https://www.arabianbusiness.com/ :Sharjah is moving ahead with plans for three new hospitals in Kalba, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn, as the emirate also accelerates development in Khorfakkan and updates scholarship application requirements for students.

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, announced that work will begin on plans, studies and the tendering process for the hospitals, while approving new administrative divisions that split Khorfakkan City into four suburbs.

The three hospitals will be modelled on the University Hospital branch in Al Madam, which is nearing completion.

The Sharjah Health Authority will begin preparing plans and studies and conducting the tendering process, which is expected to take around five or six months.

The Sharjah ruler said during a phone-in on the “Direct Line” programme: “I was informed that there is overcrowding at the hospital and clinics in Kalba, so we wanted to address this matter quickly and contacted the Ministry of Health and Prevention, which responded to meet all the needs. They said they are now putting in place a mechanism to increase the number of doctors, medicines, facilities and construction. As for the three hospitals we previously announced, we decided to study the University Hospital branch in Al Madam as a model in terms of cost.

New hospitals in Sharjah
“The hospital is now nearing completion, and similar hospitals will be established in Kalba, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn. The Sharjah Health Authority will now begin preparing the plans and studies and conducting the tenders, which will take around five or six months.

“These hospitals, whether large or small, require budget funding, but we have found a solution and set out their plan midway through the year.”

His Highness has also approved new administrative divisions for Khorfakkan City.

The four suburbs are:

- Khorfakkan City
- Al Owainat
- Al Sih
- Al Sabihiyah

The Khorfakkan City suburb will extend from Khorfakkan Aqaba to Al Luluyah Aqaba, while plans include planting mountains in the area with dense, fruit-bearing trees.

The Sharjah ruler said: “We have approved the new administrative divisions for Khorfakkan City, comprising four suburbs: Khorfakkan City, Al Owainat, Al Sih and Al Sabihiyah. The Khorfakkan suburbs plan shows that the Khorfakkan City suburb extends from Khorfakkan Aqaba to Al Luluyah Aqaba.

“As this is virgin land, we will introduce some small animals and some beneficial species, such as gerbils, the mountain mouse and others. The plan also shows a yellow area called Al Owainat suburb, which is extensive and has mountains that will be levelled to create neighbourhoods.

“We also have Al Sih suburb, which has Al Aween Mountain. There is also a small mountain in this area whose name people pronounce incorrectly, calling it ‘Shuqair’, whereas its name is ‘Shukair’. This word means ‘small’, and ‘Al Shukair’ means the smallest of all things.”

Khorfakkan development set to accelerate
The approval of the administrative plan is expected to allow development in Khorfakkan to move forward more rapidly.

His Highness said: “Khorfakkan City has neighbourhoods, with each neighbourhood known by its own name, and it has a Khorfakkan City Council. Development in Khorfakkan will now proceed at a rapid pace because matters have become clear following the approval of the plan, just as happened in Kalba after we approved the city’s administrative divisions, which included the suburbs of Kalba City, Khor Kalba, Al Ghayl, Al Saf, Al Dahiyat and Al Sur.”

Plans are also moving forward to establish a mechanism for electing council members, with an extended meeting with the Sharjah Districts Affairs Department planned to determine the process.

His Highness said neighbourhood officials should be people such as mosque imams, teachers, counsellors or others known for good work, and would act as a link between residents and the Ruler of Sharjah.

The broader administrative organisation will extend beyond Kalba and Khorfakkan, with the Central Region and Sharjah City also set to be organised.