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Capital of the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Photo: Wael Mohammed Al-Masri, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Sharjah (Arabic: الشارقة) is the third largest city in the United Arab Emirates and the capital of Sharjah emirate. Sharjah is known for its Arabic and Islamic architecture as well as its libraries, Islamic museums, and cultural centers. The city is known as the cultural and literature hub of the United Arab Emirates. The city is rooted in its Arabic and Islamic heritage with many Umayyad and Abbasid-styled buildings and offers a glimpse of Arabic and Islamic environment in an otherwise largely westernized country. It is a major hub for family friendly environment and activities and has a more conservative atmosphere. The city has many green parks, apartment complexes, and a large community of Arabs from all the Arab world making the city an effective cultural meeting point for many different communities of Arabs.
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The Sharjah Fort Museum dominates the Heritage District. The fort itself has been lovingly restored by the present Sheikh and the museum provides something of a glimpse at social history of the Emirate. Many exhibit signs, however, are solely in Arabic, with those in English often being rife with errors.
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is a fascinating place for any visitors with an interest in the faith, as there are handwritten Qur'ans, letters from the Prophet Muhammad to other leaders and various artifacts from Mecca. Also a comprehensive display of Arab handicrafts.
Another souq worth a visit. It is considered to be the oldest souq in the country. Stop at the traditional coffee house for a mint tea and a plate of dates.
A small museum with magnificent calligraphic works of art by Persian, Arabic and Turkish artists with a workshop where students are trained in the art of calligraphy
A small museum about the history and habits of the emirate
The Sharjah Art Museum shows contemporary art by local and foreign artists. It is also the home of the Sharjah International Art Biennale, a bi-yearly exhibition of international contemporary art and performance.
The museum explore the changing environments experienced by the region's inhabitants from the Stone Age to the present day through displays of artefacts, coins, jewellery, pottery and ancient weapons. Investigate a dig in progress, explore models of burials, houses and tombs and see the first forms of writing in this area.
It has three components spread over 1 km²: the Natural History Museum, Arabian Wildlife Centre and the Children’s Farm. The museum provides people of all ages with an opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna of the Arabian Desert and has five main exhibition halls: A Journey through Sharjah, Man and the Environment, A Journey through Time, The Living Desert and The Living Sea. The Arabian Wildlife Centre showcases the rich diversity of fauna in the Arabian Peninsula as well as teaching about species which have become, and are becoming, extinct. It contains more than 100 species of animals, and is divided into a reptile and insect house, aviary, nocturnal houses, viewing area and a section for large predators and monkeys. The children’s farm gives children a chance to come into close contact with farm animals, such as donkeys, goats, sheep and chickens.
This magnificent mosque was a gift of the Saudi Arabian King Faisal. It was opened in 1987 and has space for 15,000 people. There are separate prayer rooms for men and women and the mosque has an Islamic library with more than 7,000 books. Admission for Muslims only.
Here you can enjoy culture, entertainment and leisure attractions representing the very best from the Arab world and beyond.
Al Mahatta was the first airport in the Gulf region. It opened in 1932 as a staging post for commercial flights from Britain to India. There is an interesting film about the daily life at the airport and Sharjah town in the 1930s and four original propeller planes stand in the hangar.
The Sharjah Aquarium first opened its doors in 2008. It features deep-sea creatures. Sharjah Maritime Museum gives you a close-up look at the local fishes and lets you learn about Sharjah's historic coasts and ports.
Sharjah's heyday was in the 1990s when it held many ODI tournaments. Although the games held at the ground were never implicated, the match fixing scandals at the turn of the millennium tarnished Sharjah and its use started to wane. With a capacity of 16,000 it has reemerged as an international cricket stadium, either as a neutral venue for Pakistan and its opponents or for inter-associate games involving the UAE.
Mushmaool is good food and amazing service. Provides the best grill in town and an outstanding dining experience. Committed to provide quality food and a healthy dining experience as close to as what you get at home.
Fish restaurant serving fried or grilled shrimps, tuna fish and hammour or a seafood platter at reasonable prices.
Pakistani barbecue and oriental food. One of the best Pakistani food in Sharjah.
House of great taste. One of the best restaurants in Sharjah.
Members and their guests only. Founded in 1977 as a sports club for rugby and diving, it has a pool, tennis courts and lighted rugby fields. There is a British bar which sells spirits, wine, bitter, lager and stout and which serves traditional British food.
180 rooms, lobby lounge open 24 hr, Al Dana Dining Restaurant, health and fitness center, sauna, shuttle service to access the beach (distance: 2 km)
Al Reem Hotel Apartments, Sharjah
A well-furnished serviced apartment hotel. Rooms available at reasonable rates (monthly and daily basis). Room service available. Airport drop and pick up services, city tours and shopping centre drops are available upon request. Spacious and well arranged rooms.
A nice hotel offering luxury mattresses, wide screen TV, 24-hr room service, vending machines on every floor, at very affordable rates located close to city's industrial, historic and shopping areas. Free cabled internet in rooms and free Wi-Fi in the lobby. A restaurant, a 24-hr coffee shop, sauna and separate gym for gents and ladies are also located inside the hotel building.
In the heart of Sharjah. This three-star property takes pride in its contemporary amenities and friendly services. For leisure breaks, Gold Souk, Mega Mall Sharjah, and Heritage Center are just a few minutes away.
Inexpensive and in the centre of town between Rolla Square and Municipality Roundabout and 10-15 minutes walk from the bus/taxi station. Rooms contain a fridge.
Not a particularly appealing hostel; the furniture is run-down, the bathrooms are shady, the location is suburban and the clientele is mostly South Asian guest workers, rather than the typical hostel crowd. But it's by far the cheapest place to stay in town. There is no web-based reservation system. Send them an email and wait for the confirmation or call after sending the mail to confirm.
It's in central Sharjah near the Majarah Souqe and close to the shopping areas. The Apartments are 15 minutes away from Sharjah airport and 30 minutes from Dubai International Airport and are available from around USD50 per night, a good option for groups or families.
One of the most luxurious hotels in the UAE and provides top class service and rooms. The hotel is usually full booked so it is always better to book before arrival.
Costs about USD85 for a huge one-bedroom suite that comes with kitchen and living room - can fit about 4 people.
It's in front of Rolla Square, opposite the main shopping centres, and surrounded by government departments and close to the Corniche. Shuttle service to the beaches and shopping malls.
Standing along the white-sand beaches of the Arabian Gulf, this five-star Radisson Blu Resort is close to Sharjah's historic features. Complimentary shuttle service to shopping areas in Sharjah and Dubai.
Souq al-Arsa is considered the most atmospheric souq in the United Arab Emirates: authentic antiques, handicrafts, carpets and souvenirs for a much better price than in Dubai.
The Central Souq is one of the best souqs in the United Arab Emirates, specialising in carpets from Iran, Afghanistan and Turkey, pashminas from Kashmir and silver jewellery from Oman and Yemen. In the Gold Center (corner of Sheikh Humaid bin Sar al-Qassimi Road and Al Wahda Roas) there are plenty of stores selling gold jewellery.
Sweet dates, packed into small boxes, a nice souvenir.
Luxury shopping center with more than 140 international shops and the Lebanese Beyrouth Restaurant.
Luxury shopping center with a high class, multi-screen cinema.
Sahara Center offers an enormous selection and variety of stores including fashion, sports, toys, cosmetics, jewellery, books, home furnishings and electronics among others. Some of the mall’s key anchor stores include Marina Exotic Home Interiors, Toys ‘R’ Us, Home Centre and Spinneys as well as entertainment such as Novo Cinemas and Adventureland.
By plane
By bus
Bus travel from Dubai is possible via an inter-emirate bus service run by the Government of Dubai Road and Transport Authority.
By taxi
Taxis are widely available. Taxis can travel from other emirates such as from Dubai or Ajman to Sharjah and vice versa without any restrictions.
On foot
If you want to walk in from Dubai, you can do that through the shopping mall called Sahara Centre. At the mall is also a bus stop for city buses of Dubai and a bus stop for city buses of Sharjah.
By train
A national railway system called Etihad Rail is under development and is going to start in 2026. It will connect all the emirates of the UAE.
By taxi
Licensed taxi companies are Sharjah, Emirates, Citi, Union, and Advantage. Taxi plates are reflective green, which helps to spot them at night.50 dirham.
On foot
The highway E11 runs through the neighborhoods of Sharjah near points of interest and the buses from Dubai go on it. That highway divides the city for pedestrians. You cannot cross it anywhere.
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