Sharjah has announced plans to develop new hospitals in Kalba, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn, with the Sharjah Health Authority set to begin studies, planning and tender procedures. The announcement was made by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
The plans matter for residents across Sharjah’s eastern region, particularly as Kalba’s existing healthcare facilities face overcrowding. The announcement also brings wider changes to Khorfakkan, where a new four-suburb administrative structure is expected to support faster development.
- Location: Kalba, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn, Sharjah
- Organisation: Sharjah Health Authority, with support from relevant government entities
- Status: Planning, studies and tendering process to begin
- Who is affected: Residents of Sharjah’s eastern cities and surrounding areas
- Business impact: The projects form part of wider investment in healthcare, infrastructure and urban development
- What’s next: Planning and tender procedures are expected to take around five to six months
Sharjah is moving ahead with plans for three new hospitals in Kalba, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn as part of a wider push to strengthen healthcare and accelerate development across the emirate’s eastern region. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi announced that the Sharjah Health Authority will begin preparing plans and studies and move forward with the tendering process. The new hospitals in Sharjah are particularly significant for Kalba, where overcrowding at existing healthcare facilities has also prompted immediate action to improve services.
What do we know about the three new hospitals in Sharjah?
The hospitals planned for Kalba, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn will be based on the University Hospital branch in Al Madam, which is nearing completion.
According to the announcement, the Sharjah Health Authority will now begin preparing the necessary plans and studies before moving through the tendering process.
This stage is expected to take around five to six months.
However, residents should note that this is not the expected construction timeline. The five-to-six-month period refers to the planning, studies and tender procedures before construction arrangements move ahead.
The Al Madam hospital provides some context for what the new facilities could represent. The University Hospital branch was previously announced as a healthcare facility designed to serve Sharjah’s Central Region, with emergency and specialist services forming part of its wider healthcare offering.
While the new hospitals are expected to follow the Al Madam model, authorities have not yet announced their final size, capacity, number of beds or opening dates.
Why is Kalba getting additional healthcare support now?
Healthcare pressure in Kalba was one of the key issues raised during the announcement.
The Ruler of Sharjah said he had been informed about overcrowding at the city’s hospital and clinics and wanted the matter addressed quickly.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention is therefore working to increase the availability of doctors, medicines and facilities, alongside further construction and development.
This means Kalba is expected to see both immediate efforts to improve existing healthcare capacity and longer-term investment through the planned new hospital.
For residents, the move could eventually reduce the need to travel outside the city for certain medical services, although the exact range of services at the future hospital has not yet been announced.
The wider investment also reflects Sharjah’s continued focus on expanding public infrastructure beyond the emirate’s main urban areas.
What is changing in Khorfakkan?
The hospital announcement came alongside a major administrative change for Khorfakkan.
The Ruler of Sharjah approved a new structure dividing Khorfakkan into four suburbs:
- Khorfakkan City
- Al Owainat
- Al Sih
- Al Sabihiyah
The new administrative divisions are expected to provide a clearer framework for planning and development across the city.
According to the announcement, the Khorfakkan City suburb will extend from Khorfakkan Aqaba to Al Luluyah Aqaba. Plans also include extensive planting in mountainous areas, including dense and fruit-bearing trees.
Meanwhile, Al Owainat includes a large area where future neighbourhood development is planned.
The administrative restructuring follows a similar approach previously introduced in Kalba, where clearly defined suburbs helped establish a framework for future development.
Authorities expect the new structure to help Khorfakkan move ahead with projects more quickly now that the city’s administrative boundaries and development areas have been formally organised.
How could the wider development plans affect Sharjah’s eastern region?
The latest announcements point to continued investment in the eastern cities of Sharjah, including healthcare, neighbourhood planning and public services.
Khorfakkan and Kalba have both undergone significant development in recent years, with investment supporting residential communities, roads, tourism facilities, public spaces and infrastructure.
Healthcare expansion is particularly important because it supports long-term population growth alongside tourism and economic development.
Better access to medical facilities can make growing cities more practical for families and residents while also strengthening the infrastructure needed to support visitors and businesses.
For Khorfakkan, clearer administrative divisions could also make it easier to plan future neighbourhoods and government services.
The latest plans also extend beyond Khorfakkan and Kalba. The Ruler indicated that administrative organisation will eventually continue across other parts of Sharjah, including the Central Region and Sharjah City.
What is the latest on the Dibba Al Hisn hospital project?
Dibba Al Hisn’s healthcare development has been part of Sharjah’s wider infrastructure plans for some time.
Earlier in 2026, Sheikh Dr Sultan had directed work to begin on a university hospital project in Dibba Al Hisn. Previous development announcements for the city had also included plans for a hospital and outpatient facilities.
The latest announcement again confirms plans for a hospital in Dibba Al Hisn based on the Al Madam University Hospital model.
However, the official information reviewed does not clearly state whether the latest announcement represents a new project, a revised plan or an updated stage of the hospital development already announced for the city.
For now, the safest interpretation is that Dibba Al Hisn remains part of Sharjah’s active hospital expansion plans, with further details expected as the planning and tender stages progress.
The announcement could have a direct impact on residents across Kalba, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn.
For residents: More healthcare infrastructure could improve access to medical services closer to home, especially as populations and communities grow.
For Kalba: Authorities are already working to address overcrowding at existing hospitals and clinics while planning for a larger long-term healthcare expansion.
For Khorfakkan: The new administrative structure creates a clearer roadmap for neighbourhood development, public services and future infrastructure.
For businesses and investors: Continued government investment in healthcare and urban development can support population growth, new communities and economic activity across Sharjah’s eastern region.
What’s next: The Sharjah Health Authority is expected to move ahead with plans, studies and tender procedures for the three hospitals. Further details on construction schedules, capacity and services are likely to be announced later.
FAQs
When will the new hospitals in Sharjah be built?
Sharjah has not announced construction completion dates. The planning, studies and tendering process is expected to take around five to six months before the projects move to their next stages.
Where will the three new hospitals be located?
The planned hospitals will be located in Kalba, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn.
Who announced the new hospitals in Sharjah?
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, announced the plans.
Why is Sharjah building a new hospital in Kalba?
The announcement follows concerns about overcrowding at Kalba’s existing hospital and clinics. Authorities are also working to increase doctors, medicines and facilities while the new hospital plans move forward.
What are the new administrative divisions in Khorfakkan?
Khorfakkan has been divided into four suburbs: Khorfakkan City, Al Owainat, Al Sih and Al Sabihiyah.
Sharjah’s latest plans bring together healthcare expansion and wider urban development across its eastern region. While the three hospitals are still in the planning and tender stage, the projects could eventually strengthen access to healthcare in Kalba, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn.
At the same time, Khorfakkan’s new administrative structure is expected to provide a clearer path for future neighbourhood and infrastructure development.
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