Sharjah Executive Council Establishes Committee to Protect Modern Architectural Heritage

Sharjah: H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairman of the Executive Council, led a meeting of the Sharjah Executive Council at the Ruler's Office on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council, and H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council. According to Emirates News Agency, the Council addressed various topics related to the oversight of government departments and agencies, as well as legislation focusing on enhancing the government work system, institutional efficiency, and service quality. One key decision from the meeting was the establishment of a committee dedicated to implementing the National Policy for the Preservation of Modern Architectural Heritage in Sharjah. This committee will be linked with the Sharjah Art Foundation and will operate under its supervision. The committee will be chaired by the director of the Sharjah Art Foundation and will include representatives from the Department of Town Planning and Survey, Mubadara, Sharjah's Municipalities, Sharjah Architecture Triennial, Sharjah Institute for Heritage, and Sharjah Art Foundation, at the director or department head level. The committee's objectives include preserving Sharjah's modern architectural heritage, emphasizing Sharjah's global standing in this field, raising awareness of the heritage's significance to Sharjah's historical identity, and promoting cultural tourism and economic growth linked to these heritage sites. The resolution also outlines the committee's legal powers, procedures for meetings, the formation of teams and subcommittees, and the submission of periodic reports. Additionally, the Council made amendments to Executive Council Resolution No. (5) of 2013 concerning municipal fees and violations in Sharjah. These changes aim to standardize procedures across the Emirate 's municipalities and provide a detailed schedule of fees for the Arbitration Committee, contractor dispute resolution, and handling complaints and suggestions. Notably, the fee for registering a lawsuit by property owners against citizens over residences has been reduced from AED1,500 to AED500. The Council also moved to enhance the legal framework of Sharjah's judicial system by adopting a draft law to regulate the profession of expertise before the judicial authority in the emirate. The draft law will be forwarded to the Sharjah Consultative Council following the Council's instructions to its General Secretariat.