The Eye of the Emirates no longer stands at Al Qasba. The 60-metre wheel left the canal for Al Montazah Parks in 2018, after 13 years as Sharjah’s best-known skyline marker. What remains is a kilometre-long canal in the Al Majaz area, with cafés and restaurants on both banks, pedestrian bridges, boat rides and a handful of ticketed venues.
Walking the canal costs nothing. The paid parts are the attractions and the parking: the theatre is AED 55 a ticket, Kids Fun House starts at AED 45, boat rides start at AED 20, and a parking bay costs AED 2 an hour until midnight.
Al Qasba, also called Qanat Al Qasba, is run by Shurooq, Sharjah’s investment and development authority.
Al Qasba visit details
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Entry | Free to walk the canal, bridges and promenade |
| Location | Al Majaz area, on the canal between Khalid Lagoon and Al Khan Lagoon |
| Canal length | About 1 km |
| Canal-side venues | Winter: 10 AM to midnight. Summer: 4 PM to midnight |
| Maraya Art Centre | Saturday to Thursday 10 AM to 7 PM, Friday 4 PM to 7 PM, free |
| Kids Fun House | From AED 45, opens at 1 PM on Fridays |
| Parking | AED 2 for the first hour, paid 8 AM to midnight, SMS to 5566 |
| Time to allow | 2 to 4 hours |
Where the Eye of the Emirates went
The Eye of the Emirates is now at Al Montazah Parks, Sharjah’s amusement and water park. Shurooq moved it in 2018 and the canal has not had a wheel since.
Anyone planning a ferris wheel ride should head to Al Montazah Parks instead. The canal itself is built around walking, boats and evening cafés, not around a single landmark ride.
Things to do & what they cost
| Activity | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Canal walk, bridges, musical fountain | Free | Evening strolls |
| Abra boat ride | From AED 20 | Families, water-level views |
| Kids Fun House | From AED 45 | Younger children |
| Al Qasba Theatre | AED 55 | Family shows |
| Maraya Art Centre | Free | Exhibitions, workshops |
Theatre shows, Kids Fun House sessions and boat rides can be reserved through online ticket booking before you go.
Canal, bridges & musical fountain
The canal walk is the main event and it is free. Pedestrian bridges cross the water, the banks are lined with cafés, and the musical fountain and the sunset over the canal are the draw for families once the heat drops.
Evenings are when the place fills up, and the canal looks best once the lights come on.
Boats, water karts & bikes
Abra rides start at AED 20. These are traditional wooden boats, and the route runs along the canal and around Al Khan Lagoon.
Electric water karts and bikes are also available for hire along the waterfront. Boat and kart sessions run mostly in the evening in summer and through the day in winter.
Kids Fun House
Kids Fun House is an aquatic-themed soft-play centre with slides, obstacle courses, climbing frames and ball pits. Sessions start at AED 45.
It admits children up to 140 cm, and children under 3 need an adult with them inside the play area. It opens at 10 AM in winter and noon in summer on most days, and at 1 PM on Fridays.
Maraya Art Centre
Maraya Art Centre is a three-storey non-profit space and a Shurooq initiative. It has galleries on the second and third floors, the Maraya Art Park outdoors, and 1971 – Design Space.
Entry is free. It opens Saturday to Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM and on Fridays from 4 PM to 7 PM. Exhibitions rotate, so what is on changes between visits.
Al Qasba Theatre
Masrah Al Qasba runs a year-round lineup of family shows, with tickets at AED 55. The shows are built for children and parents together, with well-known stories told through music.
Where to eat
Cafés and restaurants sit along both banks of the canal, and the lineup mixes regional names and international chains:
- Levantine & Arabic: Shababeek, Beit Setti and Fustuq Al Sham for Arabic sweets
- Turkish & Japanese: Lokmada and Sumo Sushi
- Grills: Nando’s
- Karak & coffee: FiLLi Café for karak, plus Caribou, Starbucks and Nature Coffee
- Desserts & bakery: Gerard, Katrina, Crepe n Chu, Sam and Harry, Tasty Ooo’s, Baskin Robbins and Dunkin
- Cold drinks: Blue Bubbles for bubble tea and Fruit Gang for juices
The venues follow the season: open from 10 AM in winter and 4 PM in summer, closing at midnight.
Best time to visit
Winter evenings, from November to March, after sunset. The canal is cooler and every venue is open.
In summer, the venues open around 4 PM, so there is little point arriving earlier. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest, and Eid and National Day celebrations fill the plaza even more.
How to get there
- By car: Search for Al Qasba in Waze or Google Maps. The canal is in the Al Majaz area, with Al Khan Corniche Street alongside, and paid public parking is available around the complex.
- From Dubai by bus: RTA routes E303 (Union), E306 (Al Ghubaiba), E307 (Deira City Centre) and E307A (Abu Hail) all end at Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. From there it is a short taxi ride to the canal.
- By taxi: Sharjah taxis run from Al Jubail Bus Station and across Al Majaz, 24 hours a day.
- By boat: The scenic route is a boat ride from Al Noor Island on Khalid Lagoon. The island is open daily from 9 AM to 11 PM, the Butterfly House from 9 AM to 6 PM, and entry is paid.
Parking at Al Qasba
Sharjah’s public parking is paid until midnight in every zone since 1 July 2026, from 8 AM.
| Duration | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | AED 2 |
| 2 hours | AED 5 |
| 3 hours | AED 8 |
| 5 hours | AED 12 |
- Pay by SMS to 5566 with your plate source, plate number and hours, for example SHJ 5423 1. Reply Y to the reminder to add an hour.
- The Sharjah Digital app and ticket machines also take payment.
- Friday parking is free in yellow-sign bays only. A blue sign means you pay seven days a week, Fridays and public holidays included.
- Parking without paying is an AED 150 fine, and overstaying an expired ticket is AED 100.
Is Al Qasba worth it?
It suits families and anyone who wants an evening walk with food and water views. The free part is genuinely free, and Maraya Art Centre adds an art stop at no cost.
The trade-offs are straightforward:
- Friday and Saturday evenings are crowded.
- Every ride, show and play session is charged separately, so a family of four adds up quickly.
- Parking is paid until midnight, and blue-sign bays charge on Fridays too.
- There is no longer a wheel or a large landmark attraction, so a short stop is enough for anyone who only wants the canal view.
A simple evening plan
- Arrive around 4 PM and start at Maraya Art Centre, which closes at 7 PM.
- Book a boat ride or Kids Fun House session for the early evening.
- Eat on the canal as the sun sets.
- Finish with the bridges and the musical fountain, and catch a theatre show if one is running.
Dress code & conduct
Sharjah is more conservative than Dubai. Cover shoulders and knees in public spaces, and keep behaviour family-friendly, since Al Qasba is mostly a family destination.
Al Qasba Mosque is on Al Khan Street near Kids Fun House, which is the nearest place to pray.
FAQ
Is Al Qasba free to enter?
Yes. Walking the canal, bridges and promenade is free. Paid items are the theatre (AED 55), Kids Fun House (from AED 45), boat rides (from AED 20) and parking. Maraya Art Centre is also free.
Is the Eye of the Emirates still at Al Qasba?
No. The wheel was relocated to Al Montazah Parks in 2018 after 13 years on the canal.
Is Al Qasba open on Friday?
Yes. The canal and cafés are open, Kids Fun House opens at 1 PM, and Maraya Art Centre opens from 4 PM to 7 PM.
Is parking free at Al Qasba on Friday?
Only in yellow-sign bays. Blue-sign bays are paid every day, including Fridays and public holidays, from 8 AM to midnight.
How long should I spend at Al Qasba?
Plan on 2 to 4 hours for a canal walk, a meal and one paid activity such as a boat ride or Kids Fun House.
Is Al Qasba good for kids?
Yes. Kids Fun House, boat rides, the musical fountain and the family theatre shows are all on the canal, within a short walk of each other.
Next steps
- Go after sunset in winter, or from 4 PM in summer.
- Pay for parking by SMS to 5566 before you walk away from the car.
- Pick one paid activity, such as Kids Fun House, a boat ride or a theatre show, and add the free Maraya Art Centre.
- Eat on the canal and finish with a walk across the bridges.
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