His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has approved the enrolment plan for Sharjah's government nurseries for the 2026–2027 academic year, with an 18% increase compared with the previous academic year. His Highness also announced the launch of the Government Kindergartens stage, which will follow the nursery stage. Buildings housing both nurseries and kindergartens will be known as Early Childhood Centres.
His Highness also announced the imminent opening of Al Mansour Fort in Khorfakkan, which will become the city's most important landmark, and revealed Al Hosoun project in Al Madam, under which buildings and roads will be developed from Al Madam Hospital to Faya.
Speaking by telephone during the Direct Line programme, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah said: "After approving the enrolment plan for Sharjah's government nurseries for the 2026–2027 academic year, with an 18% increase in the number of children admitted compared with last year, and directing the launch of the Government Kindergartens stage, which will follow the nursery stage, with buildings housing both nurseries and kindergartens to be called Early Childhood Centres, one question naturally arises: where will children graduating from nurseries that do not yet have a kindergarten section go? The answer is that they can now enrol in government schools until construction of the Early Childhood Centres is completed. I am personally following the matter, and we are working to build kindergarten classrooms in the existing nurseries as quickly as possible, God willing, because they offer particular advantages."
The first phase of the approved plan will begin in August 2026 and accommodate 2,402 children. The second phase will open in January 2027 with capacity for 332 children, while the third phase in April 2027 will accommodate 270 children, bringing the total number of children enrolled through both re-enrolment and new admissions to 3,004. The number of government nurseries across the Emirate will also increase from 40 to 47.
In addition, 200 children graduating from nurseries have been admitted to kindergarten sections at four centres in Al Suyoh and Al Rahmaniyah, Al Lu'lu'iyah, and Kalba. Children whose nurseries do not yet have kindergarten sections can enrol in the kindergartens currently available in government schools until the Early Childhood Centres are completed.
Responding to a caller's question about the lake project at the sea entrance to Kalba, His Highness said: "The project has not been cancelled; it has only been temporarily suspended until an essential matter is completed first. Work had been progressing on the site, but a new issue emerged, so we paused to reorganise the work in line with the new developments. We found that the large lake beyond the Sharjah Communications Technologies Authority building overflows into another lake. The engineers advised that it must be enlarged to provide additional capacity for the incoming water, otherwise it would destroy everything that had been built. We therefore halted work in order to prepare an appropriate plan to deal with the issue. The work is now focused on the wadi opening that passes through the area and flows directly into the sea. A beautiful large lake will be created there. The wadi currently follows its natural course, but we are redesigning the area so that it extends directly. That is why implementation of the project has been delayed, but it has not stopped. The engineers are now working on the lake, the wadi and the outlet, carrying out precise calculations to determine water volumes and how the water will flow into the smaller lake. God willing, everything is progressing well. We are delighted with the people of Kalba, and indeed with people everywhere, because they continue to encourage us to pursue these worthwhile initiatives."
Regarding Al Soor area in Kalba, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah said: "Al Soor area in Kalba is currently under planning. We are limiting residential development there to the area close to the Corniche. The higher area is home to only a small number of residents, and the remaining residential buildings will be relocated to Al Dahiyat Suburb (Al Nakheel District). Praise be to God, the housing developments in Kalba are of a high standard."
His Highness also revealed that Al Mansour Fort in Khorfakkan will soon open, saying: "Khorfakkan contains historical sites that were demolished by military action following the Portuguese occupation. On the coast stands Al Adwani Tower, while in the centre stood Kaid bin Adwan Fort. When the Portuguese entered the city in 1622, during the rule of Kaid bin Adwan Al Qasimi, they destroyed that fort. We found its foundations and walls still intact because it had been blown up using military explosives. In 1639, the Portuguese built a triangular fort on the coast. They did not destroy only the buildings in Khorfakkan; they also demolished Kaid Fort in Kalba, which likewise belonged to Kaid bin Adwan Al Qasimi. They built around it, leaving Kaid Fort within what is now known as Al Soor in Khor Kalba."
His Highness continued: "I have four manuscripts describing how this Portuguese fort was built on top of the Qasimi fort. The builder wrote: 'We built it by order of Commander Rui Freire de Andrade on the fort of the Qasimi, that famous man,' referring to Kaid bin Adwan Al Qasimi. At the edge of this site stands Al Mansour Fort, which had once been occupied by Saeed bin Ahmed bin Saeed Al Busaidi before Al Qawasim recaptured it. On the entrance to the fort, we found an engraved stone bearing the inscription that Kalba was recaptured on a Tuesday, together with the date. That stone is now displayed in Khorfakkan Museum. We will open Al Mansour Fort soon, God willing, and it will become Khorfakkan's foremost landmark." Joking with the people of Khorfakkan and Kalba, His Highness added: "I simply did not want the people of Khorfakkan to go to sleep with a sense of longing. As for the people of Kalba, you will have something similar, but be patient with us because we are now working in Khor Kalba."
Concluding his remarks, His Highness said: "Work is continuing and development is progressing across every part of the Emirate of Sharjah. We currently have an important project in the Central Region, namely Al Hosoun in Al Madam. It is a major development under which buildings and roads will be upgraded from Al Madam Hospital to Faya. Development in this country is moving at a remarkable pace. We are strengthening people's connection with their homeland and giving them every reason to take pride in it. Praise be to God, every area of Sharjah offers parks, open spaces, beautiful places and breathtaking scenery."
