Responsive

Responsive design enables digital experiences to adapt to different screen sizes without compromising usability or performance. By following these guidelines, teams can build consistent and accessible interfaces across all Sharjah Government platforms.

Breakpoints

We are using the same breakpoints from Tailwind CSS

Tailwind CSS breakpoints
Breakpoint prefix Device Minimum width CSS
sm Mobile 40rem (640px) @media (width >= 40rem) { ... }
md Tablet 48rem (768px) @media (width >= 48rem) { ... }
lg Tablet/Laptop 64rem (1024px) @media (width >= 64rem) { ... }
xl Desktop 80rem (1280px) @media (width >= 80rem) { ... }
2xl Large Desktop 96rem (1536px) @media (width >= 96rem) { ... }

Why Responsive Design Matters

Users access government services through different devices, screen sizes, orientations, and input methods. Responsive design ensures that essential information and actions remain available and easy to use in every context.

A responsive approach helps teams:

  • Deliver consistent experiences across devices
  • Improve readability and content accessibility
  • Reduce unnecessary horizontal scrolling
  • Prioritize key information and actions
  • Build reusable layouts that adapt efficiently
  • Maintain alignment between Figma designs and production code

Mobile-First Approach

The Sharjah Design System follows a mobile-first approach. Interfaces should begin with the smallest supported screen and progressively adapt as more space becomes available.

Starting with mobile encourages teams to:

  • Prioritize essential content
  • Simplify navigation and interactions
  • Create clear visual hierarchy
  • Avoid unnecessary elements
  • Design touch-friendly controls
  • Improve performance on smaller devices

Desktop layouts should expand and enhance the experience without changing the core meaning or functionality.


Responsive Breakpoints

Breakpoints define the screen widths where layouts or component behaviors may change. The Sharjah Design System aligns its responsive structure with Tailwind’s breakpoint model to ensure consistency between design specifications and implementation.

Breakpoints should be used when the content or layout requires adaptation, not to target specific devices. Teams should avoid designing separately for individual phone or tablet models.

Responsive changes may include:

  • Adjusting column numbers
  • Changing alignment or spacing
  • Repositioning supporting content
  • Collapsing navigation
  • Resizing typography and media
  • Switching between horizontal and vertical layouts

Desktop L - 1440px

Grid Type
Device
Columns
Gutter
Margin
Type
1440px
12
24px
64px
Stretch

12-column grid

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Two equal columns

6 columns
6 columns

Sidebar layout (8 + 4)

Main content (8 columns)
Sidebar (4)

Mobile 375px

Grid Type
Device
Columns
Gutter
Margin
Type
375px
4
16px
20px
Stretch

Responsive Grid

The responsive grid provides a flexible structure for organizing page content. Containers, columns, gutters, and margins adapt according to the available screen width.

Use the grid to:

  • Maintain consistent alignment
  • Create balanced page layouts
  • Control content width
  • Support flexible card and component arrangements
  • Preserve spacing across different breakpoints

Layouts should reflow naturally without creating crowded content or excessive empty space.