From Rest House to Global Icon: The Story of the UAE’s First Hotel in Sharjah (1932)

The hospitality industry in the United Arab Emirates, which today stands as one of the most advanced and globally recognized sectors of tourism, has its roots in very modest beginnings. The story traces back to the year 1932, when the first hotel in the country was constructed in the city of Sharjah. This establishment not only marked the starting point of organized hospitality in the region, but it also played a crucial role in linking the territory to international travel routes and the broader world of aviation at a time when global mobility was still developing.