Sharjah, UAE » City Info

The emirate of Sharjah is the third largest of the seven emirates that form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The city of Sharjah acts as the seat of government for the whole emirate of Sharjah and is also the third most populous city in the UAE after Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The city is situated on the west coast of the UAE. However the emirate of Sharjah has territory on both coasts. The city is spread over an area of 235 km² and the population is approximately 800,000 (as of 2008).

Sharjah city is famous for the vehicle market which is claimed to be the biggest in the Middle East region. The emirate of Sharjah is the only emirate in which the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol is banned. In 1998, Sharjah was awarded the cultural capital of the Arab world by the UNESCO for its commitment to art, culture and preserving its heritage.