Kalba is a city in the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. It is an exclave of Sharjah lying on the Gulf of Oman coast north of Oman. Khor Kalba (Kalba Creek), an important nature reserve and mangrove swamp, is located south of the town by the Omani border.
Kalba Mangrove reserve
Kalba Mangrove reserve is open to the public and was developed as an eco-tourism resort by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority. Some conservationists think that the tourism development could endanger the last remaining natural mangrove forest which is home to some species of birds, marine animals and reptiles. These fauna here have no other home in the Emirates.
Kalba Fort
Kalba development
Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and member of the Supreme Council, announced in July 2020 the proposed development in Kalba. These include the restoration of historical sites, the development of the corniche, the renovation of public spaces, the construction of new buildings, and others.
Kalba Beach Corniche
Kalba Beach Corniche project was launched in April 2021 to improve rainwater drainage, the construction of a running track, the establishment of public seating areas and the planting of trees. The park also has an open playground for children and access to a beach, but this is not ideal for swimming. The neat and well-maintained park also provides public restrooms and easily available parking spaces. Nearby, one can find accessible grocery shops, cafeterias and restaurants.
Kalba ecotourism
Kalba is the most popular destination for ecotourism in the Emirate of Sharjah, with opportunities to go wildlife spotting while trekking, kayaking, as well as scuba diving. Tourists also go there to see the Arabian oryx, the national animal of the UAE. Picnic is a popular activity in Kalba.
Kalba Birds of Prey Centre
This center has live demonstrations displaying various raptors and highlighting their historical significance to the tourists. The outdoor shows take place twice a day while the aviaries containing owls, buzzards, eagles, falcons and vultures can be seen any time during the day. The center remains open for 6 days a week with Monday being a holiday.
Kalba museum
There are several historical sites to visit in Kalba, including the Bait Sheikh Saeed bin Hamed Al Qassimi museum, a restored fort and a sleepy seaside promenade. The museum was built in 1901 and used to serve as a royal residence, making it one of the most prominent places to visit in the country.
Kalba Kayak
Kalba camping
Camping is popular in Sharjah, especially as part of desert safari tours. With several idyllic places to choose from, outdoor enthusiasts often do a bit of trekking to find the perfect spot. For sandy terrain, there are camping spots like Fossil Rock, Mleiha and Al Dhaid. For those who love the mountains, the foothills of Hajjar near Khorfakkan offers an unparalleled view. Some locals, however, prefer to camp near a Sharjah beach for a cool breeze over the sound of waves. This is especially recommended if you’re trying to make the best of Sharjah weather.
The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) is developing the city at a faster scale for encouraging more tourists to visit the area.
Kalba Kingfisher Lodge
Kalba Kingfisher Lodge is the only hotel that exists within the boundaries of Kalba. It is a 5-star tented camp that ranks as one of the best hotels in Sharjah. Also known as Mysk Kingfisher Retreat, the resort offers from 1-bed to 3-bed tents along with facilities such as a garden, private beach area, a restaurant and other hotel amenities. You can find more hotels near Kalba in Fujairah City, such as: Royal M Hotel Fujairah Mall , Al Bahar Hotel & Resort , and Nour Arjaan by Rotana.
Taxis and buses are the only public transport available in this area. Some buses provide intercity travel.
There are three major seaports in Dubai, Jebel Ali, Port Rashid and Al Hamriya.
Jebel Ali Port
Jebel Ali Port
Jebel Ali (aka Mina Jebel Ali) is the largest port in Dubai. It is a deep port located in Jebel Ali, Dubai. It is the world’s ninth busiest port, the largest man-made harbor, and the biggest and by far the busiest port in the Middle-East. It has 67 berths and a size of 134.68 square kilometres (52.00 sq mi). It is home to over 5,000 companies from 120 countries of the world. The port was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II on 26 February 1979.
The port has more than one million square metres of container yard, medium- and long-term general cargo storage space and almost 960,000 square metres of open storage. Jebel Ali Port is linked to Dubai’s expressway and to Dubai International Airport Cargo Village. Jebel Ali Free Zone offers duty free goods and services for offshore businesses.
Port Rashid
Port Rashid
The construction of Port Rashid in 1972 was an outstanding success. It was originally intended as a four-berth port. Before the construction was completed it was extended to sixteen births. In 1975 a further 35 berths were added. The port is equipped to handle both cargo and passenger operations. The Cruise Terminal is equipped to handle five mega cruise vessels simultaneously and 25000 passengers daily.
The port has another cruise terminal called Hamdan Bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal, which has a capacity to handle 14,000 passengers a day,
This port also offers a ferry service to passengers moving between Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq and Iran.
Al Hamriya
Al Hamriya Al Hamriya is managed by DP World under the brand name of Emirates Ports Company. Al Hamriya Port is in the traditional cargo gateway to Dubai. The port handles mainly non-containerized cargo between Dubai, Arabian Gulf, East Africa and Western India.
Al Hamriya’s piers are can handle 190 fishing vessels simultaneously. The port is favoured for livestock imports because of its large quarantine fcility.
Culture in Dubai is rooted in Islamic traditions that form UAE National’s lifestyles. However, the UAE is tolerant and welcoming to foreigners who do not practice the religion of Islam. Expatriates are free to practice their own religion, alcohol is served in hotels and the dress code is liberal. Women don’t face discrimination. Courtesy and hospitality are one of the many virtues of Dubai.
Rulers are keen to maintain their culture and do so through a number of practices. One is promoting sporting events that are representative of their past. Falconry, camel racing and dhow sailing are still popular in Dubai.
Featured Image : Photo By Noor Ali – [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3727996
The Dubai way of life did not always center on oil and its profits. Dubai was originally a fishing settlement. Inhabitants lived by fishing, pearling, herding sheep and goats, and by the turn of the century was an important trading port. Trade expanded even as Dubai was under the British colony, and Dubai began to grow in merchant appeal. By the early 1900s, almost a quarter of the population was foreign.
The population in the 1930s was 20,000, and of that, 2,000 were Persians, 1,000 Baluchis, many Indians and substantial communities from Bahrain, Kuwait and the Hasa province in eastern South Arabia. In 1954, the British established a political agency there as well.
In 1971, the British withdrew and Dubai joined with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Aiman, Umm Al Quwain, Fajairah and later Ras Al Khaimah to create the federation of the United Arab Emirates. Oil was discovered in 1966 and by 1969 Dubai exported its first shipment of oil. The success of this venture fueled the rapid development of the area and through the insight of the late ruler provided for the general welfare of the inhabitants. Dubai worked to build up its infrastructure of transport facilities, schools, hospitals, tourism developments and other amenities of an advanced society.
The journey continues today. The story of Dubai reads like a rags-to-riches tale, and indeed, it is hard to imagine anywhere else in the world that has developed at such a pace, in such a short time. Dubai is a magnificent expression of the Emirate’s incredible vision and a tribute to its sea-faring heritage, an uncompromising statement of success in a land that century after century has provided immense opportunity.
