Page 27: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Jul/Aug 2018)

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A view across Al Majaz park to the

Sharjah City skyline.

in the American maritime industry and culture is a major achievement. But it came with a few stumbles along the way.

The emirate of Sharjah comprises the city of Sharjah City and borders Dubai to the south and Ajmân to the north form- ing a conurbation, an extensive urban area resulting from the expansion of several cities and towns so that they coalesce but retain their separate identities.

The city lies some 170 kilometers away from the UAE capi- tal city Abu Dhabi. But Sharjah also owns three enclaves on the east coast, bordering the Gulf of Oman. These are Kalba,

Dibba Al-Hisn and Khor Fakkan, providing Sharjah with a major east coast port. Sharjah also encompasses some impor- tant oasis areas, the most famous of which is the fertile Dhaid region, where a range of vegetables and fruits are cultivated.

Sharjah was not Dubai or Dubai Ports World, or even close when, on December 13, 2013 the private company owned by

Crescent Enterprises was renamed Gulftainer and rededicated with a new “vision and identity” that “aims for 35 (container) terminals by 2020 across