Sharjah is hoping to up its tourist numbers from the 1.6 million visitors it saw last year. H.E. Marwan bin Jassim al Sarkal told the Business Breakfast that they are introducing new double-decker bus tours of the city, and birds-eye view seaplane trips.

The Seawings seaplanes will land on the lagoon, and tourists will be bussed to the heritage area for traditional Emirati food. The municipality continues to renovate and rebuild the legacy areas of the city, most of which has disappeared over time. Until the 80's & 90's there was no preservation of traditional buildings. He also talked about a development program for Kalba on the East coast. Gazelle will be released and, to protect the area, vehicles will be banned and the canoe trips of the mangroves will be stopped.

Mr. Al Sarkal was at pains to stress that despite perceptions to the contrary, Westerners are welcome in Sharjah's Islamic cultural establishments when dressed modestly. Apart from the cultural museums the emirate has an excellent aviation museum, to underline that Sharjah Airport was for a long time the only airbridge

- Malcolm