Sharjah becoming a vibrant leisure destination

His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated Al Majaz Waterfront in a dazzling ceremony on Monday evening. Although the event marked the official opening of the recreational facility, the public has enjoyed access to it since December. "Since [the development authority] Shurooq was established, we have been keen to serve as a driving force behind the development of Sharjah and strengthening its position. We have been targeting the sustainable economic, social and environmental development in the emirate. We are moving forward in developing assets and attracting investment to the emirate," said Shaikha Budoor Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, chairperson of Sharjah's investment and development authority, Shurooq. During the inauguration, musical fountains at the venue provided the high point for a laser show that beamed images portraying Sharjah's past and present and its future aspirations. Park renovation Poetry was part of the cultural serving for the evening and a gala dinner ceremony also saw artist Furat Qaddouri topping off the fountain shows with soulful music. The park lying next to the Buhaira Corniche has also undergone a Dh100 million renovation since July 2010. The waterfront adjacent to the park covers an area of 231,000 square feet. Marwan Jasem Al Sarkal, chief executive of Shurooq, said care had been taken to transform the waterfront into a complete leisure destination with restaurants, cafes, open and covered children's play areas, entertainment and cultural areas, the Sharjah Fountain, a mosque, jogging and bike tracks, sculpture park, children's art area, mini golf court and a splash park, in addition to 1,000 parking spaces. "Through this new project, the authority established a unique tourism and leisure destination to meet the entertainment and social requirements of Sharjah's residents and visitors, from inside the country and abroad, and to provide the entertainment, sporting and artistic facilities for all members of family at one site," he said. Children's play areas have been built in such a way as to facilitate access to children with special needs. The splash park, which is expected to open by May, consists of a 800-square metre park that is fully automated, zero-depth aquatic play area suitable for the entire family. State-of-the-art technology will optimise water consumption through sequenced activation and low-flow nozzle technology.