Editing Emirate of Sharjah (section)

==Government==
{{See also|Government of Sharjah}}
The Emirate of Sharjah is led by the ruler of Sharjah. It has been led by Sheikh [[Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi]] since 1972.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Federal Supreme Council |url=https://uaecabinet.ae/en/details/federal-supreme-council/his-highness-sheikh-sultan-bin-mohammed-al-qasimi |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=uaecabinet.ae}}</ref> The ruler of Sharjah appoints members of the Sharjah Executive Council and the Sharjah Consultative Council to manage the day-to-day affairs of the emirate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sharjah - The Official Portal of the UAE Government |url=https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/the-seven-emirates/sharjah |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=u.ae |language=en}}</ref> Sharjah has devolved some authority of local decisions to Emiri Diwans (Ruler's Courts) in areas such [[Kalba]] and [[Khor Fakkan]]. Nevertheless, the Sharjah Executive Council retains authority to manage government departments and affairs in line with policies and decrees by the ruler of Sharjah.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sharjah Executive Council |url=https://ec.shj.ae/en/executive-council/ |access-date=27 May 2023 |website=The Executive Council of Sharjah}}</ref> Collectively, the government of Sharjah has over 126 government departments and public organisations under its responsibility and control<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sharjah Executive Council - Government Entities |url=https://ec.shj.ae/en/government-entities/ |website=Government Entities}}</ref> with a number of services provided through a Sharjah [[e-government]] portal.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sharjah.ae/ |title=E-government portal |access-date=9 November 2014 |archive-date=16 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016034802/http://www.sharjah.ae/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Commerce and Tourism Development Authority===
[[File:Sharjah eyes1.jpg|thumb|The Emirates Eye, the [[ferris wheel]] at Al-Qasbah in Sharjah City]]
The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCDTA) was established by decree in 1996 to "promote commercial and tourism activities" in the emirate. The state-backed authority is responsible for, among other things, creating policies for local and international exhibitions and marketing Sharjah to attract foreign investment and tourists.
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sharjah Tourism and Commerce Development Authority - SCTDA |url=https://www.sharjahtourism.ae/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority |language=en-US}}</ref>
One such initiative, is the annual [[Sharjah Light Festival]], which showcases the emirate's landmarks through vibrant light shows and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sharjah illuminates 12 iconic art and culture landmarks across the emirate in the 13th Sharjah Light Festival|url=https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/events-and-conferences/sharjah-illuminates-12-iconic-art-and-culture-landmarks-across-the-emirate-in-the-13th-sharjah-light-festival-nruol0dd |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=ZAWYA by LSEG |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Investment and Development Authority===
The [[Sharjah Investment and Development Authority]] (Shurooq) was established in 2009 as an independent government body to "oversee the social, cultural, environmental and economic development of Sharjah in line with its [[Islam]]ic identity." It focuses on three areas for the emirate; investment, development, and asset and property management. Shurooq's developments include:
* [[Al Qasba Sharjah|Al Qasba]] – 10,000-acre project including a {{convert|1|km|mile|abbr=on}}-long man-made [[canal]] and {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=on}} high observation wheel, it was made open for the public in 2005. It includes Masrah Al Qasba, a theatre, the Maraya Art Centre, the Multaqa Al Qasba meetings and conference centre and a children's Fun Zone. The project, managed by the Al Qasba Development Authority (an affiliate of Shurooq) has an architectural design including pedestrian bridges, boats, and lagoons. It attracted two million visitors in 2011.
* Al Majaz Waterfront – Shurooq opened the Al Majaz Waterfront in December 2011 after redeveloping it. The new park, located between Jamal Abdul Nasser Street and Khalid Lagoon Corniche, covers an area of {{convert|3|km2}} for recreation, including six new buildings with restaurants and a {{convert|100|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall water fountain.
* [[Heart of Sharjah]] – The Heart of Sharjah, slated for completion in January 2015, has been proposed by Shurooq as a tourist and trade destination with commercial, cultural, and residential projects as well as hotel, archaeological sites, museums, and commercial space.
* The Chedi Khorfakkan Resort – The Chedi Khorfakkan, scheduled to open in 2015, is under construction an hour outside of Sharjah city centre. Shurooq has stated that once complete, the project will include a tourist resort and a fort on the Al Suwifa Mountain.

===Decency laws===
Conservative Sharjah is the only Emirate in the UAE in which the sale of [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]] is prohibited, although its consumption in one's own home is permissible if one is in possession of a valid Alcohol Licence (as is the transportation of alcohol between the place of sale and the home). The only place this prohibition is relaxed is the members-only sporting club, the [[Sharjah Wanderers]].

Sharjah also maintains the strictest decency laws in the UAE, introduced in 2001, with a conservative dress code required for both men and women. Mixing between unmarried men and women is illegal: "A man and a woman who are not in a legally acceptable relationship should not be alone in public places, or in suspicious times or circumstances," according to a booklet published by the municipality in 2001.<ref name="six" />