Ruler of Sharjah inspects Sharjah Fort

SHARJAH, 21th April, 2015 (WAM) -- H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inspected on Monday morning Sharjah Fort in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, after the completion of the fort’s restoration project. He toured inside Sharjah Fort, known as "Al Hisn", and listened to a detailed overview about the precious historical facts that would be of interest to visitors and tourists. Sharjah fort contains a number of iconic collections that present the history of the fort, which was built in 1823 by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr. Since then, the fort has become a symbol of Sharjah and its people. The fort was the seat of government and a secure royal residence for Al-Quassim. It was also a central gathering place for local residents and the site of many important governmental decisions that would transform Sharjah. The Fort offers 12 exciting galleries, rich in information which is the culmination of five years of painstaking research done by SMD teams. The Fort, which has just re-opened its doors to the public, is Sharjah’s most important historic building. It went through a 15 month restoration project. The renovation was driven by Sheikh Sultan as part of the ‘Heart of Sharjah’ project to restore the Emirate’s key heritage sites. A conservation team has worked tirelessly to restore the original appearance, colour and texture of the building and to accurately portray the fort's distinctive features, including its wind-scoops, columns and crenulations. The Sharjah Fort has been updated to include exciting interactive features, audio-visuals, reconstructions and stories taking visitors on an engaging journey through two centuries of history offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience the history that has shaped the emirate and its people. "Al Hisn, the Fort, is the heart of Sharjah; it’s been the seat of government, the centre of defence and the centre of justice in Sharjah," said Manal Ataya, Director General of Sharjah Museums Department (SMD). "The narratives provided by members of the community are invaluable in terms of piecing together Sharjah’s history. The people of this emirate are part of the fabric of its story, so connecting with the community is a vitally important part of what we do. Visitors will be able to tour the fort’s galleries and really get a feel for what life was like here. We’ve used technology and new interactive elements to enrich the visitor experience and create a modern museum of international standard." Upon his arrival at the fort, the Ruler of Sharjah was welcomed by Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Urban Planning Council (SUPC), Salem Abdulrahman Al-Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Ruler's Office, Abdullah Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information, Engineer Salah bin Butti, Chairman of the Department of Planning and Survey Authority, Mohammed Obaid Salem Al Zaabi, Director of the Sharjah Department of Protocol & Guesthouses, Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Director of Heritage and Cultural Affairs at Sharjah Department of Culture, Mohammed Abdulla, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank, Ali Al Marri, General Manager of Sultan Al Qasimi Centre for Gulf Studies, Manal Ataya,Director General of Sharjah Museums Department. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395279511341.html