Sharjah to build $68m island airport
by Lynne Roberts on Tuesday, 08 May 2007

Sharjah is to build an airport on Sir Abu Nu’air, according to Gulf News today.

Halcrow International Partnership is design consultant for the project, which is expected to cost in the region of Dh250 million.

An existing airstrip will be replaced with a modern runway, airfield, passenger terminal and control tower. The island’s marina will be dredged and increased in size as part of the development.

Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, chairman of the Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation, said in a statement, "The island is known for its beautiful beaches surrounded by coral reefs, and this low-impact development will allow many more people to enjoy its rugged beauty while simultaneously preserving its natural splendour.”

The island, located 65 kilometres off the coast of Sharjah is renowned for its beaches and natural beauty, and is home to archaeological finds dating back to the Iron Age.

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Sharjah to develop new airport on Sir Abu Nu'air island

Staff Report


Dubai: Sharjah will develop an airport on Sir Abu Nu'air, an island off the emirate's coast where archaeological finds date back to the Iron Age some 3,500 years ago.

His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, has assigned the Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation to oversee construction of the airport facilities and the development of Sir Abu Nu'air Island.

Located 65 kilometres off the coast of Sharjah, Sir Abu Nu'air Island is known for its superb beaches and natural beauty. Airport development on the island will cost Dh250 million. Halcrow International Partnership is serving as the design consultant for the airport and its facilities.

The first phase will include the replacement of the existing airstrip with a modern runway and airfield capable of accommodating Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 aircraft.

Additional infrastructure will include a passenger terminal, control tower and all other facilities needed to ensure operations and safety.

As part of the development, the existing marina will be dredged and increased in size to accommodate more yachts and leisure boats.

Facilities at the marina, including the slipway, fuelling facilities and ancillary services, will also be upgraded.

Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, chairman of the Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation, said, "The island is known for its beautiful beaches surrounded by coral reefs, and this low-impact development will allow many more people to enjoy its rugged beauty while simultaneously preserving its natural splendour.

"By focusing on environmentally friendly design, we will ensure that the project will be entirely pollution-free.

"The development, which will offer high-quality facilities and services for visitors to the island will preserve Sir Abu Nu'air's inimitable nature while introducing it to those who seek to discover its myriad charms," Al Thani added.

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How far is this island from the mainland???

so, travellers will have to take a car/bus/taxi to the coast, to board some sort of sea-faring vehicle just to get on an airplane.

what is wrong with this picture?! :nuts:

its 65km away from mainland sharjah

We need a flight to get to the airport from the mainland!!! :D

its common sense people, the airport is for transportation to/from the island,

the airport is for the island not the island for the airport.

i think Sharjah will make resorts and tourist attraction facilities in the island, like resorts or so.

Sharjah first needs to make some serious improvements on their existing airport! :bash:

they are working on it, they expanded it ( not yet finished but will soon), also they made their own airlines air arabia,

with the amount of money they have or making its good effort.

Abu Dhabi as a capital and the largest wealthiest emirate should do alot to their international airports. ( and change the unqualified staff too).

^^ Im with you brother......but even with the expansion of the SHJ airport, its still small & cramped, and the parking is horrible!

unlike DXB and their shiny Dubai Bank sponsored glass jetways, SHJ still makes you walk up those silly stairs to the aircraft. :ohno:

a map of the island .... its Sir Bu Nuair ... u can see it in the middle of the see.... its closer to dubai and abudhabi .. but it belongs to Sharjah ... since sharjah has a piece of land everywhere around UAE ...



http://www.ameinfo.com/images/news/1/39681-island.jpg


http://uae2.gsfc.nasa.gov/uae_photo_map.jpg

a map of the island .... its Sir Bu Nuair ... u can see it in the middle of the see.... its closer to dubai and abudhabi .. but it belongs to Sharjah ... since sharjah has a piece of land everywhere around UAE ...



http://www.ameinfo.com/images/news/1/39681-island.jpg


http://uae2.gsfc.nasa.gov/uae_photo_map.jpg

SMART? WHATS SMART? Its called Al Ain!!

Ps. Jebel Hafeet is not a town/city........it comes under Al Ain metro area

guess what .. there is another project planned for this island ..... check this link to see what I mean...


http://www.skypetroleum.com/sirabu.htm

and yes for the people who doubt that sharjah has oil fields and oil wealth .... these photos are for established oil fields in the sharjah desert..


http://www.sajgas.com/pics/dec05/completion-070.jpg


http://www.sajgas.com/pics/dec05/048-047.jpg