The Jalabiya, a long gown dress, has a historic significance as it predates Islam and is still a big part of Arab culture today. Along with other UAE traditional clothing like the kandura, the jalabiya is highly recognisable due to its beautiful colours. Because of its prestige, maintaining the quality of jalabiya is essential. In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to do just that.
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Best beaches in Sharjah
Sharjah has a desert climate, with the average daily temperature reaching 26 degrees celsius. This temperature, coupled with the array of beautiful beaches available, makes Sharjah the perfect beach holiday destination. The only question is, which of Sharjah’s beaches is the best to choose from?
- Al Khan beach
- Al Fisht beach
- Kalba beach
- Khorfakkan beach
- Al Lulayyah beach
Al Khan beach
Located just five minutes away from the Sharjah maritime museum and Sharjah Aquarium, Al Khan beach is one of the most popular in Sharjah, especially for tourists. The 600 meters of sand provide ample space for relaxing in the sun, before taking a dip in the crystal blue ocean. For those who are slightly more adventurous, the Al Khan surf school offers a variety of water sport activities, including surfing, kayaking, and parasailing. If you are enjoying the beach with small children, there is even a play park to occupy their time, leaving you to relax and enjoy the sun warming your skin as you lay on the sand.
Al Fisht beach
Al Fisht beach is the perfect location to enjoy a picnic and walk across the sand. Due to the strong currents, it is strictly prohibited to swim in the water, however, the white sands offer more than enough entertainment. Once you have enjoyed the beach, head to the Al Fisht park, directly opposite the beach, and take a stroll around the perfectly manicured grass lawns. For the little ones, there is a children’s play area complete with swings, see-saws, and a multitude of slides. On clear nights, Al Fisht beach is a popular spot for stargazing as the sounds of the waves crashing as you admire the stars make for an idyllic and relaxing evening.
Kalba beach
If you are an animal lover, Kalba beach is perfect for you. Located a stone’s throw away from Khor Kalba Conservation Reserve, it is not unusual to spot rare wildlife wandering across the beach. Kalba beach is also an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles, which are critically endangered, and Arabian-collared kingfishers. The pristine waters of Kalba beach make it a popular site for scuba diving, as both children and adults can discover the habitats of many underwater creatures. Unlike any of the other beaches in Sharjah, at Kalba beach you can spot local fishermen catching fish along the horizon.
Khorfakkan beach
Khorfakkan beach is a favourite for both tourists and locals. Unlike Al Fisht beach, there is an abundance of fun water activities on offer at Khorfakkan. Whether you enjoy swimming, fishing, and diving, or want to try something more daring, such as kayaking or parasailing, there is plenty of fun to be had. Once you have exhausted yourself playing in the glittering sea, Khorfakkan beach has goalposts set up for a lighthearted football competition. At the end of the day, you can stroll down the beach to Oceanic Resort and Spa, which offers luxury accommodation and pamper packages, perfect for unwinding after a long day of having fun in the sun.
Al Lulayyah beach
If camping on the beach under the stars sounds appealing to you, then Al Lulayyah beach is the perfect beach for you. You will find Al Lulayyah on the east coast, separated from the main road by farmland. Its peaceful tranquility attracts campers, particularly on the weekend, who pitch their tents right on the sand and enjoy a few days relaxing by the sea. If camping on the sand doesn’t interest you, one of the nearby farms welcomes campers, and even comes complete with a BBQ area and playground. Al Lulayyah beach is the ideal beach for taking things slow, enjoying a dip in the sea, and maybe even taking part in some fishing.
Whilst you explore the beaches that Sharjah has to offer, let Laundryheap take care of your dirty laundry. To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
Fun facts about Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. When translated from Arabic, Abu Dhabi means, “Father of the Gazelle.” Here are 10 more fun facts about Abu Dhabi.
- Designed by a Japanese architect
- The Yas Marina Circuit
- Living on renewable resources
- The Capital Gate Building
- Ferrari World
- Humpback dolphins
- The world’s largest desert
- And the world’s largest carpet
- Air-conditioned bus stops
- The safest city in the world
Designed by a Japanese architect
Abu Dhabi’s beautifully modern design is down to Japanese architect Katsuhiko Takahashi. In 1967, Sheikh Zayed, who was president at the time, proposed a revamping of the city to modernise it. Katsuhiko Takahashi worked closely with Sheikh Zayed to design the city, and helped spearhead the project, until the Abu Dhabi we see today was built. Initially, the city was only supposed to house 40,000 people. Today, 1.48 million people inhabit the city.
The Yas Marina Circuit
The Yas Marina Circuit, where the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is held, is estimated to have cost AED 3.6 billion to construct. The 5.55 km track covers 21 hectares, has 21 turns, and can be split into 2 separate tracks so that 2 races can be simultaneously hosted. It is hailed as the most technologically advanced circuit in the world.
Living on renewable resources
Masdar City, a planned city project in Abu Dhabi, will be the world’s first fully sustainable city. Set to be completed in 2030, the city will be powered by renewable energy sources, and be home to 50,000 people. A field of 22-hectares holds 87,777 solar panels, which will provide energy for the city. It will not completely carbon-neutral, which was the original aim, but, it will set an example to all cities across the world.
The Capital Gate Building
The Capital Gate Building stands 35 stories high and has over 16,000 square meters of office space. It leans at an 18-degree angle, which makes it the furthest leaning building in the world. It is commonly known as the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi, as it leans 14 degrees more than the Leaning Tower of Pissa.
Ferrari World
Opened in 2010, Ferrari World is a theme park dedicated to the luxury sports car of the same name. As you walk from ride to ride there are banners that explain how Ferrari started and how the car rose to fame. Each ride at the park is a thrill, and you can expect to encounter every twist, turn, and high speed that you would expect from a Formula One race. The main event is ‘Formula Rossa’. Hailed as the world’s fastest rollercoaster, it covers 2.2 km and reaches speeds of over 240 kmph. It is certainly a ride for thrill-seekers.
Humpback dolphins
The coastal waters of Abu Dhabi provide favourable conditions for the Indian humpback dolphin. It is estimated that 2,000 humpback dolphins roam the waters of Abu Dhabi, which is the most significant number of these aquatic mammals that can be found anywhere in the world. Asides from Abu Dhabi, you can find the Indian humpback whale in South Africa, Kenya, and Mozambique.
The world’s largest desert
Abu Dhabi thrives amongst the world’s largest contiguous desert, known as the Empty Quarter Desert. Spanning over 1,000 km, the terrain is covered by sand dunes of a reddish-orange colour. The daily average temperature of the Empty Quarter Desert is 47 degrees, so the fauna found is limited to arachnids and rodents.
And the world’s largest carpet
In the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest carpet in the world can be found. It spreads roughly 60,570 square feet and weighs 35 tons. Taking over a year to complete, it took the work of over a thousand weavers to create this masterpiece. When the mosque opened, it was not only home to the largest carpet in the world, but also the largest chandelier. Unfortunately, this title has changed, but it still holds the title of the largest chandelier in a mosque.
Air-conditioned bus stops
The average temperature in Abu Dhabi is 29.6 degrees, meaning that the city can become incredibly hot and uncomfortable. To combat this, air-conditioned bus stops have begun to pop-up across the city. These bus stops are fitted with air conditioning, seats, and top to bottom see-through glass panes, that help travellers stay cool on their journeys.
The safest city in the world
Abu Dhabi was ranked the safest city in the world in 2018, 2019, and 2020. In 2018, they won the title with 86.46 points out of 100. This score was topped the year after when they achieved 88.26 points. In 2020, Abu Dhabi managed to hold onto its title. The ranking is based on user feedback who reported how serious they felt crime was in the city, how safe they feel, and whether they have concerns about being attacked due to discrimination.
If you are living, working, or traveling around Abu Dhabi, don’t let laundry get in the way. Book a Laundryheap dry cleaning service, and we will sort it for you.
To book your Laundryheap service, head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
