From Kalba to Khorfakkan: Inside Sharjah’s sweeping municipal reform and development drive
Executive Council tasked with detailed staffing and implementation responsibilities
SHARJAH – His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has issued a series of Emiri Decrees approving the general organisational structures of municipalities across the emirate’s cities.
The decision covers Dibba Al Hisn, Kalba, Al Dhaid, Al Madam, Mleiha, Al Bataeh, Al Hamriyah and Khorfakkan, marking a significant step in streamlining municipal governance.
The decrees establish a unified general framework for municipal operations, reinforcing administrative clarity and institutional coordination. The move reflects continued efforts to enhance efficiency across local government bodies and ensure structured service delivery in Sharjah’s cities.
Executive oversight
Under the approved decrees, the general organisational structures will serve as the formal basis for municipal operations. The Sharjah Executive Council has been assigned responsibility for issuing detailed organisational frameworks, ensuring that each municipality’s internal structure aligns with its functional needs and service obligations.
This includes defining job descriptions for various departments, aligning roles with responsibilities, and enabling flexibility in administrative design. The Council is also empowered to create, merge or abolish organisational units within municipal departments, ensuring adaptability in governance as service requirements evolve.
The framework is designed to support responsive administration, with an emphasis on clear hierarchies and operational efficiency. It also aims to strengthen coordination between municipal bodies and central executive authorities, ensuring consistent implementation across all cities within the emirate.
Urban expansion
Alongside governance reforms, Sharjah continues to advance major development initiatives in Kalba, where a series of landmark projects are scheduled for inauguration in December. The Ruler of Sharjah recently confirmed that the openings will mark a key milestone in the city’s long-term transformation programme.
Speaking during a phone-in segment of the Direct Line programme, he recalled a commitment made in April 2019 to begin development works the following morning, a pledge that has driven seven years of continuous construction activity in the coastal city.
Projects set for unveiling include Jabel Deem, featuring roads, landscaped areas and rest facilities, alongside Al Hayar, which incorporates a lake and rest area. Additional works include roads in Wadi Al Helo, new compensation buildings, and upgrades to the corniche, all forming part of a broader urban enhancement plan.
Heritage revival
A major highlight of the Kalba transformation is Khor Kalba City, a historically and archaeologically curated district being developed behind Kalba University and extending towards the sea. Existing residential structures have been repurposed into hotel-style lodges, while restored forts and mosques are being integrated into the area’s design following archaeological assessments. The district will be enclosed within a protective perimeter wall, preserving its cultural and historical identity.
Infrastructure development is also progressing, including a new road parallel to Al Wahda Street connecting the university zone to the city boundary wall. Another route will link the corniche with the ring road, while an existing fort within a major roundabout is being incorporated into the road network.
Further enhancing the city’s landscape, the Al Furaish Lake project, stretching approximately 750 metres behind Al Murash Square, is nearing completion. Designed as a family leisure destination comparable to Al Rafisah Dam, it will feature tree-lined mountain paths, waterfalls flowing into the sea, and pedestrian-friendly spaces for walking and recreation.
Authorities have indicated that the December inaugurations represent a stage in an ongoing development journey, with further projects and infrastructure upgrades planned across Kalba, including sewage systems and rainwater drainage improvements aimed at long-term urban stability.