The Ruler of Sharjah opened a new traditional market, park and mountain heritage site in an effort to boost tourism to the emirate.
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi opened Shees Park, a 11,362-square metre park with a 25-metre high artificial waterfall on Thursday.
He also visited the Shees Rest House project, which is under development. When it opens, the rest house and market off Khor Fakkan road will have 60 shops selling honey, fruits, vegetables, and carpets, as well as a nursery and food trucks.
Sheikh Dr Sultan also inaugurated Najd Al Maqsar village, a community in Wadi Washi near Khor Fakkan known for its 300-year-old fortress.
Its 13 houses, each of which are at least a century old, are being restored and the fortress is also being considered for restoration. When complete, the area will have heritage hotels, a mosque and barbecue areas.
The restoration of the area is part of wider efforts to preserve the environment and revive archaeological and historical sites in Sharjah, said Dr Sheikh Sultan.
On Thursday, he also launched an environmental initiative to plant trees along the Sharjah - Khorfakkan Road. He planted fig trees, myrtle and frankincense, and said a mountain would be renamed after the trees planted on it.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
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