Sharjah's Al Taawun Square Set to Reopen Ahead of Major Book Fair

Al Taawun Square in Sharjah is scheduled to reopen to traffic on November 4, just in time for the commencement of the Sharjah International Book Fair, according to an announcement by local authorities. The timely reopening of this junction aims to enhance access to Expo Centre Sharjah and facilitate smoother commutes for the thousands of visitors anticipated at the event. The reopening specifics were broadcast on the Direct Line programme, accompanied by visuals depicting the final design of the square and its newly integrated traffic light-controlled junctions.

Meanwhile, construction remains ongoing for the broader Al Taawun Tunnel project, engineered to alleviate severe congestion at a critical bottleneck along the primary corridor connecting Sharjah and Dubai. Officials project that this infrastructure development will slash motorist waiting times by up to 85 per cent. Phase one of the tunnel initiative is slated for a November 2026 debut, with full project completion anticipated by February 2027. This scheme forms part of a broader suite of roadway enhancements addressing chronic peak-hour traffic bottlenecks throughout Al Taawun.

In related developments, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, has formally greenlit plans for the Al Freish Lake initiative located in the city of Kalb. Spanning approximately 51,200 square metres, the project will feature a water storage capacity reaching 28 million gallons alongside 200 dedicated parking spaces for guests. "It will be a pleasant park for children, similar to Al Rafisah Dam project," stated Sheikh Dr Sultan, noting ongoing mountain revegetation and the creation of cascading waterfalls flowing into the sea to provide an enhanced recreational walking experience.