By Roudha Ahmad Khalfan and Maryam Juma
SHARJAH – Zayed University students had a chance to sightsee many tourist attractions during a trip to the Emirate of Sharjah on Oct. 23. The trip was hosted by Government of Sharjah and by Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority.
Students from Tourism Principles class in the College of Communication and from Brand Management class in the College of Business went on a trip as they had lectures about Al Noor island and Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization and how they are considered some of the most important tourists’ attractions in Sharjah.
Sharjah is known as the Islamic culture capital in the UAE. His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council member and ruler of Sharjah, has turned his emirate to a rich cultural and intellectual place that hosts large cultural festivals in the area.
The tour began when students met Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf, a tour guide from SCTDA. He told them many stories and information that they heard for the first time about Sharjah.
First, they stopped in Al Noor island, the newest destination. They entered a butterfly house that holds rare butterflies from Costa Rica and Indonesia. They also walked into a maze garden to explore the beauty of the island and had a coffee break in Noor café. Then, they stopped in Al Noor mosque, the only mosque in Sharjah that opens the door for tourists and non-Muslims and it has a lovely library that we don’t usually see in other mosques. It is also a beautiful place to explore the old beautiful Islamic architecture. Before going back to Dubai, we went to the hotel where we attended a presentation by SCTDA, and we had a lovely lunch with them.
On this trip, tourism students were interested in knowing about the attractions and how they helped in the development of communities, while the business students were asking more about how they manage the places and the process of marketing.
Al Noor mosque seen from the butterfly garden. (Roudha Ahmad Khalfan) 
Al Noor mosque showcases the beautiful Turkish Ottoman architecture. (Roudha Ahmad Khalfan) 
Inside the Al Noor mosque. (Roudha Ahmad Khalfan) 
From the island’s bridge, visitors can observe the biggest UAE flag in Sharjah. (Maryam Juma) 
Food for the butterflies in the garden on Al Noor island. (Roudha Ahmad Khalfan)
About the authors: Roudha Ahmad Khalfan and Maryam Juma are specializing in Tourism and Cultural Communication in the College of Communication and Media Sciences at Zayed University in Dubai. This story was produced in TCC371 Tourism Principles class lead by Dr. Noela Michael.
This story was originally published on Dec. 12, 2018. It was re-uploaded on Jan. 4, 2021.
