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Sir Abu airfield gets Dh250m facelift by Sharjah's DCA

DUBAI — His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the UAE and Ruler of Sharjah, has instructed the Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation to oversee construction of the Dh250-million airfield development project on Sir Abu Nu'air Island.

The first phase of the project, whose design consultant is Halcrow International Partnership, involves the replacement of the present airstrip with a modern runway and airfield that could accommodate Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 aircraft. It also includes a passenger terminal, control tower, and other important facilities.

"We are extremely proud to have been appointed by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi to oversee the development of Sir Abu Nu'air Island," said Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani, chair of Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation.

Located 65 kilometres off UAE's northern coast, the island is noted for its superb beaches and natural beauty. Sir Abu is pristine and nearly uninhabited, except for a few fishermen who ply the nearby waters and turtles who lay their eggs on the island.

"The island is known for its beautiful beaches surrounded by coral reefs, and this low-impact development will allow many more people to enjoy its rugged beauty while simultaneously preserving its natural splendour," Shaikh Al Thani said. He added that the project would have an environment-friendly design and offer high-quality facilities and services to visitors.

The new project also calls for the dredging of the existing marina to accommodate more yachts and leisure boats. The slipway, fuelling facilities and ancillary services will also be upgraded.

Archaeologists said Sir Abu has a continuous maritime activity for the last 35 centuries because of a ceramic vessel found on the island that dates back to the Iron Age.