Hull Chamber of Commerce are you reading ?

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce used to be in a fairly faceless modern block by the Al Hijem fort. (those photos to come). However last month they moved into a new building - yes this the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce:

Now the ID card

The new challenge is to get an ID card as well as your Visa.
The UAE authorities want all Western Expats to register for them - they were expecting about 600,000 expats to register but the process and particulay the ID website has been such a disaster they have struggled to register even 20% of this number. Therefore they were forced to extend the the deadline until end March (3 months)
It took me a month to fill out the forms, and I was only successful when they changed the web site software. The appointment system (webform and texts) frustrated me 10 times - each time the text came 24 hours too late to register on the 2nd stage of the webform.
So finally I phoned the help line - really helpful emirati genetlemen, who was very apologetic and booked me appointment, except everytime he meant to say January ( as we debated to find a time that fit my diary) he said June, so I was bemused until I finally received a text confirming my appointment from the IDA in January.
Will let you know how I get on.
Update 10/1 - Reconnoitred the Al Taawun Centre this am where I have to register - huge queues does not bode well.

It does rain in Sharjah!

Myths 2023 b
It never rains in the UAE

It does and heavily.
Apparently the normal average for UAE in December is actually 3.6 days when it rains but this year so far we have had 5 days. Thus far 130mm have fallen since 01/12/2008.
Sorry folks must have bought it from Hull.

UAE National Day Celebration in Sharjah

Well I warned you about what happens at football matches well UAE day (Bank holiday) it's even more crazy - they started in the same form i.e. 20 mile traffic jam around the Corniche, blaring horns, decorated cars, streamers etc. at 1700 - 7 hours later they're still going strong - complete mayhem but great fun to watch.
Wonderful Arab contradictions here is a really young nation (they are celebrating being 37 years old today in the UAE) really partying yet above the blare of horns, cracks of fire crackers etc. you could still hear the call to prayer (just !) ringing out from the mosques at dusk and then at 1930.
The other great thing - there is no alcohol and everyone form 3-80 years old is involved !

Don't try and get a Taxi if UAE win a football match

I came out of my hotel tonight to be confronted by a huge traffic jam.
The youth of sharjah were celebrating I think UAE winnning a football match (later found it was the U19 ASian Cup !). Plenty of flags, constant horns, fireworks and complete mayhem greeted me. They had managed to convert the roads that go around the Buhiarah Corniche (about 7 miles of 3 lane roads) into a parking lot and were celebrating. The Police were not impressed but could do nothing. 1000s of cars were stranded.
Luckily I persuaded a stressed taxi driver to take me to Dubai airport - he did not want to do it, but his way home was blocked and he wanted to escape the parking lot ! A few extra Dhms and I made my flight in decent time.

Sharjah Museum of Archaelogy

Another great Museum - full of interesting facts e.g. the Gulf was not the Gulf until 5000BC, when it filled with water. Beautiful selection of jewellry, pottery and early weapons well displayed. unfortunately my camera ran out power 1/3 way of around but some pictures are on my Picassa gallery.
Unfortunately the Science Museum next door was shut - a word of warning - Museums tend to open 3-8pm, the morning openings claimed by the Sharjah Tourist Brochures are not consistent i.e. the Museums of Archaeology and Islamic Arts were open in the morning as advertised, but the museiums of Heritage and Science were not.

Feeling Safe (and more about Taxis)

You are very safe in Sharjah......classic example this morning:
I jumped in a taxi to go to the Sharjah Museum of Archaelogy. As ever the Driver's english was bad, but in this caese it seemed worse than usual like "none at all". I soon realised that gesticulating at a map, or trying to explain or pointing at Tourist guide. However he did understand left and right so off we set.
He was immediately on his phone, talking to someone. he tried to expalin he didn't understand but the only thing I could understand was "car not work". upon which he dived off the main road into one of Sharjah's Industrial areas. It is hard to explain what an Industrial area is like without sounding arrogant and western, but let's say it's very 3rd world slum like, no proper roads, with business packed, many people living and working together in abject squalor but in a very sandy environment.
So we are bumping along, the man talking in his phone and I have to admit all my alarm bells. Suddenly the taxi ground to halt and when I asked he said he was waiting for a man......I am now in a cold sweat.... Then another uniformed taxi driver appeared and dived in the back. I began weighing up my options
However the second man, with a big beaming smile, explained his friend had called him because he spoke good english. We were soon crashing our way (at one point the track got really muddy there was huge puddle of water twice the width of the track) of the industrial area and found the museum 10 mins later.