{{Short description|Heritage project in the United Arab Emirates}} [[File:Heart of Sharjah.jpg|thumb|The Heart of Sharjah restoration project]] The '''Heart of Sharjah''' is a cultural heritage project that aims to preserve and restore the old town of [[Sharjah]] in the [[United Arab Emirates|United Arab Emirates (UAE)]] and return it to its 1950s state.
A five-phase project intended for completion in 2025, the project is being undertaken by the [[Sharjah Investment and Development Authority]] (Shurooq), together with the <abbr>Sharjah Institute for Heritage</abbr>, the [[Sharjah Museums Department]], and the <abbr>[[Sharjah Art Foundation]]</abbr>.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-43798-uae-heart-of-sharjah-on-track-to-complete-by-2025/|title=UAE: Heart of Sharjah on track to complete by 2025 {{!}} ConstructionWeekOnline.com|last=Morgan|first=James|website=www.constructionweekonline.com|access-date=2018-12-03}}</ref> It has been proposed as a candidate for [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] status.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://shurooq.gov.ae/project/heart-of-sharjah/|title=Heart of Sharjah|work=Sharjah Investment and Development Authority|access-date=2018-12-03|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Heritage site == [[File:Coral wall at Heart of Sharjah.jpg|thumb|upright|A traditional ''barjeel'', or wind-tower, and wall showing coral construction in the Heart of Sharjah district.|alt=]] The 35,000 square metre project is the largest heritage site in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf region]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/going-out/society/heart-of-sharjah-echoes-emirates-significant-history-1.2080086|title=Heart of Sharjah echoes emirate's significant history|access-date=2018-12-03|language=en}}</ref> and is centred around the restoration of the old Sharjah souq district. The first phases of the project involved the restoration of [[Sharjah Fort|Al Hisn Sharjah]] (Sharjah Fort), which was mostly demolished in the 1980s, the Souq Al Arsah, and the 5,872 square metre Souq Shanasiyah.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sharjahupdate.com/2014/06/sharjah-reconstructs-souk-al-shanasiyah-heritage-site/|title=Sharjah reconstructs Souk Al Shanasiyah {{!}} Sharjah Update|website=www.sharjahupdate.com|date=29 June 2014|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-03}}</ref> The Heart of Sharjah includes the souqs as well as several important merchant's houses including the [[Bait Al Naboodah]], the Sharjah Heritage Museum, and the Al Eslah School.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/20160714/1498/heart-of-sharjah-heritage-project|title=Visiting the past in the Heart of Sharjah|last=Wam|work=Khaleej Times|access-date=2018-12-03}}</ref> [[File:Courtyard at Heart of Sharjah (Fen Cafe).jpg|thumb|A courtyard of a traditional adobe and coral house in the Heart of Sharjah district (part of Fen Café).]] The almost complete demolition of Sharjah fort, which was originally constructed in 1820 by the then Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh [[Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi]], took place in January 1970. Sheikh [[Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi|Khalid bin Muhammad Al Qasimi]] wished to remove all trace of Sheikh [[Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi]], the previous Ruler and was only prevented from completing the work by the return of his alarmed brother, [[Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi|Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi]], from his studies in Egypt.
Only a single tower remained, but Sultan, who was to himself to become Ruler of Sharjah in January 1972, kept many of the elements remaining from the demolition and restored the fort faithfully<ref name=":03">{{Cite book|title=My early life|last=Al Qasimi|first=Sultan|publisher=Bloomsbury|year=2011|isbn=978-1-4088-1420-8|location=UK|pages=262}}</ref> in works which started in January 1996 and were completed in April 1997. This work formed part of the first phase of works restoring the old souks and houses of Sharjah's old town centre.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/heritage/uae-15-year-restoration-project-in-sharjah-on-track|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140909104127/http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/heritage/uae-15-year-restoration-project-in-sharjah-on-track|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 9, 2014|title=15 year restoration project in Sharjah on track|last=Kakande|first=Yasin|work=The National}}</ref>
== Al Bait Hotel == {{main|Al Bait Hotel}}
The current phase of the project is centred around the $53.5 million, 53-room [[Al Bait Hotel]], a five star luxury hotel build around four heritage houses, including the Bait [[Ibrahim Bin Mohammed Al Midfa|Ibrahim Mohammed Al Midfa]] and ''majlis'', which is intended to launch in December 2018. The hotel is managed by GHM Hotels, known for its Chedi hotel brand.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ghmhotels.com/en/al-bait-sharjah/|title=Luxury Five Star Hotel Accommodation {{!}} Al Bait Sharjah UAE {{!}} GHM Hotel|work=GHM Hotels|access-date=2018-12-03|language=en-US}}</ref> The houses are of traditional construction, single story with coral and gypsum walls and teak and ''barasti'' (palm frond) ceilings.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ghmhotels.com/ghmjourneys/the-first-of-four-chambers-at-the-heart-of-sharjah/|title=The First of Four Chambers at the Heart of Sharjah {{!}} Luxury Travel Magazine for GHM Hotels {{!}} GHM Journeys {{!}} DestinAsian|date=2018-05-04|work=Luxury Travel Magazine for GHM Hotels {{!}} GHM Journeys {{!}} DestinAsian|access-date=2018-12-03|language=en-US}}</ref> The hotel was first announced in 2013 and slated for 2015 completion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://arabiangazette.com/traditional-5-star-hotel-to-open-in-the-heart-of-sharjah-20130316/|title=Traditional 5-star hotel to open in the Heart of Sharjah - arabiangazette.com|date=2013-03-16|work=Arabian Gazette|access-date=2018-12-03|language=en-US|archive-date=2023-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104200322/https://arabiangazette.com/traditional-5-star-hotel-to-open-in-the-heart-of-sharjah-20130316/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The Heart of Sharjah project includes restaurants, retail areas, art galleries, themed markets, archaeological sites, museums, play areas and commercial offices. Construction includes the reconstruction and renovation of historical buildings for a variety of uses as well as the construction of new buildings.<ref name=":0" /> [[File:Old Lanter Heart Of Sharjah.jpg|thumb|Old Lanter in Heart Of Sharjah]] Part of the project will involve the demolition of the iconic 1970s buildings lining Sharjah's 'Bank Street', designed by Spanish architects Tecnica y Proyectos (TYPSA).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://failedarchitecture.com/events/fa-workshop-sharjahs-bank-street/|title=FA workshop: Sharjah's Bank Street - Failed Architecture|last=Architecture|first=Failed|work=Failed Architecture|access-date=2018-12-03|language=en}}</ref>
== UNESCO bid == Sharjah's 2018 bid for UNESCO World Heritage Status, under the heading 'Sharjah, Gateway to the Trucial States'<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heartofsharjah.ae/the-gateway-to-trucial-states.html|title=Heart of Sharjah - The Gateway to Trucial States {{!}}{{!}} قلب الشارقة - بوابة الإمارات المتصالحة ملف الشارقة|last=Agency|first=Tactical Digital|website=www.heartofsharjah.ae|language=en|access-date=2018-12-03}}</ref> includes the Heart of Sharjah; Sharjah Fort; the former barracks of the [[Trucial Oman Scouts]] in Mirgab; [[Al Mahatta Fort]], the first airport in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf]]; [[Dhaid Fort]] and Oasis; the coastal town of [[Khor Fakkan]]; the oasis and settlement of [[Wadi Helo (wadi)|Wadi Helo]] and [[Fili Fort]], following the Heart of Sharjah theme of a return to the simplicity and natural lifestyles of the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gulftoday.ae/portal/7c08bdc7-da86-4edd-969a-30a85877f3d3.aspx|title=gulftoday.ae {{!}} Heart of Sharjah, Khorfakkan, Al Dhaid in the running for Unesco World Heritage Site title|website=gulftoday.ae|access-date=2018-12-03|archive-date=2022-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224130950/https://gulftoday.ae/portal/7c08bdc7-da86-4edd-969a-30a85877f3d3.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> The bid for UNESCO status has been discussed since 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-02 |title=Heart of Sharjah could become World Heritage site - Construction Week Online |url=https://www.constructionweekonline.com/business/article-26821-heart-of-sharjah-could-become-world-heritage-site |access-date=2024-08-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{coord missing|United Arab Emirates}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:City museums in the United Arab Emirates]] [[Category:Historic sites in the United Arab Emirates]] [[Category:History of the Emirate of Sharjah]] [[Category:Sharjah (city)]]