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Sharjah launches new ship to Sir Bu Nair Island with 80-passenger capacity, 'freezing rooms'

Equipped with lounges and guest cabins for travellers, the ship also features service facilities that include refrigeration rooms and high-efficiency power generators

Published: Mon 27 Oct 2025, 1:16 PM

Updated: Mon 27 Oct 2025, 2:18 PM

Sharjah has launched a new ship to transport both passengers and equipment to Sir Bu Nair Island Reserve.

The ship can hold up to 80 passengers, and is equipped with lounges and guest cabins.

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Measuring 140 feet in length and 30 feet in width, the ship also features service facilities that include refrigeration and freezing rooms, high-efficiency power generators, and dual diesel engines that produce a total power of 1,440 horsepower.

Watch a video of the ship, by EPAA:

Sir Bu Nair Island is located 110km west of Sharjah, and 85km from the northern coast of Abu Dhabi. The island is only open to public once a year, during its annual festival, making the spot a rare delight to visit.

For its 25th edition, Sir Bu Nair festival features sunrise boat tours with dolphin spotting, snorkelling at the coral farm, stargazing, the opening of the Sir Bu Nair Garden, and other marine activities.

The island is home to around 40 coral species and 70 fish species, including rare species recorded for the first time in the region. Sharks and rays, such as the threatened Blacktip Reef Shark, thrive in its waters.

Sir Bu Nair once served as a resting spot for fishermen and sailors, who flocked to its shores to take refuge during storms and harsh conditions.