At a press conference, Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Shurooq's Chief Executive Officer, said the project will be built in three phases. The first will include the arrangement of the reserve based on available natural resources, a center for visitors to the resort, as well as the restoration of the archaeological site in this region. The implementation of the first phase has already begun.
As part of the second phase, the lagoon will be landscaped and a complex of shopping centers and specialty restaurants will be built. In addition, all visitors will be able to get acquainted with wildlife in specially equipped recreational areas without harming the environment. A number of small islands intended for the habitat of birds and marine animals will also be restored.
The third stage will be intended for tourists and will include a number of luxury hotels and bungalows with a total number of rooms of 300 rooms overlooking the Gulf of Oman. They will be built in accordance with modern environmental standards. The project is planned to be fully implemented within six years. A diving and marine sports center and excursions through the mangroves will also appear on its territory.
According to Hana Saif Al Suwadi, Director of EPAA, the unique biodiversity of the resort will make it one of the leading tourist destinations in the region. It will become home to rare species of birds, fish and green turtles. Its territory will include the upper reaches of the Hajar mountain range, mangrove forests and the sea shelf, which are located on an area of about 8 km. "This is the only place in the Middle East that concentrates such a high diversity of plant and animal species on such a small area," Al Suwadi said. Shurooq was established in 2009 with the goal of social, cultural, economic and natural development of the emirate of Sharjah based on international standards and by attracting investors from all over the world.
