An emirate steeped in tradition, Sharjah presents a gentle contrast to the frenetic pace of its neighbouring metropolis. It is often referred to as the cultural capital of the UAE, characterised by low-rise buildings in quieter streets and a general air of antiquity.
While a sense of tradition is central to Sharjah's charm, plans are in place to modernise certain parts of the emirate. Billions of dirhams are being earmarked to develop a handful of bustling suburbs – one of which is Aljada, a real estate megaproject by Sharjah-based developer Arada.
“We want to create a new Sharjah,” says Amit Arora, Arada's chief operating officer, who also oversees the company's recently formed hospitality and entertainment division. It is not a far-fetched claim, as the scenery starkly changes as I drive from Dubai to Aljada, in the emirate's Muweilah district, 15 minutes away from Sharjah International Airport.
The development may be bordered by nondescript industrial areas, but the rusty browns give way to lush greenery and gleaming facades as I enter the vicinity, which is adorned with modern brick roads and trees at every corner. Arora emerges out of one of the buildings lining the shaded streets.
We're destination developers and the glue that brings it together is hospitality
Amit Arora,
COO, Arada
“Welcome to Aljada,” he says with a big smile, before leading me into the leasing office of Nest, one of Aljada's flagship amenities and the first stop in the exclusive tour the team have prepared for The National.
The megaproject was announced in 2017 and unveiled by Sharjah ruler Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi. The all-encompassing urban district covers 2.2 square kilometres of land and can home up to 70,000 residents. The first phase is almost complete, with the envisioned community taking shape in the last few years.
'It's time to create a lifestyle'
“Aljada is a living and breathing community now. It's time to cross-pollinate all the assets and create a lifestyle,” says Arora, who was brought in specifically to lead on this front.
“We started off as just a developer. Then, we became master developers. Today, we're destination developers, and the moment you go there, the glue that's going to bring it together is hospitality.”
Arora's remit includes everything that will make the urban district a compelling place to visit, despite the notorious Dubai-Sharjah traffic, as well as to reside in.
“Arada's commitment to its communities is to enrich them with experiences, and our motto is 'connected life',” he explains. Even before Arora joined the company, Arada had introduced several leisure amenities at Aljada, including the Madar complex, which opened in 2020 and includes Aljada Skate Park that's been used for Olympic qualifiers and other international championships.
More recently, Aljada opened Shajar tree nursery, which is accessible to the public. The nursery has more than 130,000 trees, and visitors can book a free guided tour of the manicured forest to learn more about the trees and shrubs used for landscaping in the UAE. It even has a cutesy cafe that sits amid a canopy of trees.
The first phase also features an outpost of trampoline park Bounce, as well as Sharjah's largest and most advanced gym Wellfit Madar – both of which opened this past year.
Residents of Aljada also benefit from direct access to local produce via Manbat, a farmers' market with a demo lab of hydroponics farming where visitors can learn more about agriculture technology.
While visibly optimistic in his vision of Aljada's potential, Arora is aware of some challenges when it comes to perception. “The moment people hear Sharjah, they don't really appreciate what's in it for them,” he says.
Until recently, Arora himself was part of Erth Abu Dhabi, the hospitality group that owns the world's only Emirati-inspired Michelin-starred restaurant Erth. He says people were initially surprised when he left the capital for Sharjah.
“I came to see it and I fell in love with it,” Arora says, adding he couldn't believe what he was seeing and felt strongly that he wanted to be part of it.
Anantara Sharjah and other hotels
This is not uncharacteristic for Arora, who has been in the UAE for more than two decades. He's behind some of the biggest hotel openings in the country, from the Armani Hotel at Burj Khalifa to Emaar's The Address brand. He has also worked in Ras Al Khaimah, and most recently in the capital.
“I opened hotels in Ras Al Khaimah when no one was looking at the emirate. I then went to Abu Dhabi and we did Erth. Now it's time for Sharjah. I feel this is its moment and I didn't want to miss the boat.”
Aljada will soon be home to four hotels, including Rove and Vida. This not only plays into Arora's strengths as a former hotelier, but also is a major element in Arada's mission to make Sharjah a traveller-friendly destination.
While the developer is on track to launch Anantara Sharjah Resort in another part of the emirate, Arora reveals that, eventually, Arada will launch and operate its own hotel brand.
“I can see in five years' time, maybe 20 per cent of Arada's overall business will be linked to hospitality. Today, it's a small drop in the ocean.”
There's currently no operating hotel at Aljada, but it is home to Nest, a state-of-the-art accommodation that caters to students in surrounding universities.
Resident mall and more restaurants
Arora has high hopes for this “new” Sharjah, especially after the government decision to allow all nationalities to own a property in the emirate with no time restriction.
To cater to future residents who will call Aljada home, the urban district is on track to launch its own business park (“the DIFC of Sharjah”, as Arora calls it), a mall and a state-of-the-art theatre in the next two years. “This is only the tip of the iceberg, there's more, more and more to follow,” says Arora.
At the time of writing, about 80 shops have opened along a 2.2km avenue, which Arora hopes will be a draw among those who already live in Sharjah.
Persian restaurant Berenjak, which was recently included in the Michelin Bib Gourmand list, recently opened on site. La Brioche also opened its first Sharjah branch at Aljada, as well as Italian-American restaurant TBK and beloved burger joint Pickl. Upcoming restaurant launches include Indian venue Rang, Late Lounge Cafe and Mara Lounge, and smoked meats venue Chef Eyad.
“People who usually drive up and down this road go to the Northern Emirates. They might pass by Sharjah, but there was probably no reason for them to take that exit and come here. We are looking to change this,” concludes Arora.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
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WORLD RECORD FEES FOR GOALKEEPERS
1) Kepa Arrizabalaga, Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea (£72m)
2) Alisson, Roma to Liverpool (£67m)
3) Ederson, Benfica to Manchester City (£35m)
4) Gianluigi Buffon, Parma to Juventus (£33m)
5) Angelo Peruzzi, Inter Milan to Lazio (£15.7m
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2-litre%204-cylinder%20petrol%20(V%20Class)%3B%20electric%20motor%20with%2060kW%20or%2090kW%20powerpack%20(EQV)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20233hp%20(V%20Class%2C%20best%20option)%3B%20204hp%20(EQV%2C%20best%20option)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20350Nm%20(V%20Class%2C%20best%20option)%3B%20TBA%20(EQV)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMid-2024%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETBA%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ibrahim's play list
Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute
Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc
Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar
His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach
Also enjoys listening to Mozart
Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz
Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica
Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil
Squad
Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The five pillars of Islam
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Results for Stage 2
Stage 2 Yas Island to Abu Dhabi, 184 km, Road race
Overall leader: Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Fernando Gaviria COL (UAE Team Emirates) 2. Elia Viviani ITA (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) 3. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal)
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Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed
List of officials:
Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Teams
India (playing XI): Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami
South Africa (squad): Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second
