Shāriqah, Al-

▪ emirate, United Arab Emirates

Arabic“The Eastern” English  Sharjah 

      constituent emirate of the United Arab Emirates (formerly Trucial States, or Trucial Oman). Some of Al-Shāriqah's interior boundaries are only presumptive, but its main portion is an irregularly shaped tract, oriented northwest-southeast, stretching about 60 miles (100 km) from the Persian Gulf (northwest) to the central inland region of the Oman promontory (southeast). Al-Shāriqah also has three coastal enclaves on the eastern, or Gulf of Oman (Oman, Gulf of), side of the promontory; they are, from north to south, Dibā (ownership of which is shared with Al-Fujayrah (Fujayrah, Al-) emirate and the sultanate of Oman), Khawr Fakkān, and Kalbā. Because of the extreme political fragmentation in the region, Al-Shāriqah, including its enclaves, has common boundaries with each of the six other emirates of the union, as well as with the sultanate of Oman. The capital and chief urban settlement is Al-Shāriqah city, situated on the Persian Gulf.

      The Qawāsim, the ruling dynasty of Al-Shāriqah, were the principal leaders of the Persian Gulf pirates (piracy) from the early 18th century; from their bases at Al-Shāriqah city and, more particularly, Raʾs al-Khaymah town, they raided shipping of all flags with impunity and even threatened Bushire (Būshehr), then Britain (British Empire)'s main base in the area, on the eastern (Persian, or Iranian) coast of the Gulf of Oman. The chief pirate leader was Sulṭān ibn Ṣaqr, sheikh (Arabic: shaykh) of Al-Shāriqah (reigned 1803–66). The British fleet succeeded in defeating the pirates (1820), razed Raʾs al-Khaymah town, and made the Persian Gulf sheikhs sign the General Treaty of Peace (1820), a maritime truce (1835), and the Perpetual Maritime Truce (1853). Under the terms of the Exclusive Agreement (1892), Al-Shāriqah's foreign relations were placed in British hands. The 19th-century treaties, in general, were concerned with preserving the peace at sea, and Britain did not interfere with the warlike Qawāsim's attempts to take Abū Ẓaby (1825–31; 1833–34).

      The port of Al-Shāriqah city was long an important strategic and commercial centre in the gulf. Britain recognized its political significance by stationing a native agent (later succeeded by a British agent) as its “residency agent” in the Persian Gulf there from 1823. As the port at Al-Shāriqah town silted up and Dubai (see Dubayy) became the chief port of the Trucial Coast, the political agent was moved to Dubai in 1954; a separate agency was set up in Abu Dhabi in 1961, for Abū Ẓaby affairs only. The entire system of British protection ended in December 1971, when Britain left the Persian Gulf and the newly independent United Arab Emirates came into being.

      Prior to independence Iran asserted its claim to the Al-Shāriqah island of Abū Mūsā, in the open gulf northwest of Al-Shāriqah town, and landed troops there. A subsequent agreement between Iran and Al-Shāriqah promised that both flags would fly over the island, settled the question of possible future oil discoveries in the area (where Al-Shāriqah had granted a concession), and provided for an Iranian subsidy to Al-Shāriqah. Nevertheless, this, and a less-satisfactory settlement of the Iranian claim to the Greater Ṭunb and Lesser Ṭunb (Ṭunb al-Kubrā and Ṭunb al-Ṣughrā) islands with the neighbouring Raʾs al-Khaymah emirate, led some Arab states to sever diplomatic relations with Iran and Britain.

      Modernization in Al-Shāriqah has been largely confined to the capital, Al-Shāriqah city. New buildings have been constructed; a deepwater port (including modern container terminals and cold-storage facilities) was built; light industries are being expanded; and the city has an international airport. In addition, Al-Shāriqah Museum of Islamic Civilization opened in 2008. Al-Shāriqah city is connected by paved road with Raʾs al-Khaymah city and Abu Dhabi. The exclave of Khawr Fakkān on the Gulf of Oman has an active trade, especially in gold smuggling to India; it is the seat of the union's fisheries research station. In 1964–72 a large portion of Al-Shāriqah's revenue came from commemorative stamps, printed almost solely for philatelic purposes. Al-Shāriqah has modest oil and natural gas reserves, but the emirate's role in industry and transport has become increasingly important in its development. The area is approximately 1,000 square miles (2,600 square km). Pop. (2006 est.) 821,000.

* * *