First look: Sharjah's new entertainment destination, Madar

Sharjah's newest leisure destination, Madar, has opened its doors to the public for the first time on Thursday. The launch weekend will be packed with entertainment and excitement.

Madar is located in the Muwaileh district of Sharjah near University City and the Sharjah Airport.

Located in the heart of the Aljada, in the Muwaileh district of Sharjah, Madar is home to a cluster of family-friendly attractions all spread around a beautifully landscaped 600,000 square foot park.

The first phase of Madar will also play host to a full calendar of engaging events that will draw different parts of the UAE community to Aljada every weekend. Featuring live performances from artists, sportspeople and musicians, the theme of the first weekend will be ‘cultural fusion’, while later events will focus on areas such comedy, music, food, gaming and film, with a wide range of activities for all ages.

Madar is free to enter and will be open to the public from Thursday 27 February. The complex will subsequently be open between 8am and 10pm on weekdays, and between 10am and midnight on weekends, with plenty of free parking for visitors.

Playscape is an immersive and exciting children’s adventure zone, that features tower frames, swings, embedded trampolines and slides.

The site also includes a climbing wall and activity nets and is sure to be one of the most popular parts of Madar.

The Skatepark is located adjacent to Playscape.

It is a new home for adventure sports enthusiasts.

The Aljada Discovery Centre is the centerpiece of Madar is the Zaha Hadid Architects-designed, elliptical building that showcases all the elements of the city’s master plan, as well as providing prospective homeowners with an opportunity to find out what living in Aljada is all about.

Zad is a new address for the UAE’s food lovers, which has 18 different brands selling a wide range of cuisines in a contemporary setting. Each outlet is housed in a redesigned shipping container, with brands ranging from popular coffee startup Saddle to gelato café Amorino, and from Sushi Station to vegan burger outlet The Vurger Co. Surrounded by greenery, Zad’s two zones consist of a drive-thru space and a more social picnic area, with extensive seating. Zad truly comes to life at night, when brightly lit facades combine with different artworks to create an interactive space that is always changing.

YourSpace has been designed as a fully-fledged events hall to benefit the entire Aljada community, with individuals and corporates able to hire either all or part of the venue. When not booked out, YourSpace will host studios, exhibitions, markets and conferences.

For outdoor events, Madar’s Amphitheatre has a maximum capacity of 500 people and can be used to host film screenings, markets, parties and musical performances.

All of the family-friendly attractions all spread around a beautifully landscaped 600,000 square foot park.

When fully completed, Madar will incorporate a large range of facilities and attractions including a large public square, an extreme sports centre, an ‘edutainment’ complex, two retail zones, an 11-screen cinema and a large community park.