The Emirate of Sharjah is located along the coast of the Arabian Gulf extending over a distance of approximately 16 km long, and extending into the inland for a distance 80 km. Kalba, Khor Fakkan and Dibba El-Husn lying on the Gulf of Oman are also ruled under the government of Sharjah. The Emirate covers about 2590 Sq km, equivalent to 3.3% of the country's total area. The population of the emirate is 836,000 in 2004.
The ruler of Sharjah, H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi was born in 1942 and has been the ruler since the death of his brother Sheikh Khaled in 1972. Sheikh Sultan studied agriculture for five years in Cairo University and received his PhD from Exeter University. The crown prince and deputy ruler of Sharjah is Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Bin Sultan Al Qassimi.
The city of Sharjah, the capital of the emirate with the ruler's office and government departments, is filled with spectacular feature of traditional Arabic culture. The city was named as "Capital of the Arabian culture" in 1998 by UNESCO. Port Khor Fakkan is a natural deep-water harbour with modern container and Ro-Ro handling facilities and another major trading hub in the emirate.
Oil production in Sharjah began in commercial quantities in early 1974. Production volume increased with the discovery of two fields in Al Saja area in 1980 and 1982. In 1996, Sharjah's total production of Gas reached approximately 750 million cubic feet a day, 35,000 barrels of oil and gas condenses and 16,000 barrels of liquefied gas.
The history of Sharjah's civil aviation can date back to 1932 when Imperial Airways, the forerunners of British Airways constructed an airfield here as a stopover en route to India and Australia. At that time, Sharjah ranked as one of its most remote outposts as well as being the first airport in the country. More than 30 airplane companies have chartered or non-chartered flights at Sharjah International Airport, and the airport currently handles 1800 aircraft and some 100,000 passengers each month.
The economic and trade cooperation between China and Sharjah has undertaken rapid development in recent years. The government of Sharjah provided a land of 2000 square meters in 1998 for the construction of Chinamex. Chinamex offically opened on April 2000, which can accommodate more than 200 standard exhibition cabins. The Chinese Commodities Fair in Sharjah has been successfully for three years since 2002.