The Seawings charter service offers a 30-minute flight over Sharjah. The tour consists of a water take-off and landing in a Cessna 208 aircraft followed by an open-top bus tour around the city. Lee Hoagland / The National
The Seawings charter service offers a 30-minute flight over Sharjah. The tour consists of a water take-off and landing in a Cessna 208 aircraft followed by an open-top bus tour around the city. Lee Hoagland / The National
The Seawings charter service offers a 30-minute flight over Sharjah. The tour consists of a water take-off and landing in a Cessna 208 aircraft followed by an open-top bus tour around the city. Lee Hoagland / The National
The Seawings charter service offers a 30-minute flight over Sharjah. The tour consists of a water take-off and landing in a Cessna 208 aircraft followed by an open-top bus tour around the city. Lee Ho

Seaplane tour will give bird’s eye-view of Sharjah


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SHARJAH // Tourists will be able to get a bird’s eye-view of Sharjah when a new seaplane service takes to the skies.

The Seawings charter service will provide a 30-minute sightseeing tour over the emirate, taking off from Dubai Creek Golf Course and Yacht Club and giving passengers views of Sharjah's lagoon, Buhaira Corniche and the coastline of Mamzar before landing at the Al Majaz Waterfront.

The flight will be followed by an open-top bus tour around Sharjah city visiting Al Qasba, Sharjah Aquarium and the Noor Mosque, as well as other museums.

“Every Seawings tour consists of a water take-off and landing in a Cessna 208 aircraft,” said Dr Nigel Rea, chief operating officer of Seawings. “Each seat on the aircraft has its own large viewing window.”

The seaplane service has been launched in association with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq).

“Shurooq is keen to support any initiative that helps attract more international tourists and visitors to the emirate, and the launch of this new aerial sightseeing excursion across Sharjah is in line with our strategy to highlight the emirate as a unique tourist destination, and to boost its position on the world tourism map,” said Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, chief operating officer of Shurooq.

"We believe the addition of seaplane tours will offer tourists a whole new view of the emirate."

ykakande@thenational.ae

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Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

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