Transport
From The Report: Sharjah 2023
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Situated strategically in the UAE, Sharjah is a pivotal hub for transport and trade, bordering both the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Home to the country’s inaugural international airport and three major ports, Sharjah invests in sustainable transport aligned with the UAE’s 2031 plan for advanced infrastructure. The ongoing SkyWay project, a revolutionary hanging railway system, aims to reduce congestion. The emirate is also enhancing its transport system by upgrading its bus network, transitioning taxis to electric vehicles, and seeing robust growth in the aviation sector, especially at Sharjah International Airport. With continuous road improvements, a national rail network and expanding ports, Sharjah is positioning itself as a sustainable transport model that provides a potential blueprint for other regions to emulate.

This chapter contains interviews with Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Airport Authority; and Adel Abdullah Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Making space: Infrastructure development and service expansion are helping meet increased demand as the emirate continues to grow
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Sharjah is the only emirate of the seven in the UAE that borders both the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman – as well as all six other emirates – making it strategically important for transport and trade. It is home to the country’s first international airport, as well as three major ports. The Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) has invested heavily in rolling out sustainable public transport and ride-hailing networks in recent years, in line with broader national targets for sustainable…

Analysis

Local movement: Innovative transport solutions are making Sharjah’s roads safer and enhancing the sector’s overall efficiency
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The government of Sharjah’s decision to dedicate 40% of its $11.1bn budget for 2024 to infrastructure underscores the emirate’s commitment to development and sustainability. This allocation is expected to help improve the public transport and mobility sector. In 2022 the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) reported that around 38m passengers benefitted from various mass transport services, with 29m passengers using taxi services, 5.3m riding public buses and approximately 3.6m travelling…

Interview

Key location: Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Airport Authority, on infrastructure development projects and the impact of emerging technologies on operations
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Interview: Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Airport Authority How does Sharjah’s geographic location influence the emirate’s role in regional and international transport and logistics networks? ALI SALIM AL MIDFA: The strategic position of the UAE, and Sharjah within it, plays a pivotal role in bridging eastwest transport routes. Since 1932 Sharjah has been a critical centre in aviation corridors, with airlines traversing from Bahrain through Sharjah to Muscat, Amman and beyond. This geographic…

Interview

Critical pillar: Adel Abdullah Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia, on expanding route networks to meet evolving customer demands
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Interview: Adel Abdullah Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia What are the growth projections for low-cost airlines in the region, and what are the main factors that are driving this trend? ADEL ABDULLAH ALI: Prospects remain strong for the aviation industry in the MENA region, especially for the low-cost segment. The aviation sector is a critical pillar in strengthening the region’s competitiveness. The Middle East is among the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, with the regional fleet set…