| Sharjah الشارقةّ, al-Shāriqa | ||
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Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | United Arab Emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | 14 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 235.5 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 1.400.000 (2015) | |
| Time zone | UTC 4 | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Sharjah is a city of United Arab Emirates.
To know
| The origin of the name |
A common slogan used around the city to describe the family atmosphere. The word Sharq (short form of Mashriq) means east in Arabic. Sharjah is east of Abu Dhabi is Dubai, hence its name. Its classic Arabic form is "Al Shareqah" and is commonly pronounced Sciargia. |
Sharjah is known for its Arabic and Islamic architecture as well as its libraries, Islamic museums and cultural centers. The city is also known as the cultural and literary center of the United Arab Emirates.
The city is rooted in its Arab and Islamic heritage with many Umayyad and Abbasid style buildings and offers a glimpse of the Arab and Islamic environment in an otherwise largely westernized country. It is an important center for the environment and family-friendly activities and has a more conservative vibe. The city has many green parks, apartment complexes and a large community of Arabs from all over the Arab world which makes it an effective cultural meeting point for many different communities.
Contrary to Abu Dhabi is Dubai, Sharjah offers visitors a much broader view of Arab and Islamic art, literature and architecture. It is a regular destination for visitors who are looking for a cultural experience but more local than Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Geographical notes
Sharjah is the third largest city in the United Arab Emirates and the capital of the emirate of Sharjah.
The emirate is considerably larger than Dubai, with coasts on both the western and eastern parts of the peninsula and with the ex-slaves of Kalba, Khor Fakkan and Dibba Al Hisn. The road to the east coast passes through the rugged mountains of Al Hajar.
How to orient yourself
Sharjah: full screen map.Neighborhoods
- 1 Heritage district - The heritage is located near the Corniche between Burj Avenue and Al-Maraija Road. Many historic buildings have been rebuilt with traditional materials. Most sites in the heritage area have opening hours reserved exclusively for women. Visitors of both genders should check this out upon arrival in the city.
- 2 Al Qasba - In this district facing the canal of the same name you can enjoy the entertainment and leisure attractions of the city.
How to get
By plane
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- 1 Sharjah International Airport (مطار الشارقة, IATA: SHJ) (it is about 15 kilometers from the city of Sharjah). It is the home of the low-cost airline Air Arabia which has connections to various cities in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.
- Connections
- The bus shuttle n ° 15 connects the airport with the center of Sharjah (Rolla) every 30 minutes, or the n ° 14 goes to the terminal al Sharq, finally the 99 goes to the bus station Al Jubail the rides cost 8 dirham (Dec 2019). Bus line 111 (10 dirhams) leaves every hour from the airport via the 2 Al Qusais bus station in Suburbs of Dubai up to 3 Rashidiya station of the Dubai Metro a Deira.
- 4 Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB). The airport is located within the district of Deira.
- Going to Dubai International Airport by taxi will cost 100 dirhams. You can travel by public bus to or from Dubai International Airport using the Dubai local bus service and the inter-Emirate bus service.
By car
Sharjah is closely connected to Dubai via the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area, with commuter traffic creating traffic jams at rush hour. Many people live in Sharjah but work in Dubai, so traffic from Sharjah to Dubai and Dubai to Sharjah is widely expected at peak times.
- 5 Sharjah Aquarium Marine Transport Station.
Sun-Thu 07: 30-20: 05, Fri 12: 00-22: 30, Sun 08: 15-20: 00. (FR5): connects with Al Ghubaiba station a Bur Dubai. One run every 35 min. One-way tickets cost: AED 15 Adult Silver and AED 25 Adult Gold. Free for children under 5 years old.
Sun-Thu 07: 30-20: 05, Fri 12: 00-22: 30, Sun 08: 15-20: 00. (FR5): connects with Al Ghubaiba station a By bus
- 6 Al Jubail bus station (close to the fish and fruit and vegetable markets of Sharjah, as well as close to the central souk). Bus travel to Dubai is possible via an inter-emirate bus service operated by the government of the Dubai Road and Transport Authority. A trip from Sharjah to Dubai by bus E307 (departing from the terminal Deira City Center) can last about 1 hour and costs 10 dirhams (Feb 2020). Timetables are available on RTA website.
By taxi
Taxis are widely available. They can travel from other emirates as from Dubai in Sharjah or from Ajman in Sharjah and vice versa without any restrictions. Traveling from more distant emirates like Abu Dhabi or Ras Al Khaimah it's also an option, but taxi fares can be expensive. Apps like Uber and Careem are also an option and can be used to travel across the emirates. You can also call the Sharjah taxi service[link not working] supported by the government and request that it arrives directly in your area.
How to get around
By public transport
By bus
Public buses are from Mowasalat, there are seven local and three express routes. The Dubai RTA also offers an express bus service for commuters.
- 7 Rolla square. From here, bus 15 leaves for Sharjah airport.
- 8 Al Sharq bus terminal (on the north side of the city).
By taxi
Licensed taxi companies are Sharjah, Emirates, Citi, Union and Advantage. Taxi license plates are reflective green, which helps to spot them at night. Each call is 3.50 dirham, then 1 dirham every 650m, and the minimum rate is 11.50 dirham. There is a surcharge of 20 dirhams to go to Dubai.
What see
Heritage District
To visit the museums in the area, theHeritage Ticket which allows entry to: Al Eslah School Museum, Sharjah Heritage Museum, Sharjah Calligraphic Museum, Sharjah Fort or "Al Hisn Fort", Bait Al Naboodah. The cost is: Adults 20 dirhams, children (2-12 years) 10 dirhams, children (under 2 years) free.
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- 1 [link not working]Fort Al Hisn (Fort Sharjah), Al-Hosn Avenue, ☎ 971 6 5685500, @[email protected].
Adults 10 dirhams, children (2-12 years) 5 dirhams, children (under 2 years) free. Also valid for the Heritage ticket (Dec 2019). Sat-Thu: 8: 00-20: 00, Fri: 16: 00-20: 00. The Sharjah Fort Museum dominates the Heritage District. The fort itself has been carefully restored by the current sheikh and the museum offers an insight into the social history of the Emirate. Many exhibition signs, however, are exclusively in Arabic, with those in English often rife with errors.
Adults 10 dirhams, children (2-12 years) 5 dirhams, children (under 2 years) free. Also valid for the Heritage ticket (Dec 2019). .jpg/220px-WP_20151031_16_40_50_Raw_(22025908913).jpg)
- 2 [link not working]Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization (Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, متحف الشارقة للحضارة الإسلامية), ☎ 971 6 5655455. Adults 10 dirhams, children (2-12 years) 5 dirhams, children (under 2 years) free (Dec 2019). Sat-Thu 8: 00-20: 00, Fri 16: 00-20: 00. The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is a fascinating place for all visitors interested in the faith, as there are handwritten Qurans, letters from the Prophet Muhammad to other leaders, and various artifacts from Mecca. Also a complete exhibition of Arab crafts.
- 3 [link not working]Bait al-Naboodah, ☎ 971 6 5685500. Adults 10 dirhams, children (2-12 years) 5 dirhams, children (under 2 years) free. Also valid for the Heritage ticket (Dec 2019). Sat-Thu 8: 00-20: 00, Fri 16: 00-20: 00. A museum showing a traditional 19th century Emirati home.
- 4 [link not working]Calligraphic Museum of Sharjah (Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, متحف الشارقة للخط العربي), ☎ 971 6 5694561. Adults 10 dirhams, children (2-12 years) 5 dirhams, children (under 2 years) free. Also valid for the Heritage ticket (Dec 2019). Sat-Thu 8: 00-20: 00, Fri 16: 00-20: 00. A small museum with magnificent calligraphic artworks by Persian, Arab and Turkish artists with a workshop where students are trained in the art of calligraphy
- 5 [link not working]Sharjah Heritage Museum (Sharjah Heritage Museum, متحف الشارقة للتراث), ☎ 971 6 5680006. Sat-Thu 8: 00-20: 00, Fri 16: 00-20: 00. A small museum on the history and customs of the emirate
- 6 Sharjah Museum of Art (Sharjah Art Museum), ☎ 971 6 5688222. Free. Sat-Thu 8: 00-20: 00, Fri 16: 00-20: 00. The Sharjah Art Museum displays contemporary art by local and foreign artists. It is also the seat of the Sharjah International Art Biennale, a biennial exhibition of international contemporary art and performances.
- 7 [link not working]Al Eslah School Museum (Al Eslah School Museum, متحف مدرسة الإصلاح), ☎ 971 6 568 4114. Sat-Thu 8: 00-20: 00, Fri 16: 00-20: 00. Closed for renovation.
Other areas
- 8 [link not working]Sharjah Archaeological Museum (Sharjah Archeology Museum, متحف الشارقة للآثار), Sheikh Rashid bin Saqr alQassimi Rd, ☎ 971 6 5665466. Adults 10 dirhams, children 5 dirhams (Dec 2019). Sat-Thu 9: 00-13: 00, 17: 00-20: 00; Fri 17: 00-20: 00. The museum explores the changing environments experienced by the inhabitants of the region from the Stone Age to the present day through displays of artifacts, coins, jewelry, ceramics and ancient weapons. Investigate an ongoing excavation, explore models of burials, houses, and tombs, and see the earliest forms of writing in this area.
- 9 [link not working]Sharjah Science Museum (Sharjah Science Museum) (Next to the archaeological museum), ☎ 971 6 566 8777. Adults 10 dirhams, children (2-12 years) 5 dirhams, children (under 2 years) free (Dec 2019). Sat-Thu 8: 00-20: 00, Fri 16: 00-20: 00.
- 10 [link not working]Sharjah Maritime Museum (Sharjah Maritime museum, متحف الشارقة البحري), ☎ 971 6 522 2002. Adults 10 dirhams, children (2-12 years) 5 dirhams, children (under 2 years) free (Dec 2019). Sat-Thu 8: 00-20: 00, Fri 16: 00-22: 00.
- 11 Sharjah Desert Park (28 km from Sharjah on the road to Al Dhaid), ☎ 971 6 531 1999. Adults 15 dirhams, children (12-16 years) 5 dirhams, children (under 12 years) free. Sun-Thu 9: 00-17: 30, Fri 14: 00-17: 30, Sat 11: 00-17: 30. It has three components spread over 1 km²: the Natural History Museum, the Arabian Wildlife Center and the Children's Farm. The museum offers people of all ages the 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 desert living and the living sea. The Arabian Wildlife Center showcases the rich diversity of fauna in the Arabian Peninsula and teaches about the species that have gone extinct and are dying out. It contains more than 100 species of animals and is divided into a reptile and insect house, aviary, night houses, observation area and a section for large predators and monkeys. The children's farm offers children the opportunity to come into close contact with farm animals, such as donkeys, goats, sheep and chickens.
- 12 King Faisal Mosque (King Faisal Mosque, مسجد الملك فيصل), Al-Ittahid Square, ☎ 971 6 505 5888. Entrance for Muslims only. This magnificent mosque was a gift from the King of Saudi Arabia Faisal. It 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 over 7,000 books.
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- 13 [link not working]Al Mahatta Museum (At the Mahattah Museum), Estiqlal Square, ☎ 971 6 5733079. Adults 10 dirhams, children (2-12 years) 5 dirhams, children (under 2 years) free (Dec 2019). Sat-Thu 8: 00-20: 00, Fri 16: 00-20: 00. Al Mahatta was the first airport in the Gulf region. It was opened in 1932 as a staging post for commercial flights from Great Britain to India. There is an interesting film about daily life at the airport and Sharjah city in the 1930s and four original hangars are located in the hangar itself.
- 14 Sharjah Aquarium (Sharjah Aquarium), Al Meena Street (Close to the maritime museum), ☎ 971 6 528 5288. AED 35 per adult (age 13), AED 25 per child (age 2-12), under 2 free. Family AED 90 (2 adults 3 children). The Sharjah Aquarium first opened on June 16, 2008. It features deep-sea creatures. The Sharjah Maritime Museum offers an up-close look at local fish and allows you to learn about Sharjah's historic coasts and ports.
- 15 Al Qasba Mosque (Al Qasba Mosque, مسجد القصباء), ☎ 971 6 505 5888.
Events and parties
Numerous different annual festivals take place and each is a wonderful cultural experience. There are many fun activities at these festivals including camel rides, henna, delicious Arabian foods and dishes.
To celebrate the seasons, which runs from mid-May to mid-August, there is a festival held at the fruit and vegetable market from May 15th to August 15th.
- Sharjah International Book Fair. November. Book fair with several international guests and stands for the sale of books.
- F1 boat races. December. They take place around the man-made island in the Buhaira Corniche.
What to do
- Jetski. It is a very popular activity during the summer in the Khalid lagoon.
- Boat tour. From Al Qasba there is a ferry that offers a boat ride around Sharjah
Shopping
- 1 Suq al-Arsah (سوق العرصة), Al Sharq Street, Opp Old Souk (Heritage District), ☎ 971 800 80000. Mon-Sun 9: 00-13: 00 and 17: 00-20: 00. Souk al-Arsa is considered to be the most atmospheric souk in the UAE - authentic antiques, handicrafts, rugs and souvenirs at a much better price than in Dubai. Stop by the traditional café for a mint tea and a plate of dates.
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- 2 Blue souk (Souq Al Markazi or Central Souq), King Faisal St, ☎ 971 6 556 6777. Sat-Thu 10: 00-22: 00, Fri 17: 00-22: 30. An interesting, if slightly chaotic souk, which houses around 600 shops in two wings. The shops on the ground floor tend to stock gold and expensive designer clothes, while the upper level contains shops stocking rugs and curios from afar such as theAfghanistan and the Tibet. Bargaining prices in higher tier stores will often attract huge discounts. A great place to shop for traditional gifts and goods. Considered higher than Dubai for carpets from western expats.
- 3 Fish market (سوق السمك), Corniche Road (in front of the Blu Suq). Mon-Sun 5: 00-13: 00.
- 4 Khalas Malaki dates (خلاص ملكي للتمور), Corniche Road (close to the Marbella Resort), ☎ 971 6 5738383. Sat-Wed 9: 00-13: 00, 16: 00-20: 00; Fri 16: 00-20: 00. Sweet dates, packed in small boxes, a nice souvenir.
- 5 Sharjah Mega Mall (ميغا مول الشارقة), Immigration Road, ☎ 971 6 5742574. Sat-Wed 11: 00-23: 00, Thu 11: 00-01: 00, Fri 14: 00-01: 00. Luxury shopping mall with over 140 international shops and the Lebanese restaurant Beyrouth.
- 6 City Center Sharjah (الشارقة سيتي سنتر), Al Wahda Road, ☎ 971 6 532 7700. Sat-Wed 10: 00-22: 00, Thu 10: 00-24: 00, Fri 14: 00-24: 00. Luxury shopping mall with a high-class multiplex cinema.
- 7 Sahara Center - Mall (Al Nahda Interchange, Dubai-Sharjah border), ☎ 971 6-531-6611. Mon-Sun 10: 00-01: 00. The Sahara Center offers a huge selection and variety of shops including fashion, sports, toys, cosmetics, jewelry, books, home decor and electronics, among others. Some of the mall's major anchor stores include Debenhams, Marina Exotic Home Interiors, Toys "R" Us, Home Center, and Spinneys, as well as shows like Novo Cinemas and Adventureland.
How to have fun
Sharjah is a "dry emirate", which means that the sale or possession of alcohol within the city is almost entirely prohibited. But there are three exceptions:
- 1 Sharjah Wanderers Club, ☎ 971 6 558 6239. Members and their guests only. Established in 1977 as a sports club for rugby and diving, it has a swimming pool, tennis courts and lighted rugby fields. There is a British bar that sells spirits, wine, bitters, lager and dark ale and serves traditional British food.
- Alcohol is available in the duty-free and business class lounges of Sharjah International Airport.
- If you have a personal alcohol license, you can bring alcohol from other emirates and consume it at home.
Also, it is legal to carry alcohol through Sharjah if the final destination allows (as per Dubai to Fujairah). However, some policemen may not be familiar with this rule.
Where to eat
The omnipresent shawarma it is sold throughout Sharjah and makes for a very cheap and filling meal. Khuboos made of wheat is also an affordable food available at very affordable prices
Average prices
- 1 Syed Al Biryani (Ezza Tower, Al Nad Qassmia, opposite the Crystal Plaza Hotel), ☎ 971 6 5506699. Great taste house. One of the best restaurants in Sharjah.
Where stay
Average prices
- 1 Lou 'Lou'a Beach Resort, Al Mina Rd, ☎ 971 6 5285000.
Safety
In general, Sharjah is a safe place. Women usually get fixed in certain parts of the city, so bring a male relative or friend so you don't get harassed.
How to keep in touch
Around
The smallest emirate, that of Ajman, is the northern neighbor of Sharjah.
Useful information
The public buildings of the Emirate are all in Umayyad and Abbasid architecture and were all designed by the current Shaikh (a qualified architect). Therefore the city offers a pleasant visual change and a more cultural atmosphere from the usual type of skyscrapers in other Emirates.
The Sharjah commerce and tourism website[link not working] contains sections on business, heritage, leisure, education.
As in the rest of the UAE, Arabic is the official language, although most residents speak other languages, notably Hindi, Urdu, and Tagalog. English is widely spoken in shops, souks and hotels.
