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SHARJAH / Emirates Business
Sharjah is known for its natural beauty and attractive manmade lagoons and parks, making it a favourite destination for families any time of the year, especially during the summer when schools in the region close for summer vacation. As the region celebrates Ramadan, summer this year has become all the more special for visitors to the emirate as they enjoy special discounts and packages offered by various entities in the tourism, hospitality and retail sectors.
Unlike most tourism locations in the region which slowdown in the hot summer months, Sharjah remains a vibrant destination during this period, and hotels in Sharjah report 100% occupancy as families from the Gulf countries flock to the emirate to enjoy its diverse tourism offerings.
This year, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority has launched the ‘Sharjah My Family Destination’ campaign under which the emirate has introduced new tourism offers and packages by tour companies, hospitality establishments and leisure destinations for families visiting Sharjah. In order to attract more visitors during the summer holidays, SCTDA has launched in coordination with hotels in the emirate an advertising campaign offering over 20% discount to families during the summer period. The campaign will enable families to enjoy the rich recreational activities and events and enjoy the unique entertainment destinations in Sharjah.
With the launch of the ‘Sharjah My Family Destination’ campaign, the emirate’s 106 hotel facilities, including 50 hotels and 56 hotel apartments, are attracting plenty of families. To enjoy the summer evenings in Sharjah’s picturesque beaches, visitors are also opting for Sharjah’s beachside properties that span the white sandy palm beaches in the emirate
The emirate is welcoming visitors with its Sharjah Summer Promotion, a dynamic retail event from August 4 to September 4, 2016, designed to cater to the shopping and entertainment needs of families and visitors. During the Sharjah Summer Promotion, visitors can take advantage of discounts on a variety of products offered at the shopping centres in the emirate. Apart from the retail offers, the campaign includes discounted rates for beach activities as well as entertainment events.
The Islamic month of Ramadan makes Sharjah so much more special with special events and activities taking place across the emirate. Sharjah Ramadan Festival is one of the most prominent annual events organised during this month. This year, Sharjah Ramadan Festival is taking place from June 9 to July 9, 2016, and will have the participation of shopping malls and retail outlets across the emirate. Shoppers can expect discounts up to 75% on their purchases, in addition to a number of competitions and activities carried out by commercial centres. Furthermore, the festival offers shoppers vouchers that entitle them to win valuable prizes.
Ramadan also offers the perfect time to enjoy a family time together for Iftar dinners at some of the most charming locations in Sharjah such as Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Qasba, and Khalid Lagoon which have an extensive range of outstanding restaurants and coffee shops. For a more traditional and quaint experience, visitors can take an interesting drive to Sharjah’s east coast to locations such as Khorfakkan where the evenings at the beach can be a beautiful experience.
Visitors to Sharjah’s east coast can enjoy a host of water sports activities, including snorkelling and diving. They can also enjoy the interesting edutainment locations such as Kalba Bird of Prey Centre, which is one of the most important ecotourism sites in the UAE. The Centre boasts 38 species of birds; while 14 of them are from the region, the rest are migratory birds.
In recent times, Sharjah has also invested in new environment tourism projects across the Emirate such as Kalba Eco-tourism Project, which is aimed at preserving the diverse habitats and rich wildlife on the emirate’s east coast. The location allows visitors to enjoy a peaceful time in natural settings featuring lagoons, mangroves and mountains. Other prominent eco-tourism spots for visitors include the Wasit Nature Reserve, and Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre that offer innovative facilities for families to observe and learn about the emirate’s rare birds, herbs and plants. Sharjah has also opened the 25,000 hectare Mleiha project, which is one of the most significant of these eco-tourism projects, featuring special guided tours to Mleiha’s protected areas.
Summer is also the time when visitors flock to Sharjah’s indoor tourist attractions that includes a variety of museums and edutainment centres. Sharjah showcases its rich culture and heritage through 16 museums. One of the popular locations is the Sharjah Maritime Museum that offers insights into the local maritime traditions and its pearl diving activities.
