Sharjah Press Club to open shortly

Sharjah will shortly have a press club. "The Sharjah International Press Club should start functioning from January 2003 as part of the new Expo Centre complex," a top official confirmed yesterday.

He said the facility will be distinct from the existing Press Lounge, which forms part of the new Expo Centre complex due to be inaugurated this evening. The club will cater to resident as well as visiting journalists, with members to be charged an annual fee.

Facilities will include state-of-the-art telecommunications equipment, a bank of Internet enabled workstations, multiple news delivery channels, catering services and a range of leisure activities.

The official said the club will seek to serve as the meeting-place of choice for the resident journalistic fraternity, while facilitating the needs of visiting fellow journalists.