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Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has revealed that a study is underway for a project to level the summit of Al Aween Mountain in Khorfakkan and develop a residential area there capable of accommodating a large number of people.
Speaking by phone on the "Direct Line" programme with Mohamed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, Sheikh Sultan said the mountain dominates all the surrounding areas and that studying the levelling of its summit and constructing a residential area on top would provide a large area capable of housing many residents.
New administrative division for Khorfakkan on the way
Sheikh Sultan also announced that planning for the new administrative division of Khorfakkan has been completed and will be announced soon, following a similar process already carried out for the city of Kalba.
He described Khorfakkan as a city surrounded by mountains on all sides, stretching from Al Hawami to the mountains and towards the sea, ending at Al Aqaba at the entrance to Al Luluyah, with all the surrounding areas considered neighbourhoods of Khorfakkan rather than separate suburbs.
Why Sheikh Sultan says the city is running out of space
Sheikh Sultan explained that Al Aween Mountain extends from Victoria School to Al Ghazir and includes the Al Ashqar neighbourhood, noting that once this area is reorganised, only two suburbs will remain in that part of the city, with no further space available at ground level.
This lack of remaining space, he said, is why authorities are now studying the possibility of building upward into the mountains rather than continuing to expand across existing flat land.
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How Sharjah's ruler is naming Khorfakkan's neighbourhoods
Sheikh Sultan also spoke about the naming of Khorfakkan's neighbourhoods, explaining that the Al Subaihiya suburb was named after an old spot at the location and now encompasses Al Nakheel, Al Luluyah, Al Zubarah and Hasi.
He noted that the area opposite Al Subaihiya, known locally as Al Haray, or the spot where snakes are found, would not be suitable as a formal neighbourhood name, stressing a preference for names that symbolise positive things rather than names residents would pass down that carry negative associations.
He also clarified that Al Ashqar, the name of the neighbourhood within Al Aween Mountain, refers to a type of mountain with light-brown soil rather than the colour blonde.
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