Kasun Illankoon spoke to H.E. Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman at Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (SHUROOQ), about his role, transforming Sharjah with unique projects, and about Sharjah’s diverse economy
Sharjah’s Uniqueness
“Culture, history, literature, architecture, and manufacturing are some of the attributes that make Sharjah a truly unique Emirate. The protection of our history and culture is incredibly important. Our infrastructures, destinations, and attractions developed by Shurooq are guided by a non-negotiable respect for our history and culture.
We have unique historic sites in Sharjah, dating back to the Paleolithic, Neolithic, and pre-Islamic periods. The remains of ancient forts, stone age caves, burial grounds, and villages have been painstakingly unearthed over the past thirty years, and they are sensitively showcased at the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-Tourism Centre, which has been awarded “Best Community, Culture & Tourism Project Award in the Middle East” at Cityscape Global 2016
This particular site is believed to be along the primary route of migration of mankind from Africa to the GCC region, Europe, and Asia. There is real scope for the site to be awarded World Heritage Site status in recognition of our success in sensitively revealing even more of Mleiha’s ancient treasures over the coming year. We are also reestablishing the original native species of wildlife to the area – such as Arabian Oryx, Rhim, and Damani gazelles and ostriches.
Reading, writing, and art are also uniquely celebrated in Sharjah, which is why Sharjah was chosen to be UNESCO’s World Book Capital in 2019. The annual Sharjah International Book Fair – which has taken place every year since 1982 – also reflects how important literature is to the people of Sharjah. Sharjah has also been announced previously as an official Capital of Arab Culture and a Capital of Islamic Culture.
Modern art is also important to us – recent examples include the installation of the ‘Rain Room,’ a unique modern art installation, offering an inspirational and magical experience for visitors. Created by the London and Berlin-based Random International, the Rain Room is now permanently located in Sharjah after being previously installed at some of the world’s most famous museums, including MoMA in New York and the Barbican in London.
Other great examples include the Emirates Fine Arts Society, Al Noor Island, its stunning Butterfly House, and Literature Pavilion, and the beautifully designed Sharjah Mosque opened in 2019. Non-Muslims are also welcome to visit the 185,000 square foot mosque, which is home to an extensive library rich in Islamic works, books, and antiques from different Islamic periods.
Sharjah also has a steadily and sustainably growing economy. The Emirate’s GDP exceeded $25 billion in 2016 through the operation of more than 54,000 small and medium businesses, making it one of the most diversified economies in the region. Within the country, Sharjah has carved a distinctive investment proposition based on its unique attributes.
The Emirate provides a safe working environment suitable for all commercial and economic activities, transparent legal and regulatory procedures, and a modernised infrastructure including information technology, roads and transport, and high corporate governance standards. In addition, the Emirate offers work opportunities within an established and resilient, open economy with a stable currency, a growing number of competitive free zones, enhanced financial services, the free movement of capital, and low import taxes. Free zones are a driving force in the growth of Sharjah’s economy – we currently have six free zones and the potential of having more. Free zones allow foreign companies to operate 100 percent owned businesses in a tax-free environment, with 100 percent repatriation of profits.”
Projects in Sharjah
“Shurooq has developed a large number of projects in Sharjah since its inception in 2009. One of our projects is Al Noor Island, which was opened in December 2015. The island has won a host of prestigious international awards, including the ‘Best Leisure Architecture in Africa and Arabia 2016’, the ‘IF Design Award’ in 2017, and the 2018 German Design Award. The wonderful thing about Al Noor Island is that it is a celebration of green, with shaded woods, wild herbaceous ground cover, evergreen trees – all alongside white, the beautifully designed Literature Pavilion and a stunningly designed Butterfly House.
Another project is Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism, which offers diverse extreme adventure options and educational programmes to embark on a journey through time to discover the treasures of a Stone Age settlement. A 130,000-year-old site from the Paleolithic period, surrounded by towering dunes and the red-hued, iron-rich Hajar Mountains, the magic of camping under the stars stargazing in the dunes awaits guests at this archaeological and cultural heritage site.
The Heart of Sharjah, for instance, is a shining jewel in Shurooq’s portfolio. Principles of conservation and sustainability are clearly the cultural catalysts underpinning the Heart of Sharjah – one of the region’s most significant heritage projects to date. As Shurooq brings international standards of sustainable development and environmental principles to take this landmark development into fruition, it is also raising the bar for luxury hotel accommodation in the UAE. The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah Hotel, which is Sharjah’s first 5-star luxury hotel built on a restored 19-century heritage district, taking the sustainability and responsible tourism agenda forward with its indigenous building design and materials.
Another highlight of our projects is the three properties under our Sharjah Collection brand: Al Faya Retreat, Al Badayer retreat, and Kingfisher Retreat, all managed by ‘Mysk by Shaza.’ These destinations reflect on our initiative to preserve and conserve the natural heritage that has historically existed in Sharjah for hundreds of years. When developing these projects, we harnessed and conserved all natural, cultural and historical elements without disturbing their presence. This allowed visitors, tourists, and investors to experience these elements under world-class facilities, luxury services, and leisure activities.
We are looking forward to some fascinating developments coming online over the next couple of years. They include Sharjah Sustainable City and Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC), which will offer prospective investors from around the globe an excellent investment opportunity in the field of healthcare and related fields. Sharjah Healthcare City is already home to hospitals, clinics, and labs; rehabilitation centres, office suits for businesses and innovators within the healthcare sector, and a whole supply chain of logistics and light industries – from medical consumables and disposables to light manufacturing, assembly of healthcare equipment.
Sharjah Sustainable City features include biodome greenhouses where residents can cultivate fruits and vegetables. It is home to a solar car park with photovoltaic panels powering electric buggies, ‘green schools’ that integrates social, environmental and economic sustainability into the education process and a large number of IoT and digital infrastructures as standard – like Smart parking, connected cars, zero carbon operations and government services, E-government services.
Projects under development include The House of Wisdom, the Moon Retreat, Safari Retreat, the Khorfakkan Beach and Waterpark resort, Maryam Island, the Kalba Waterfront Mall, and Al Khan Palace by Eagle Hills, amongst others.”
Sharjah as the capital of Cultural Tourism in the UAE
“It’s incredibly crucial for Sharjah to present itself as the capital of cultural tourism in the UAE because that’s who we are as a people, and the Emirate has an enormous amount to offer visitors that cannot be found anywhere else in the country. I believe it is essential for us to celebrate and share our unique cultural, artistic, and historic assets because they are here for all to enjoy. Art and culture are not an elitist experience – it’s where we all learn about who we are, where we come from, and where we are going. For children, places like Al Noor Island and Mleiha provide a joyful journey back to nature and back through history.
Sharjah is known for it’s bustling and vibrant art scene too, with Sharjah Art Foundation’s events and activities that take place throughout the year and features exhibitions of Arab and International Artists, while hosting the Sharjah Biennial every two years. As Shurooq, we’ve launched Maraya Art Centre back in 2006, a non-profit creative organization that strives to support emerging artists and 1971-Design Space, which is mainly dedicated to all forms of contemporary design.
As a developmental organisation, we have a duty to share what we have and utilise our cultural assets to enrich the daily lives of those who live and work in Sharjah. Part of that enrichment includes the creation of economic opportunities for residents and for investors who we partner with to develop memorable destinations and experiences. The tourism industry in Sharjah is an enabler of economic growth and an essential contributor to job creation.
One of the key sectors is the environmental sector, as the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) as it aims to protect the environment, and the wildlife and its biodiversity. This happens through scientific research, setting appropriate policies to raise awareness, supporting the principle of sustainable development to preserve natural environmental resources, and a guaranteed exploitation of natural resources to the benefit of the present generation without wasting future generations’ right. Some of their projects include Wasit Wetland Centre, which won the 2019 Aga Khan Architecture Award, the desert park centres, kalba bird of prey centre, and many more that offer visitors an unparalleled opportunity to learn about the environment and wildlife.
Tourism also provides enormous opportunities across the value chain – multiplier effects are also a major driver of economic diversification so that Sharjah’s non-oil economy can become even more vital. The non-oil economy must grow so that our local supply chains are built around local demand rather than international sales of extractives. We all know that extractives – oil gas, LPG, face the challenge of renewables and clean transport: electric cars will see demand for fossil fuels drop. Many European countries already have over 50% of their electricity from solar and wind. Tourism is also a fantastic way to give back to the people who are already here – in Sharjah but also across the UAE.”
Shurooq’s diversified portfolio of projects
“Projects such as the House of Wisdom – an iconic Library and Cultural Center over 12,000 square metres designed by international architecture firm Foster & Partners – enrich the Emirate’s cultural experience and add breadth to an already impressive portfolio of destinations that will attract visitors from across the UAE, GCC and further afield. We recognise that there is considerable interest in the arts, literature, history, and culture, and we’re delighted to be playing such an integral part in meeting that demand.
Alternative leisure breaks are an essential contributor to Sharjah’s economic and tourism growth. The Khorfakkan Beach development on the other side of the peninsular provides a unique escape from the city.
Khorfakkan boasts natural white sandy beaches that are unspoilt by digging up the seabed. It is a stretch of sea teeming with marine life – from sharks to turtles, tropical fish, and coral reefs. We value these natural assets enormously. We embrace nature’s gifts and protect them, which is why these beaches offer some of the most beautiful diving, fishing, and snorkelling experiences in the country. Nature is an asset that is protected and celebrated, and it can be quite challenging to find truly natural beauty in heavily built conurbations.
This is why Khorfakkan is so special – it is a real escape from the built-up environment – a haven of tranquillity set against the backdrop of Sharjah’s dramatic Rocky Mountains. Promoting these glorious natural assets will boost inward investment and inbound tourism from across the nation, the region, and internationally.”
Establishing close relationships with key developers
“Sharjah is moving through an incredibly exciting period of investment and growth in multiple sectors, including real estate, tourism, and leisure, the creative industries, retail, manufacturing, and professional services. The closeness of our relationships with real estate stakeholders enables us to create ambitious and exciting developments like Maryam Island by Eagle Hills, which is a first of its kind waterfront development in the heart of downtown Sharjah. It is in one of the most sought-after locations in the Emirate and home to a wide variety of residential apartments, 4- and 5-star hotels, retail outlets, and fine-dining restaurants.
Sharjah Sustainable City is another excellent example of how the closeness of Shurooq’s partnerships can deliver highly innovative developments on-time and on-budget, meeting the expectations of investors and residents.
We are venturing into different fields such as technology, AI, farming, education, and more, and we are excited by how things are going forward. The future lies on who is more and best prepared for it, so our focus and the main idea lay in venturing into sectors that we never thought that we would venture into.”