Overview

The emirate of Sharjah, located less than 30 miles from Dubai, is diverse with an interesting melange of sights, experiences, and activities - a true cultural powerhouse in the UAE. From nature parks to museums and beautiful mosques to beaches, the city promises an exciting experience. In 2014, Sharjah was declared a Capital of Islamic Culture by UNESCO, and with good reason. Not only is the city home to several interesting museums, it’s dotted with unique examples of modern Islamic architecture, often unlike anywhere else in the UAE. Sharjah also offers lush islands and serene waterfront developments with plenty of dining options to enjoy.

Things to See and Do

Enjoy the Museums in Sharjah. Whether you are interested in art, history, or calligraphy, there are over 19 museums in the city, many close to each other, to explore and learn about the impressive history of the emirate and the UAE.

For art lovers be sure to visit the Sharjah Art Museum which is home to permanent exhibitions showcasing local, regional, and international artists, as well as temporary exhibitions that rotate throughout the year.

Visit the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization located in the exceptional building of the Souk Al Majarrah, which was once a traditional souk. Here you’ll find thousands of rare Islamic artifacts and explore into the growth and achievements of Islamic culture in various aspects such as religion, science, art, astronomy, and discoveries.

The Sharjah Maritime Museum exhibits stories of Sharjah’s rich maritime heritage, such as traditional wooden dhows and a 7,000-year old pearl. This is a great place to learn all about the city’s pearl diving and fishing heritage.

Other museums of interest include the Sharjah Classic Cars Museum, the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, Sharjah Science Museum, and Sharjah Archaeology Museum, among others.

Be sure to visit the immersive installation in the Rain Room where you can walk under the rain without getting soaked, thanks to a system controlled by 3-D cameras. This is easily one of the coolest art installations in the UAE where you can walk through continuous rainfall without getting wet. The installation uses self-cleaning recycled water, where you can walk through a dimly lit underground space. It is motion-censored, if you want to stay dry, you’ve got to move slowly to prevent the rain from falling on you, as your presence is detected and prevents the rain from falling. Move too quickly and you may get a few raindrops on you!

Enjoy some great shopping by exploring the Souks of Sharjah. Here, you’ll find an excellent mix of the traditional and modern with so many vibrant colors and smells to experience. The blue tile-adorned Central Souk offers fascinating architecture with intricate details with two domed buildings with fountains at the entrances and connected with an embellished bridge. Inside, you’ll find gold jewelry, Iranian carpets, antiques, and pashminas from Pakistan. For a journey into Sharjah’s past, visit traditional souks such as Souk Al Arsah where you’re surrounded by coral brick walls, old lanterns, and shops selling handicrafts, pearl chests, jewelry, perfumes, herbs, and so much more! Souk Saqr offers shisha, oils, and traditional attire. In the Old Souk, you’ll discover the Al Daleel Mosque (the oldest in the city) as well as art galleries. Inside the Souk Al Jubail, situated on the water’s edge, you’ll discover a bustling market selling everything from honey, dates, and dried fruits to fresh vegetables, meat, and seafood.

Head to the Al Noor Island, a green, car-free island in the heart of the city, easily reachable by a walkable bridge, just outside the beautiful Ottoman-inspired Al Noor Mosque. Just cross the bridge to the island where you’ll find a relaxing 2-mile-long walking trail that weaves around landscaped gardens, art installations, and meadows. This stroll is great for birdwatchers, especially in the early morning hours.

On Al Noor Island, the Butterfly House is home to over 500 butterflies and is one of the most popular tourist places in Sharjah. You’ll find over 20 species of butterflies brought here from Brazil, the Philippines, and other countries. The Butterfly House itself is a feat of modern architecture, with the outdoor structure made of perforated steel and ergonomic design to let in sunlight.

Explore the Venetian Al Qasba area of Sharjah, a lively, family-friendly development located next to a canal with cafes and restaurants, shops, a kids play area, an outdoor adventure park, a musical fountain, and an arts center. It’s truly a magical area, with pedestrian bridges, terraces, and the Ferris wheel in the background. Take a boat ride on a traditional abra or rent an eco-friendly electric water kart to tour the Khalid Lagoon.

While you’re there, it’s also worth checking out the Masrah Al Qasbah Theater to enjoy theater shows, meant to educate and engage children, with adaptations of well-known fairytales using dances, music, and visuals. If you’re visiting with kids, it’s worth seeing if tickets to shows are available around your visit.

The Al Majaz Waterfront sits by the Khalid Lagoon that offers a promenade packed full of great dining venues serving up every cuisine you could think of. There’s a running track that gets busy with active residents in the evenings, a children’s playground and a mini-golf park. This is also where many outdoor concerts and festivals take place throughout the year.

Sharjah Light Festival

The Sharjah Light Festival, celebrated every year for 10 days in February, showcases the emirate's inspiring history, rich heritage and architectural achievements with an extraordinary display of lights, colors, and music. The festival attracts over half a million visitors, who gather from every corner of the emirate, the nation, and even the world. This beloved festival is perfect for all ages with stops at various popular landmarks throughout the city, from Majaz Waterfront to Al Noor Mosque to the attractions of the east coast, viewing the emirate's iconic architecture and natural landscapes.

Cuisine

The traditional food of the Emirates is a lot of meat, cereals, and dairy. As you can imagine, vegetables are difficult to grow in the desert and as a result, are not strongly featured in the diet. Common spices used in the local cuisine include saffron, cardamon, turmeric, and thyme. Although there are many delicious and unique dishes, some favorites include Harees, Chabab, and Machboos. In the winter months, plenty of rice, vegetables, and wheat are consumed. In the hot summer months, camels, goats, lamb, and fresh fish are preferred. The basis of most local dishes is all types of meat except port. Smoked or dried meat dishes are also eaten as a snack. In addition, appetizers prepared with chickpeas, rice, tomato paste, and different spices are also served with meals. Be sure to try the Shawarma, Assida, Tabbouleh, Harees, Maqluba, Al Jabbab Bread, and Humus.

The cuisine in Sharjah draws on a vast range of influences from sophisticated Ottoman and Persian sensibilities to the improvisation of the desert cooking pot. Sharjah has a great local food scene as a city with so much authentic local cuisine, choosing where to eat is the hardest part.