Sharjah is to spend Dh1.5 billion on 21 projects related to its selection as this year’s Islamic Culture Capital.
This comes as part of the emirate’s vision as per the directions of Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, chairman of the Executive Committee for the Sharjah Islamic Culture Capital (SICC) 2014, under the directives of Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.
Becoming the Islamic Culture Capital of 2014, Sharjah’s mission is to promote Islamic cultural thought globally, while mirroring the identify of the emirate and its embrace of Islamic culture, said the state news agency Wam.
“The projects complement the cultural manifestations and human heritage that chronicle Sharjah’s story of knowledge and science, promoting its status and key role in the international cultural system,” said Sheikh Sultan.
Many of the SICC 2014 projects will be completed within the coming days despite having only started three months ago, he said.
Among the projects is the Dh140 million Al Majaz Island Amphitheatre, with a capacity of more than 4,000. It will make its debut with a theatrical performance, Clusters of Light, during the SICC 2014 launch event.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, chairwoman of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority and head of the Projects Committee for the SICC 2014 celebrations, said that Sharjah invests in its future generations by sustainably promoting human thought, culture and knowledge.
According to Sheikha Bodour, the projects committee plans on spending more than Dh40m on building Islamic parks to display the cultural aesthetics of Islam.
Amid the plans is the construction of an Islamic university and several libraries to enhance awareness of the identity, culture and history of Islamic civilisation.
Additionally, Dh23m will be spent on erecting “heritage villages” across Sharjah in Kalba, Khor Fakkan and Al Dhaid in an effort to showcase the spirit of Emirati culture and revive traditional ceremonial practices.
Sheikha Bodour said that the amount invested in the project will be reflected in the tourist trade that it will bring to the emirate.
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