About City

Sharjah
"A journey of raw Arabian culture"

Earning a title of 'Cultural Capital of the Arab World' by UNESCO in 1998, the city of Sharjah is best known for preserving its culture, tradition and heritage. Its Art Museum is world-renowned while fascinating buildings in the Heritage Area are immersed with Emirati history.

Away from the glitz and glamour of Dubai, the city offers a plethora of entertainment and amusement options including well-maintained museums, beautiful mosques, Souks and numerous parks. National History Museum and Desert Park is one such place where petting animals is the major highlight for kids and the Science Museum is packed with fun facts and exhibits.

Sharjah is also a shopper's paradise selling its famous Arabic rugs, rugs, gold, silver and precious stone jewellery at its markets including Souq Al Arsah on Cornich Road and Blue Souq, one of the major markets of the city with some 600 vibrant shops. Although rooted with Islamic traditions, the city has maintained a good balance between its traditional roots and 21st-century modern aspects.

Places To Visit In Sharjah

1. Sharjah Natural History Museum and Desert Park
Covering a vast area, the Sharjah Desert Park is an edutainment zone comprising of three sections namely: the Natural History Museum, Arabian Wildlife Centre and the Children's Farm. It helps its visitors to get a better understanding of the flora and fauna of U.A.E as well as scientific explanation of natural processes in the most fun way possible. Situated 28 km from Sharjah on the road to Al Dhaid, this amazing museum is a must-visit, especially for the nature lovers.

2. Al Qasba
Al Qasba is a commercial complex that offers a perfect package of entertainment and little glitz of Sharjah with some fine dining restaurants, theatres and Kids Fun Zone etc. It houses various activities, both indoor and outdoor such as theatres, Kids Fun Zone, Abra rides and the Al Qasba Musical Fountain and the Etisalat-Eye of the Emirates Ferris Wheel presenting a picturesque view, especially at night.

3. Sharjah Aquarium
Sharjah Aquarium is a place where tourists can to a wide range of marine life. The aquarium comprises of 20 large tanks housing a large variety of oceanic marine life. The main purpose of this place was to encourage the conservation of marine life.

4. Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, nestled along a waterfront in an impressive souq, allows one to dive deep into the roots of Arab and Islamic culture. With the exhibits spanning over two floors, visitors learn about the rituals, artefacts, textiles and more.

5. Al Majaz Waterfront
The Al Majaz Waterfront is best described as a unique family destination for the people of Sharjah. With activities ranging from miniature golf to fine dining, Al Majaz Waterfront also hosts various concerts, events and festivals at different times of the year all of which see huge footfall. Witnessing the Sharjah Musical Fountain, the signature element of the Al Majaz Waterfront is a truly mesmerising experience. Besides this, the waterfront also goes to great lengths to ensure customer safety as evident from the variety of services offered such as free Wi-Fi, public facilities and the availability of more than 1000 parking spots.

6. Sharjah National Park
Sprawling over a huge area of 630,000 sq. meters, the Sharjah National Park must be on your list when visiting Sharjah. Originally intended to serve as a public park for locals and tourists, the Sharjah National Park holds a lot more attractive places and amenities. The entire place has been designed and developed in a manner so as to showcase homogeneity between the traditional Arab architecture and contemporary European styles.

7. Sharjah Heritage Area
Visit the old Sharjah at this place that represents the true essence of the Emirate comprising of architecture built in traditional Arabian style, ancient Souqs, and old family houses. The area includes several museums such as Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, Al Midfaa House, Hisn Fort, Sharjah Heritage Museum along with Souk Al Arsah, each one narrating the story of Sharjah.

8. Arabian Wildlife Center
Arabian Wildlife Center is located at Al Dhaid Road which is approximately 26 kilometres from the city centre after the Sharjah International Airport at Interchange #9. Opened in September 1999, it is known to be the only zoo in Arabia which has around 100 species of animals found in the Arabian Peninsula. Besides this, the Center also promotes awareness about the peninsula fauna, which is becoming extinct.

9. Al Noor Island
Al Noor Island is located on the Khalid Lagoon in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It is a serene oasis in the middle of Sharjah city which features a Butterfly House, a book pavilion, a cafe, a playground, and modern art. One can find a 3.5 km long Broadwalk and a stretch of white lights installed in the gardens which bring the island to life during the night time.

10. Sharjah Science Museum
Sharjah Science Museum was established in U.A.E with a goal to educate and create enthusiasm among kids and people of all ages regarding science. The museum uses the amusing methodology of interactive sessions and displays for exploring life, space, science experiments and various other fields.

11. Central Souq (Blue Souq, Souq Al Markazi)
One of the major market places in Sharjah, Blue Souk is a perfect venue to shop for a souvenir and to get the feel of a true Arabian bazaar. This market is also known as the Central Souq and Souk al-Markazi for the locals.

12. Sharjah Art Foundation
The Sharjah Art Foundation at Sharjah, UAE is one of the biggest platforms for contemporary artists all across the globe to showcase their artistic works in the exhibitions held here. The motto of Sharjah Art Foundation is to promote Arts and Literature so that citizens of UAE, as well as expats, participate in Arts and Literature programs.

13. Sharjah Arts Museum
Sharjah Arts Museum is the largest art museum in U.A.E. It is a perfect place for art lovers where one can relish the Arab culture and heritage through impressive artwork. The major focus of the museum is to portray the art of the Arab world. There are other artworks as well by 18th-century painters who were inspired by the culture, architecture and environment of the Middle East on their visit.

14. Sharjah Discovery Centre
Sharjah Discovery Centre is a learning-centric entertainment centre meant exclusively for children aged between 3 to 12 years. Visiting the centre provides them with a unique opportunity to discover the world realistically and understand how science and technology have made it a better place to live.

15. Sharjah Archaeology Museum
Sharjah Archaeology Museum, as understood by its name, is a place where tourists can learn about the history of Sharjah through its well-preserved archaeological records. Go back in time with the museums various sections namely Stone Age, Bronze Age, The Iron Age and Greater Arabia. 

16. Khor Fakkan
Situated on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, the city of Khor Fakkan is an exclave of the Emirate of Sharjah and is nothing less than a paradise on Earth. With the Khor Fakkan Beach present on the banks of Gulf of Oman and the Bay of Khor Fakkan, the city is geographically surrounded by the Hajar Mountains on its western end.

17. Souq Al Jubail
What was once Sharjah’s historic local fish market has been developed into Souq Al Jubail, a market for all your groceries under one roof. The majestic domed structure opposite Sharjah Creek is home to a well-planned market for fresh produce like seafood, fruits, vegetables, and even includes live counters to enjoy refreshments as you wait. At Sharjah Fish Market, you’re introduced to the comfort of supermarket shopping with the homeliness and price of street shopping.

18. Al Noor Mosque Sharjah
Located in the heart of Sharjah, the Al Noor Mosque is amongst the most beautiful mosques in the city. It dominates the city’s skyline owing to its fabulous architecture. In Arabic, the word 'Noor' means light, and Al Noor, true to its meaning, stands magnificently alongside the Khalid Lagoon on Buhaira Corniche. Al Noor is the first ever mosque in United Arab Emirates to be open to non-Muslim visitors.

19. Kalba
Kalba is a quaint town that is described as an exclave of Sharjah that lies on the coastline bordering the Gulf of Oman. It is particularly well known for Khor Kalba or the Kalba creek, a swampy area populated by beautiful dense mangrove forests deemed to be the oldest in Arabia. It is also home to some of the most beautiful and rarest species of birds.

20. Buhaira Corniche
Located in the cultural capital of U.A.E, Buhaira Corniche is a beautiful path along Khaled Lake. Running a length of 6 to 7 km around the river, it is one of the most scenic and peaceful places to visit in Sharjah. The park provides many facilities such as a jogging track and cycling paths, this brings a lot of tourists and locals to the Corniche for a picnic or just to spend a peaceful evening.

What are the top shopping places in Sharjah? 
The top shopping places in Sharjah are Blue Souk, Sharjah, Souq Al Jubail, Souks.

What are the top sightseeing places in Sharjah? 
The top sightseeing places in Sharjah are Sharjah Desert Park, Al Qasba, Sharjah Aquarium, Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Sharjah Arts Museum, Blue Souk, Sharjah.

How To Reach Sharjah
If you are planning a trip to Sharjah from India, there are several direct flights available to the city. Air Arabia, Air India, Air India Express, Jet Airways and Qatar Airways offer direct flight service between India and Sharjah. On can fly from various cities such as Varanasi, Kochi, Pune, Delhi, Mumbai, Trivandrum and many others. Other option is to take a flight to Dubai and further take a bur or local flight until Sharjah.

How to reach Sharjah by flight
A fair share of flights land at Sharjah International Airport located 15 km from the city center. Sharjah International Airport is also a base to local air carrier, Air Arabia, which connects Sharjah to other Middle Eastern countries as well as Indian subcontinent. However, owing to better connectivity to major European cities and Asian cities, Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi Airport are preferred. One can hire taxis or book a ticket of inter-Emirate buses or a flight ticket to Sharjah from here.

How to reach Sharjah by road
One can easily catch a metered taxi from anywhere in Dubai or other Emirates to travel to Sharjah. However, make sure to avoid the rush hours.

How to reach Sharjah by bus
One can travel between Sharjah and Dubai through the Government of Dubai initiated inter-Emirates bus service. One can take a bus from Al Jubail bus station near the Sharjah Fruit and vegetable market and Fish market, in close proximity to central Souk. The usual travel time is one hour.

Best Time To Visit Sharjah

Winter from December-February is the best time to visit Sharjah. The season is often tagged as the peak tourist season owing to comfortable weather, no rain and low humidity. The average temperature during this time stays in and around 20 degrees Celsius. Even March and April are suitable for travelling to the country.

However, the summers (May-August) are pretty hot and uncomfortable for travelling during the day time. Sharjah has a dry climatic condition, and there’s no humidity. The summer months of May-August are hot with temperatures rising to 40-43 degrees Celsius. Escalation of heat and humidity make it uncomfortable for outdoor activities and sightseeing.