Breathing in Sharjah is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 2.0 million people across 65 districts in Sharjah. The average PM2.5 level is 19 µg/m³—3.8× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Sharjah

Sharjah faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.0 million across 65 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 19µg/m³. That's 3.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 315 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If Sharjah met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.36 years longer.

That's 2.7M years of life stolen from 2.0 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Most Polluted

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in Sharjah. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Al Noaf
    1.8 years lost
  • 2.University City
    1.8 years lost
  • 3.Muwailih Commercial
    1.8 years lost
  • 4.Al Gharayen
    1.8 years lost
  • 5.Airport
    1.8 years lost
  • 6.Saif Zone
    1.7 years lost
  • 7.Al Riff'a
    1.7 years lost
  • 8.Al Yash
    1.7 years lost
  • 9.Muwafjah
    1.7 years lost
  • 10.Al Suoyh Suburb
    1.7 years lost
Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 µg/m³
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
0%
0
10-15 µg/m³
0%
156
15-25 µg/m³
100%
2.0M
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 65 Districts in Sharjah

Complete air quality data for every district in Sharjah, sorted by population.

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Industrial Area292K
19.8
1.4 years
NA226K
18.3
1.3 years
Khor Fakkan148K
17.4
1.2 years
Kalba91K
17.6
1.2 years
University City60K
23.5
1.8 years
Al Ghubaira59K
18.4
1.3 years
Al Ghafia56K
18.8
1.3 years
Mughaidir Suburb55K
21.6
1.6 years
Al Ramla East47K
17.3
1.2 years
Al Khezamia39K
20.4
1.5 years
Al Sabkha38K
18.5
1.3 years
Al Abar37K
19.1
1.4 years
Al Shahba33K
20.0
1.5 years
Al Azra31K
19.4
1.4 years
Al Gharayen31K
23.2
1.8 years
Samnan30K
19.5
1.4 years
Al Tala'a27K
21.6
1.6 years
Al Sajaa Industrial Suburb25K
20.5
1.5 years
Bu Tina25K
16.8
1.2 years
Al Qadisiya24K
17.1
1.2 years
Al Rarmaniya23K
21.2
1.6 years
Al Ramala West23K
17.4
1.2 years
Maysaloon23K
16.2
1.1 years
Al Hazzanah23K
17.7
1.2 years
Al Nabba'ah23K
15.9
1.1 years
Al Jazzat22K
18.5
1.3 years
Saif Zone22K
22.6
1.7 years
Al Ramtha22K
20.4
1.5 years
Dasman22K
18.2
1.3 years
Al Khaledia Suburb22K
17.1
1.2 years
Al Yarmook22K
17.1
1.2 years
Al Manakh21K
15.7
1.0 years
Al Nekhailat20K
18.3
1.3 years
Al Sharq20K
17.5
1.2 years
Al Noaf19K
23.7
1.8 years
Um Altaraffa18K
15.4
1.0 years
Sharqan16K
17.9
1.3 years
Al Suoyh Suburb16K
21.9
1.7 years
Al Fisht15K
19.0
1.4 years
Al Majaz15K
17.9
1.3 years
Abu Shagara15K
17.3
1.2 years
Emirates Industrial City15K
20.2
1.5 years
Al Ramaqiya15K
21.3
1.6 years
Al Qasba14K
17.9
1.3 years
Al Falaj12K
19.7
1.4 years
Halwan Suburb12K
16.4
1.1 years
Muwafjah12K
21.9
1.7 years
Al Riff'a10K
22.4
1.7 years
Al Goaz9K
20.7
1.5 years
Al Heerah Suburb9K
19.0
1.4 years
Al Mahatah8K
16.4
1.1 years
Muwailih Commercial8K
23.5
1.8 years
Sharjah Port8K
16.9
1.2 years
Al Yash8K
22.0
1.7 years
Al Layyeh Suburb8K
16.1
1.1 years
Al Qassima7K
16.0
1.1 years
Al Shuwaihean6K
16.2
1.1 years
Al Taawun6K
18.7
1.3 years
Dibba Al-Hisn6K
17.8
1.3 years
Airport5K
23.0
1.8 years
Bee'ah3K
20.8
1.5 years
Al Mareija3K
15.8
1.1 years
Wasit Suburb2K
21.5
1.6 years
Flag Island2K
16.0
1.1 years
Nahwa156
14.2
0.9 years

Showing 65 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.