Al Madam

Coordinates: 24°57′41″N 55°47′25″E / 24.96139°N 55.79028°E / 24.96139; 55.79028
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Al Madam
ٱلْمَدَام
The "old town" or "ghost town" in Al-Madam
The "old town" or "ghost town" in Al-Madam
Al Madam is located in United Arab Emirates
Al Madam
Al Madam
Location of Al-Madam in the UAE
Al Madam is located in Middle East
Al Madam
Al Madam
Al Madam (Middle East)
Al Madam is located in Asia
Al Madam
Al Madam
Al Madam (Asia)
Coordinates: 24°57′41″N 55°47′25″E / 24.96139°N 55.79028°E / 24.96139; 55.79028
Country United Arab Emirates
Emirate Sharjah
Government
 • TypeAbsolute monarchy
 • SheikhSultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi
Population
 (2015[1][2])
 • Total11,120[1][2]

Al Madam (Arabic: ٱلْمَدَام) is an inland town of the Emirate of Sharjah, the UAE. Located at the intersection of the Dubai-Hatta (E44) and Mleiha-Shwaib (E55) roads, its development has mainly centred around these road links and the road traffic through Hatta to Oman. The volume of traffic to Oman through Madam and Hatta has lessened since the closure of the 'soft' Omani border at Mahda in 2016,[3] although traffic volumes remain at some 5,000 travellers daily.[4] The road from Madam to Hatta is now only open to UAE or Omani nationals and permit holders.[3]

Description

Al-Madam Municipality is in the eastern part of Sharjah's Central Region

The strip development of Madam along the E44 towards the 'dune bashing' tourist centre[5] of Badayer (with its celebrated 'Big Red'[6] sand dune) has resulted in the town becoming elongated, and includes the 'first shopping mall' to open there.[7] This is in addition to municipal facilities, a medical centre,[8] wedding hall[9] and a large number of shops located along the main street of the town. Al Madam is home to an annual shopping festival.[10]

In an area of desert to the south of Madam, a small and deserted development of houses and a mosque can be found, referred to locally as both Madam Old Town and Ghost Town. The area around Al Madam is also home to a number of Iron Age archaeological sites, including those of Al Thuqaibah and Jebel Buhais, as well as aflāj (water systems) dating back to the 1st millennium BC.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Sharjah population tops 1.405 million". WAM. Sharjah: GDN Online. 2017-01-22. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  2. ^ a b "More than 1.4 million people live in Sharjah". WAM. January 21, 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017 – via The National.
  3. ^ a b Guides, Dona Cherian, Special to (2016-01-05). "Al Madam-Hatta diversion: Expats not allowed on Oman E44". GulfNews. Retrieved 2018-04-15.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Reporter, Ali Al Shouk, Staff (2018-01-09). "5,000 travellers crossing Hatta border daily". GulfNews. Retrieved 2018-04-15.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Pradeep, Angitha (2016-11-29). "Top 5 UAE desert locations for 4x4 dune-bashing". Gulf News. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  6. ^ Publishing, Explorer. "Big Red". www.askexplorer.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  7. ^ "First shopping mall opens in Al Madam | Sharjah Update". www.sharjahupdate.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  8. ^ "Ministry of Health and Prevention announces 24-hour operations of Al Madam Medical Center". Al Bawaba. 2016-04-19. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  9. ^ "Sharjah Al Madam Wedding Hall". www.protenders.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  10. ^ Abdullah, Afkar. "Al Madam festival to honour 'Zayeds'". www.khaleejtimes.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  11. ^ Zriqat, Thaer (2015-03-31). "Another ancient Sharjah site found by archaeologists". The National. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  12. ^ "Dubai-Al Ain Road renamed". WAM. Al Ain: Gulf News. 2018-11-02. Retrieved 2018-11-04.