Sharjah joined the World Health Organization’s Healthy Cities Program in 2012. Within no more than three years, the emirate was able to meet 88 percent of the eighty criteria required to join the Healthy Cities Program, surpassing the 80 percent threshold set by the WHO. Prior to joining the program, the emirate had already met 40 of the criteria.

Based on the directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, the emirate has implemented several initiatives aimed at enhancing the health and safety of its residents — from developing infrastructure to adopting internationally recognized best environmental practices.