Al Madam (Arabic: ٱلْمَدَام) is an inland town of the Emirate of Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates. Located at the intersection of the Dubai-Hatta (E44) and Mleiha-Shwaib (E55) roads, its development has mainly centred around these road links and the road traffic through Hatta to Oman. The volume of traffic to Oman through Madam and Hatta has lessened since the closure of the 'soft' Omani border at Mahda in 2016,[2] although traffic volumes remain at some 5,000 travellers daily.[3] The road from Madam to Hatta is now only open to UAE or Omani nationals and permit holders.[2]
Al Madam
ٱلْمَدَام | |
|---|---|
 The "old town" or "ghost town" in Al-Madam | |
  Al Madam Location of Al-Madam in the UAE  Al Madam Al Madam (Persian Gulf) | |
| Coordinates: 24°57′41″N 55°47′25″E / 24.96139°N 55.79028°E | |
| Country |  United Arab Emirates |
| Emirate |  Sharjah |
| Government | |
| • Type | Absolute monarchy |
| • Sheikh | Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi |
| Population (2022) | |
| • Total | 8,652[1] |
Description
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The strip development of Madam along the E44 towards the 'dune bashing' tourist centre[4] of Badayer (with its celebrated 'Big Red'[5] sand dune) has resulted in the town becoming elongated, and includes the 'first shopping mall' to open there.[6] This is in addition to municipal facilities, a medical centre,[7] a wedding hall[8] and a large number of shops located along the main street of the town. Al Madam is home to an annual shopping festival.[9]
In an area of desert to the south of Madam, a small and deserted development of houses and a mosque can be found, referred to locally as both Madam Old Town and Ghost Town. As of 2020, those towns have been abandoned for a few decades due to desertification and dune movement.[10] The area around Al Madam is also home to a number of Iron Age archaeological sites, including those of Al Thuqaibah and Jebel Buhais, as well as aflāj (indigenous water management systems) dating back to the 1st millennium BC.[11] To the east of the town is the C19th Fili Fort.
See also
edit- Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates
- History of the United Arab Emirates
- List of Ancient Settlements in the UAE
- Al Ain, connected by road to Al-Shwaib of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, connected to Al-Madam by road[12]
References
edit- ^ "City facts Al Madam".
- ^ a b Guides, Dona Cherian, Special to (2016-01-05). "Al Madam-Hatta diversion: Expats not allowed on Oman E44". GulfNews. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Ali Al Shouk (2018-01-09). "5,000 travellers crossing Hatta border daily". GulfNews. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
- ^ Pradeep, Angitha (2016-11-29). "Top 5 UAE desert locations for 4x4 dune-bashing". Gulf News. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
- ^ Publishing, Explorer. "Big Red". www.askexplorer.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
- ^ "First shopping mall opens in Al Madam | Sharjah Update". www.sharjahupdate.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
- ^ "Ministry of Health and Prevention announces 24-hour operations of Al Madam Medical Center". Al Bawaba. 2016-04-19. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
- ^ "Sharjah Al Madam Wedding Hall". www.protenders.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
- ^ Abdullah, Afkar. "Al Madam festival to honour 'Zayeds'". www.khaleejtimes.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
- ^ KT Storybook: Inside the buried village of Al Madam. Retrieved 2024-05-06 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Zriqat, Thaer (2015-03-31). "Another ancient Sharjah site found by archaeologists". The National. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
- ^ "Dubai-Al Ain Road renamed". WAM. Al Ain: Gulf News. 2018-11-02. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
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