8/2019 Sharjah Pictorial Tour

    1/12

    SHARJAHA P I C T O R I A L T O

  • 8/8/2019 Sharjah Pictorial Tour

    2/12

    SHARJAHA PICTORIAL TOUR

  • 8/8/2019 Sharjah Pictorial Tour

    3/12

  • 8/8/2019 Sharjah Pictorial Tour

    4/12

    The Sharjah we see today its spectacular architecture

    education and the way it has embraced the 21st centu

    long heritage is a glowing testament to the wise lead

    Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, wduring the past ew years to make the emirate vibrant

    Islamic architecture that makes the emirate so unique a

    and character.

    The United Arab Emirates, which was ounded in 1

    emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras al-K

    and Ajman. The UAE

    position at the centr

    astest-growing reg

    Arica and the Ind

    access to an eme

    a billion people.

    Sharjah, the c

    emirate, has witn

    in the past 40 ye

    by the discovery

    gas. The huge rnatural resourc

    a range o ven

    class airport, p

    and the pres

    heritage, to

    While Sha

    traced back 6,

    have witnessed more change in the past our decades

    preceding six millennia, yet our traditions and culture s

    everyday lives. Justiably proud o our Arabian heritage

    pursued a vision to restore or recreate our nest herita

    traditional buildings, and display within them our rich

    customs. These endeavours have received internationa

    we were chosen by Unesco as the rst Cultural Capital

    INTRODUCTIOPublished by Motivate Publishing

    Dubai: PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE

    Tel: (+971) 4 282 4060, fax: (+971) 4 282 7593

    e-mail: [email protected] www.booksarabia.com

    Office 508, Building No 8, Dubai Media City, Dubai, UAE

    Tel: (+971) 4 390 3550, fax: (+971) 4 390 4845

    Abu Dhabi: PO Box 43072, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Tel: (+971) 2 627 1666, fax: (+971) 2 627 1566

    London: Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER

    e-mail: [email protected]

    Researched and written by Pippa Sanderson

    Directors: Obaid Humaid Al Tayer

    Ian Fairservice

    Senior Editor: David Steele

    Editor: Pippa Sanderson

    Deputy Editor: Jennifer EvansAssistant Editor: Zelda Pinto

    Senior Designer: Andrea Willmore

    Designer: Chitt Francisco

    Book Publishing Manager: Jeremy Brinton

    Motivate Publishing 2006

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or

    storing in any medium by electronic means) without the written permission of the copyright holder. Applications

    for the copyright holders written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the

    publishers. In accordance with the International Copyright Act 1956 and the UAE Federal Copyright Law No 40 of

    1992, any person acting in contravention of this will be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

    ISBN: 1 86063 169 X

    British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

    Printed by Rashid Printers & Stationers LLC, Ajman, UAE.

  • 8/8/2019 Sharjah Pictorial Tour

    5/12

    6

    oer a variety o items in a beautiul, souk-like atmosphere. I

    cratsmen and artisans practice their arts and crats while sel

    The emirate enjoys a unique advantage over its peers, in th

    the west and east coasts o the UAE. We capitalised on this lo

    creating the Sharjah Link connecting the deep-water conta

    the East Coast, Hamriyah and Khaled ports on the West Coast

    Airport, by a modern highway.

    Although petroleum and gas still remain Sharjahs primar

    tourism, guided by Islamic principles, is now playing an eve

    long-term uture and we have embarked on several project

    this growth, with the construction o an additional three w

    in addition to the existing malls and nine souks. The souks

    their splendour to anyone passing by.

    O course, this is not the whole picture. Sharjah relies on diverse commercial enterprises to generate revenue, playing

    rom the chemical, metal, toiletry and ood and beverage in

    the construction industry and, perhaps surprisingly, agricultu

    rapidly with heavy investment in salt-tolerant fora and wate

    emirates desert areas.

    Yet, what makes the success o Sharjah all the more rema

    the dictates and pressures o the rapidly evolving 21st centu

    compromised our rich heritage, values and traditions.

    Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi

    Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah

    This commitment to the preservation o our heritage has also extended to the

    hosting o numerous ne-arts events such as the Sharjah International Biennial o

    Contemporary Art, and the improvement o the c itys educational inrastructure, which

    began more than a century ago in 1903, when the emirate opened the rst school in

    the country, based on traditional Islamic methods.

    The rst modern school was opened in Sharjah in 1953 and was ollowed by a

    school or girls in the late 1960s. Sharjah has since become one o the most important

    learning centres in the Middle East, a result o Dr Sheikh Sultans vision and dedication

    to education and culture. To continue and reinorce this pioneering status, we

    established University City in the late 1990s, a seven-college campus o awe-inspiring

    architectural splendour, aliated with several well-known universities in the United

    States and Britain.

    At the head o University City is the American University o Sharjah and, lining

    either side o the central avenue, is the University o Sharjah, the Higher Colleges oTechnology, Sharjah Police Academy, Sharjah Institute o Technology, the College o

    Fine Arts and the Medical College. The buildings housing the American University o

    Sharjah and University o Sharjah are particularly impressive and eature classic Islamic

    architecture, which orms a portrait o the city o Sharjah.

    Khaled Lagoon is Sharjahs centrepiece and a stroll along its corniche at sunset will

    oer a glimpse into our culture and traditions. The lagoon, along with its neighbour,

    Al Khan Creek, eatures signicantly in this book or the simple act that these two

    waterways, now linked by the Qasba Canal at the centre o a major heritage-themed

    development project, eatured signicantly in our past. Qanat al-Qasba is the place

    where amilies rom all nationalities experience Arab traditions and understand the

    cultural heritage, which is rich in creativity and cratsmanship. Qanat al-Qasba houses

    a number o restaurants, coee shops and waterront terraces, an international

    circus, a theatre and a cinema, as well as 'The Eye o the Emirates', an air-conditioned

    observation wheel oering unrivalled views o Sharjah and beyond to Dubai. Shops

  • 8/8/2019 Sharjah Pictorial Tour

    6/12

    8

  • 8/8/2019 Sharjah Pictorial Tour

    7/12

    10

    Above: Archaeological excavations near Mleiha, between Dhaid and Madam,

    have revealed the sites of a number of ancient settlements.

    Right: Human habitation in Sharjah can be traced back some 6,000 years.

    The small community, which was believed to have been called Sarcoa,

    concentrated on farming and hunting, and coastal fishing and pearling, as

    principal sources of food and trade. In the more combative times of the past,

    their livelihoods and safety and security had to be guarded fiercely.

  • 8/8/2019 Sharjah Pictorial Tour

    8/12

    36

  • 8/8/2019 Sharjah Pictorial Tour

    9/12

    38

    Above: Hospitality runs deep in Arabian culture and nowhe

    evident than in the drinking of coffee from a traditional coff

    Left: The dhow on the shore in the still of an Arabian night

    timeless sight. It's only the modern street lighting and moto

    the scene as coming from contemporary times.

    Previous spread: The UAE military band in full swing provid

    tainment for the crowd during the Sharjah Heritage Days fe

    vibrant sight, traditional bagpipes add to a heady mix of br

  • 8/8/2019 Sharjah Pictorial Tour

    10/12

    40

    Falconry is an integral part of desert traditions and was originally developed

    for the practical reason of supplementing a diet of milk, bread and dates with

    meat. Both saker and peregrine falcons were employed, with an occasional

    lanner falcon thrown into the mix. Their principal quarry was the houbara

    bustard and stone curlew. Nowadays, falconry is a popular sport.

    The performance of traditional dancing presents a vibrant s

    some 10 different genres with distinct identities; the most p

    ayyalahand liwa. The liwaoriginates from East Africa and i

    ing of a long flute like instument called a mizmar, which is a

    the rapid beat of several drums, such as the shindo, jasser

  • 8/8/2019 Sharjah Pictorial Tour

    11/12

    44

    Three small boats in the still

    waters of Al Khan Creek bask

    in the rays of a stunning sunset,

    with the central business district

    of Sharjah in the distance.

  • 8/8/2019 Sharjah Pictorial Tour

    12/12

    46