The ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, has greenlit plans for a 3.3km (2.1 miles) beachfront development incorporating new sports facilities, pedestrian areas, public services and landscaping.

The Sharjah Urban Planning Council’s (SUPC) has proposed the project – which will include dedicated cycling paths, exercise areas and places for family activities – as part of its wider strategic plan to use leisure and regeneration to attract more than 10 million tourists annually to the emirate by 2021.

“The design of all elements of the project is innovative and bespoke especially for Sharjah,” said the council in a statement.

“From the design of the seating areas to the design of the hardscape elements, the forward-looking design will transform the way you look at Sharjah.”

The first phase of the beach development, which will run alongside Al Muntazah Road, is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2018.

It is the second waterfront scheme announced by SUPC in 2017. In June, the council launched the 27km-long (16.7 miles) Sharjah Waterfront Bicycling and Jogging Path, which is set to link Sharjah city with neighbouring emirate Dubai, via tourist destinations such as Al Majaz Waterfront park.

Other waterfront attractions in the pipeline include the Crystal Lagoon Water Theme Park – a AED20bn (US$5.4bn, €4.86n, £4bn) development being masterplanned by experience designers Jack Rouse Associates.

It will join the recently-completed Al Noor Island, a butterfly-themed landscape park built on the nearby Khalid Lagoon, which was designed by German architecture firm 3deluxe.

Since being named the Middle East’s first World Health Organization Healthy City in 2015, the emirate has stated its intention to promote public health, wellbeing and community resources through development projects.