Sharjah is the third largest of the seven states which form the United Arab Emirates. Sharjah or Al-Shariqa, probably has the most colorful history of all the Emirates. From the time of the early trading with the East, to the settlement of the Qawassim seafaring tribe and into the first half of the 19th century, Sharjah was the most important port on the lower Gulf. It was here that the British chose to set up their military base and the Trucial Coast's first international airport was established in 1932. The flow of oil into the UAE and the recent gas revenue has sustained Sharjah's modern development.

Sharjah is located on the Gulf in the West, and the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean in the East and covers approximately 2,600 square kilometres.

The population of the Emirate has risen dramatically during the past 10 years from 159,595 in 1985, to an estimated 500,000 in 1995. The majority of people living in Sharjah are based in the city, with an estimated population of 350,000 in 1995, followed by the town of Al Dhaid (24,716) and Khor Fakkan (10,888).

The traditional religion is Islam and the call to prayer sounds five times a day on almost every street corner. People adhere closely to the tenets of Islam in all aspects of their lives. Family ties are very strong and nearly sacred. National dress for men is the kandora (dishdasha), the long white robe and head dress. Women wear the traditional abbaya or black cloak. 

The most popular national sports include camel racing, falconry and football. The Sharia' Court enforces the law of the land which constitutes a mixture of written and verbal laws passed down from generation to generation. Arabic is the official language, while English is popular as the commercial language. 

Sharjah's climate is idyllic from November to April with warm sunny days, cool evenings and low humidity. Daytime temperatures range from 18 to 30 degrees C. 

For more details, please see the Sharjah websites (link 1 or link 2).

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