Kalba
Kalba, situated in the Emirate of Sharjah within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), stands as an exclave of Sharjah along the coast of the Gulf of Oman, positioned to the north of Oman. Notably, Khor Kalba (Kalba Creek), a significant nature reserve and mangrove swamp, lies south of the town near the Omani border.
The Kalba Mangrove Reserve, a vital ecological site, has been made accessible to the public and transformed into an eco-tourism destination by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). However, some conservationists and ecologists have expressed concerns regarding the project’s impact.
Dating back to the fourth millennium BCE, shell middens have been discovered at Kalba, along with extensive remnants of settlements from the Umm Al Nar era. Notably, a substantial collection of petroglyphs is located south of Kalba at Khatm Melaha.
During the 16th century, Kalba was seized by the Portuguese Empire and referred to as Ghallah. It served as one of the fortified cities strategically positioned by the Portuguese to control access to the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, alongside locations such as Khor Fakan, Muscat, Sohar, Seeb, Qurayyat, and Muttrah. Kalba Fort, now restored and functioning as a museum, is believed to have been built upon Portuguese foundations.
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