Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority Reveals Details of Sir Bu Nuair Island Development

The Sir Bu Nuair Project – at a cost of half a billion Emirati Dirham – is a massive development of the Arabian Gulf Island and a major beautification and preservation of its existing ecosystem. The aim of the project is to turn the island into a unique destination; one that offers a mix of high-end luxury and comfort, one that fosters a genuine sense of community, and one that captures the region’s vibrancy and cultural heritage in its architecture and offerings. Set to be completed in 2017, the island will host a luxury five-star hotel and resort, hotel apartments and villas, a camping village for those who love camping, retail shops, a souk, dedicated family areas, an amphitheatre, a museum, a mosque, an education centre, a harbour and an airport.

Located 65km off the UAE coastline on the Arabian Gulf and stretching across a gigantic area of 13 km2, the predominantly uninhabited island is characterised by its natural scenery and beautiful beaches, and has yielded archaeological finds of pottery items dating back to approximately 3,500 BC, with other recovered items dating back to 1,500 BC.

Travelling to the island takes 2-3 hours by sea, 25 minutes by airplane from Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi, and 40 minutes from Sharjah. The island is protected due to its significant environmental features, including geological formations, natural flora, marine birds, Hawksbill turtles, green turtles, rare fish species, marine plants, as well as numerous seaweed species. Sir Bu Nuair is also home to a number of important species of endangered animals and plants and is a refuge for certain wild birds such as the Alasard, the Alwaraqa, and the Alqoba, as well as birds of prey such as the Peregrine Falcon.

Sir Bu Nuair Island is already a favourite diving and snorkelling destination due to its bio-diversity and its coral reefs, but there is more that makes this Island an attractive destination for divers and sightseers. It is home to an annual environmental and sporting competition where fishermen, divers and seamen take part in a three-day treasure hunt and various sporting, cultural, heritage and environmental activities. It is also the starting point of the penultimate leg of the Al Gaffal Dhow Race, where one hundred 60ft dhows (traditional sailing boats) compete in a race from Sir Bu Nuair to Dubai. In recognition to the Island’s cultural and geographic value, Sir Bu Nuair has been listed as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012.