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Removals to Sharjah with Hamiltons Removals
Sharjah is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world – its population has grown by more than a fifth in the last 10 years. The combination of hot sun and high salaries have proved popular with millennials across the world, with around nine out of every 10 people living in the city having emigrated there.
Here Hamiltons Removals, who offer commercial and domestic removals to Sharjah, put the spotlight on the city, exploring its history and what it’s like to live there.
The History and Heritage
The origin of the name ‘Sharjah’ for the settlement is somewhat uncertain. Some historians and anthropologists say it’s connected to the Arabic word for sunrise, ‘shuruq’, others to the word ‘sharq’, which translates as ‘east’. This second suggestion would make a lot of sense, as Sharjah is one of the easternmost settlements in the UAE.
Sharjah is both the name of the emirate (one of seven in the UAE) and its capital city, which is the third biggest city in the UAE after Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Its population from the latest census was around 1.8million. Dubai is its near-neighbour, and many people live in Sharjah but commute to Dubai as the cost of living in the former is cheaper.
There has been a settlement in the area for around 5,000 years, dating back as far as 3,000 BC. However, the population was low, and income was mainly derived from farming and hunting (including fishing). It wasn’t until the 17th Century that the British arrived in the region and began trading that the city (and the emirate) began to flourish.
These days, the four biggest sectors of the economy are property and financial services, manufacturing, the mining, quarrying, & energy sectors, and finally, the wholesale and retail trade. There are plenty of financial incentives to move (or start up) your business in the city.
Getting There and Getting Around
Sharjah International Airport is just under 15km from the city itself; it offers flights within the Gulf and Asian countries. However, you may be better off flying in via Dubai International Airport, as it has many more connections across the world. Buses are available from both airports to the centre of Sharjah.
There are seven local bus routes and three express routes servicing the city; most leave from the Al Jubail station in Sharjah which is located near to the Central Souq. However, many people opt for travelling by taxis or their own car.
You can visit some attractions on foot, but bear in mind temperatures can easily hit 40C in the summer.
The Main Attractions
The Al Majaz Waterfront has plenty of family-friendly attraction including a mini train, boats, a golf course and a splash park; it’s also home to festivals and concerts throughout the year.
There’s a spectacular Planetarium within the grounds of the University; and the Eye of the Emirates is akin to the London Eye and is in the Al Qasba district – providing spectacular views of the city and surrounding landscape.
The cricket stadium has hosted a number of international matches (mostly involving Pakistan who were until recently unable to play in their own country for security reasons).
For something more historic, try the Al Noor Mosque in Corniche Street – it’s stunningly beautiful and was inspired by Turkish Ottoman designs. It’s also one of the few mosques open to the public in the city.
Shopping Around or Eating Out
When it comes to food and drink in Sharjah, the first thing to bear in mind is the city (and the emirate’s) stance on the religion of Islam and traditional Arabian culture. There is a strict policy on alcohol sales and consumption – both are severely restricted here (perhaps more so than in any other part of the UAE) and you will need a licence if you want to drink within your own home.
Given the amount of emigration that’s gone on in recent years, there are plenty of cuisines to choose from; for something more traditionally Arabic you should try the better-known dishes such as falafel and hummus; lesser-known ones include shawarma (sliced meat rolled in pitta bread and traditionally served with pickled salad) or, for vegetarians, tabouleh is a refreshing salad made with cracked wheat, parsley, onions, tomatoes and seasoned well with olive oil and lemon juice.
If you are shopping around, there are plenty of huge malls with all the big names (the City Centre Sharjah boasts more than 120 stores); however, for a more authentic experience visit one of the many souks (markets) – these have plenty of traditional crafts (including jewellery and antiques) for sale alongside locally-produced food and drink.
Removals to Sharjah with Hamiltons Removals
At Hamiltons Removals, we can help if you are moving your home or business to Sharjah – in fact we can help with international removals to all parts of the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ajman.
With us, you have the option of a dedicated service, where you have sole use of a shipping container; a groupage service, where the container is shared with other consignments; and also airfreight, which you can use for smaller or valuable items. If you are moving there on a short-term contract, then we also offer self-storage services.
For more information about Sharjah follow this link; you can also use the page if you would like the convenience of a video survey or to use our Currencies Direct service.
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