Qanat Al Qasba to emerge as the cultural capital of the UAE and Gulf

The Authority, which was recently created by His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and is chaired by Shaikha Bodour Sultan Al Qasimi, will oversee the DHS 70 million transformation of the Qanat into a "a destination of cultural variety and learning."

The sight will play host to a number of key attractions, including Eye of the Emirates, which is the highest observatory wheel in the region. A circus, running for a period of 15 months with a different show every quarter, will be able to accommodate 1000 people, adding to the unique features of the project.

"Qanat Al Qasba will be the focal point of culture, allowing the world to experience the Arab heritage in Sharjah, the City of Culture in the Middle East," stated Shaikha Bodour Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Qasba Development Authority.

"When we embarked on this project, we set ourselves a unique goal; to create a community where cultural understanding and appreciation is at its heart. A community where different minds come together and are showcased for the world to appreciate," she further added.

Representing His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Shaikh Tariq bin Faisal Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Board, explained that Sharjah's vision from the start was to create a comfortable and safe environment for both residents and vistors alike, by introducing projects that are studied with care and distinguished by the depth they offer. "Qanat Al Qasba, and its cultural and entertainment aspects, adopts culture as its base, a vision that has proved itself over time. People today deserve more than profitable commercial projects as they are yearning for a greater sense of understanding, through cultural projects that add value to their lives," explained Shaikh Tariq.

He concluded by saying: "This project is considered the largest leisure and real-estate development to be built on a canal in the entire region, which includes cultural and entertainment landmarks that are inline with the overall strategy and direction of the Emirate of Sharjah. We have continuously developed cultural initiatives that highlight and portray Arab and Islamic culture to the residents and visitors of the UAE, giving them greater insight into our region."

Daniel During, Managing Partner of Thomas Klein International, the project's developer and manager, talked about the details of the project and started off by highlighting the ongoing commitment to continuously develop Sharjah as the cultural hub of the UAE and the region, explaining that His Highness the Ruler's vision has been "to establish a vibrant, growing community in a place of beauty, by developing it into a spot where families of all nationalities are welcome in an environment of learning and entertainment."

"When we came up with the concept for Qanat Al Qasba, together with Shaikha Bodour, we agreed from the forefront that we needed to initiate something that was more than a retail hub or a centre for family entertainment. We wanted a destination of cultural variety and learning. We wanted a community that is vibrant and shares cultural experiences with the widest audience," explained During.

Talking about the investment, which totalled DHS 70 million, During went on to explain: "The investment in this project was a significant one, with over 70 million dirhams being allocated to redesigning parts of the buildings, reclaiming some areas, and the overall upgrading of the infrastructure. Some of that money also went towards some of the many features of the development, three of which are exceptionally unique."

The "Eye of the Emirates" observatory wheel will be the highest in the Middle East, Central and North Africa and South Asia. Costing a total of DHS 25 million, the wheel will be 60 meters high and will offer extraordinary views of both Sharjah and Dubai. A total of 336 people can ride the wheel at one time, as it holds 42 fully air-conditioned gondolas that have a capacity of 8 people each. The wheel was built in the Netherlands according to the latest technology and highest safety standards and is identical to the ones found in Birmingham in the UK, and Shanghai in China.

The second key feature would be the circus performances that are continuous for 15 months, with five different shows being featured on a quarterly basis, the first being a specially-tailored performance for the region with an Arabian theme that is based on the 1001 Nights tale. The capacity of the circus will be 1000 people, with three showings a day.

A Winter Street Market with over 100 stalls will feature on each side of the Qanat to create a fascinating blend of old and new, of what's creative and collectible. On one side, artisans from across the Gulf will be alongside master artisans from 5 regional artisan centre; Shiraz in Iran, Khan Al Khalili in Egypt, Fez in Morocco, Istanbul in Turkey, and Zok in Beirut. On the other, book and art sellers, similar to those seen on the old streets of Paris, will display old books and prints that are dedicated to culture lovers, offering a time-honoured trading culture that co-exists with artistic talent.

Other unique features include the 400-seat auditorium, Masrah Al Qasba, which is located in the centre of the North Quarter and will host theatrical and cinematic performances in English and Arabic. As for the Southern Quarter, a spacious 1000 square meter exhibition space, spanning two floors, will stage events that will add to the cultural value of this project by hosting local and visiting artists, as well as students from within the UAE, where the Authority will work together with the different associations located on the second and third floors of Qanat Al Qasba, on setting up activities that help promote local talent.

Qanat Al Qasba will also include a total of 58 retail and food and beverage outlets that are based on the ground and first floor of the Northern and Southern Quarters. Talking about the benefit to retailers, Qanat Al Qasba's Leasing Manager, Jose Murcia, explained: "The concept of having year-round entertainment, the region's most spectacular attractions, and indoor and outdoor events, will ensure an excellent visitor ratio, as it appeals to a wider audience. Our projections show that we will have more than 10,000 visitors a day on weekdays, with that figure increasing over weekends."

In addition to the unique features on offer at Qanat Al Qasba, traditional abras will ferry people on the canal. As for the adjacent lagoons, they will offer a range of water sports, including pedal boats, sailing and boating trips, for all those adventurous visitors.

During concluded by saying: "As you can see, we have certainly created an environment that is entertaining, educational, cultural and artistic, making Qanat Al Qasba truly a neighbourhood of enrichment and a community that only makes the visitor want to come back to discover more."

Thomas Klein Int'l, the UAE-based F&B and leisure consultancy, was selected and appointed as the Project Developer and Manager out of a number of consultants that have been approached to handle the project over the past year. According to Shaikha Bodour: "Thomas Klein Intl. were selected based on their local experience, knowledge and understanding of the GCC market and the Arab culture, as well as on the originality of their idea, which was not to create another mall or a commercial enterprise, but rather to craft a centre to promote heritage, foment the arts and encourage local talents, a proposition that was unique in form and exceptional in spirit."