The Sharjah Consultative Council (SCC) has recommended that the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority continue integrating with relevant parties and developing the tourism sector while taking advantage of available growth opportunities.

The council also suggested developing marine tourism in collaboration with the emirate’s ports and competent authorities.

During its seventh session, chaired by Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the council called for a quick study of the need for hotels, particularly in the Eastern Region, to accommodate the increasing demand from tourists and conference organisers.

It also recommended the preparation of legislation regulating the use of closed hotels and abandoned facilities.

The council emphasised the importance of completing the development of the tourism sector and providing top-notch services to visitors and tourists in line with Sharjah’s renaissance.

It also stressed the need to establish appropriate mechanisms to serve this vital sector and highlight Sharjah’s tourist attractions. At the start of the session, the council approved the minutes of the previous meeting and discussed the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority’s policy.

The committee recommended enhancing the authority’s role in developing the tourism sector.

The council approved the recommendations, which emphasised the importance of providing the tourism sector with prosperity and qualifying it to face challenges and rapid developments.

This photo shows a session at the Sharjah Consultative Council. File photo

The authority was granted permission to permit tourist activity in rest houses and camps under specific requirements, controls, and standards.

The council also stressed the need for coordination with tourism companies and the employment of national qualifications and expertise in the tourism field.

The council thanked the committee for preparing the project, the Economic, Industrial, and Financial Affairs Committee of the Council, the applicants, and everyone who contributed and shared their observations and opinions, including the General Secretariat employees, for their efforts and fruitful cooperation in enriching the debate.

Recently, the SCC) approved a draft law for the year 2024 regarding real estate leasing in Sharjah, after introducing a number of amendments on the draft law in the sixth meeting of the first regular session of the eleventh legislative term.

The meeting was chaired by Dr Al Nuaimi.

The Council discussed the draft law on leasing real estate and reviewed the report received by the Council’s Legislative and Legal Affairs, Appeals, Suggestions and Complaints Committee.

Dr Mansour Mohammed bin Nassar, Head of the Legal Department of the Government of Sharjah gave a speech in which he praised the role of SCC in completing the legislative cycle of draft laws. He stressed the importance of the current draft law as it represents a work system that adds to the gains of Sharjah and its keenness to regulate the relationship between landlord and tenant, in accordance with the laws in force in the city of Sharjah.

He pointed out that Sharjah constitutes an attractive environment for investors and families, so a strong law and legislation were created to regulate the trading of real estate, including buying and selling, and other real rights, all of which will be regulated by the draft law, especially since the previous law was issued in 2007, meaning it has been approximately 17 years old, and there is a need to amend it to keep pace with developments and meet the needs of the parties.

Khaled Falah Al Suwaidi, Director of Customer Service at Sharjah Municipality, stressed the importance of the draft law on real estate leasing, pointing out that the draft law contains regulating articles that embody the vision towards enhancing tourist, investment and residential attraction in Sharjah.

Al Suwaidi pointed out that the current wording of the draft law touches on the living situation of society and brings together all relevant parties in an organised law that keeps pace with developments and demand for the real estate sector in the Emirate of Sharjah.

WAM