SHARJAH, 17th May, 2017 (WAM) -- Sharjahs Al Dhaid City has undergone dramatic transformation and is fast evolving into a busy and bustling capital city for Sharjahs Central Region, thanks to the special attention of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the massive development projects undertaken by the Sharjah government in recent years.

Speaking about the development that Al Dhaid has witnessed in recent months and years, Ali Al Tunaiji, Director of Al Dhaid City Municipality, lauded the Sharjah Ruler for giving equal attention and importance to Sharjahs remote areas and their development while maintaining their authentic identity.

Al Dhaid City Municipality has registered remarkable growth and achievements in Year 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, guided by the Sharjah leaderships vision to turn Al Dhaid into an integrated model city, generating new job opportunities for its people and supporting its women in terms of education and employment.

In his interview with Sharjah Government Media Bureau, Al Tunaiji stressed that a huge part of the major development witnessed by Sharjah occurred in the Central Region, particularly Al Dhaid City, which has lined up a number of development projects at all levels.

He said, "The attention at the highest levels has accelerated the pace of work and production. Al Dhaid City Municipality has recorded net revenues of more than AED17 million this year, which indicates considerable effort towards development. "Al Tunaiji explained, "We at the municipality have treated the idea of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to turn Al Dhaid into a capital for the Central Region as our main objective. We started by focusing on the markets area first, which is strategically located between various emirates in the country and, therefore, must have an economic value and form a cultural hub among all other cities."As a result, we now have the Fruits and Vegetable Market complex, the Fish Market, the slaughterhouse and the Friday Market (also called Souq Al Juma), which serves farmers needs, as well as the livestock and poultry farm, the Old Souq and a private market, he added.

"For example, Al Misyal Market has recently been developed and opened at a cost of AED3 million and the Thursday Market (Souq Al Khamis) will soon be inaugurated in an area that previously lacked such services. We also have the Heritage Village, which was established eight years back and is one of the first villages in the emirate. The Village, which attracts citizens and residents alike with a variety of cultural and recreational activities, has become a studio for many of the programmes of Al Dhaid's Al Wosta channel," he said.

In accordance with the Sharjah leaderships guidance, the municipality has also been giving highest priority to providing housing for UAE nationals.

Commenting on this, Al Tunaiji said, "Sheikh Sultan in 2001ordered that old traditional houses built before that year be razed and replaced with new modern neighbourhoods that meet certain criteria, such as preserving the environment and family cohesion. An amount of AED250,000 was given as a gift to every citizen whose old house was demolished, in addition to a new house. This resulted in the establishment of the new neighbourhoods of Jabal Omar, Tal Al Zafaran, Al Hisn, Tibah, Al Shareea, Al Suwaih, Al Bustan, Suhaila, Zubaydah, and Wishah."The Director of Al Dhaid Municipality added, "Al Raq neighbourhood has recently been established in Suhaila for the citizens of Dibba Al Hisn, comprising more than 1000 family homes, together with all the necessary facilities, including schools, parks, mosques and markets. Moreover, the Sharjah Government, by the order of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, the Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has distributed nearly 1,000 land plots in Al Dhaids new commercial area and Suhaila, in addition to another 1,000 plots in the new industrial area, and the door is still open for citizens who do not possess houses of their own to register for lands in their neighbourhoods."Al Tunaiji noted that Al Dhaid City will soon see the completion of one of the worlds largest parks set to form a distinct tourist destination with a wide variety of animals and facilities. Al Dhaid will also witness the completion of Al Wosta channel building, which will form an architectural masterpiece, adding aesthetic value to the city, added the Director of Al Dhaid City Municipality.

Speaking on the various facilities available in the City, Al Tunaiji said,"Al Dhaid has five parks for women and children, complete with playgrounds and walking paths, in the neighbourhoods of Jabal Omar, Tibah, Al Hisn, Al Shareea and Suhaila. Three more parks are under construction in the neighbourhoods of Al Suwaih, Tal Al Zafaraan and Wishah."He also pointed out that Al Dhaid, which hosts a population of 25,000, also has a nursery for children between Al Suwaih and Al Bustan and three kindergartens in Tibah, Al Hisn and Al Shareea. It additionally has general education schools for both boys and girls and the University of Sharjah-Al Dhaid, which complements the educational system in the city.

"In addition to the various government departments, we have here a number of important facilities that serve a broad segment of the community. These include Al Wosta Channel, the Child Centre, Al Dhaid Ladies Club, the Youth Centre, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services - Central Region branch, the Cultural and Sports Club, the Public Library, the Students' Parents Council, Al Dhaid Hospital, the Preventive Medicine Centre and others," he added.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.