10-03-2025
UAE: New adventure park with zipline, hiking, biking trails to open soon in Sharjah
The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) is developing various hospitality projects and attractions, including an exciting new adventure park in Khorfakkan. The park will have a zipline, adrenaline-pumping swings as well as hiking trails, its chief executive said.
'We are developing Al Jabel Adventures in Khorfakkan, which has become a popular destination for hiking and scuba diving etc. We'll have zip line, swings Stobel gun rides, hiking and biking trails. It's an exciting project that we hope to deliver towards the end of this year,' Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, CEO of Shurooq, told K haleej Times in an interview.
Shurooq's portfolio spans various sectors, including hospitality, tourism, art, culture, and real estate. The authority has already developed several popular projects in Sharjah, such as Moon Retreat, Al Badayer Retreat, Najad Al Meqsar, Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Qasba, Mleiha National Park, and Al Noor Island among others.
Currently, Shurooq operates five hotels within its portfolio, with plans to expand further.'We're currently focusing on hospitality. Between the end of this year and next, we have three more hotels opening as we continue to grow our hospitality portfolio, focusing on niche developments. We are not looking at the number of rooms, but the quality and the experience that we offer,' Al Qaseer said on the sidelines of Sharjah Ramadan Majlis 2025 held in Mleiha.
'We have one hotel that will be connected to the Sharjah Safari – the largest safari in the world outside Africa. We're putting a 35-key hotel, another 45-key hotel in Khorfakkan on the mountain… Shurooq is not in the business of selling rooms, we are in the business of selling experiences," Al Qaseer added.
Al Qaseer also highlighted Shurooq's efforts to transform Mleiha into a prominent tourist and cultural destination. With its rich history and archaeology dating back 200,000 years.
'Mleiha National Park consists of around 34 square kilometres with history talking about the Neolithic, Paleolithic Age, Iron Age and all the way to the pre-Islamic Age, with the museum being the heart of the Park where visitors can see all the archaeological findings. Then we have sunset lounges and other activities,' the Shurooq chief said at the Majlis."
He also highlighted that Mleiha is fast emerging as a tourist and F&B destination. As more people visit the site, more cafes, shops, and restaurants pop up around Mleiha, engaging the local communities.
