Tourism & Culture

Sharjah’s beaches, shopping centres, museums and unique cultural offering make the emirate a popular tourist destination for nationals and foreigners alike. While international travel slowed significantly in 2020 due to border closures and travel restrictions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, domestic tourism in Sharjah picked up as UAE residents explored destinations closer to home. Despite the disruption, the emirate inaugurated a number of projects in 2020, many of which promote sustainable tourism and position Sharjah as a family-friendly destination. Tourism authorities intend to build on this momentum and renew international interest throughout 2021 with the help of a new travel campaign, additional development projects, and the resumption of events and activities under strict health and safety protocols. These efforts, in tandem with the UAE’s rapid rollout of Covid-19 vaccines, could see the tourism sector recover sooner than expected: Sharjah aims to attract 10m visitors in 2022.

This chapter contains interviews with Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Tourism and Commerce Development Authority; Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, President and Director, Sharjah Art Foundation; and Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson, Environment and Protected Areas Authority.