Plan Sharjah around Friday. The emirate’s government works Monday to Thursday and rests Friday to Sunday, and the major museums open only from 4 pm on Fridays. Once the opening hours are right, the old coral-stone quarter, the museums and the Khalid Lagoon waterfront fit into one long day.
Sharjah city is the capital of the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE’s cultural centre. UNESCO named it Cultural Capital of the Arab World in 1998 and World Book Capital in 2019, and the emirate holds nearly a quarter of the country’s museums.
Sharjah city in numbers
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Role | Capital of the Emirate of Sharjah |
| Emirate area | 2,590 sq km, 3.3% of the UAE |
| Emirate population | About 1.8 million: 208,000 citizens and 1.6 million expatriates |
| Coastline | About 20 km on the Arabian Gulf. Sharjah is the only emirate with coast on both the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman |
| Ruler | Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi |
| Government weekend | Friday to Sunday |
| Museum hours | Saturday to Thursday 8 am to 8 pm, Friday 4 pm to 8 pm |
| Airport to Heart of Sharjah | 20 minutes |
| Emergency numbers | Police 999, ambulance 998, civil defence 997 |
Heart of Sharjah & the museum quarter
Heart of Sharjah is the restored old town, a walkable district of coral-walled houses, museums and souks that fills half a day to a full day. It sits just off the Corniche.
- Bait Al Naboodah, a coral-walled house dating from 1845
- Sharjah Calligraphy Museum
- Al Hisn Fort
- The only round wind tower in the UAE
- Souk Al Arsah, one of the country’s oldest markets, with air-conditioned alleyways
Visitors who want a working mosque rather than a museum can enter the Sharjah Mosque, the emirate’s largest, which admits non-Muslim visitors.
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
The museum holds more than 5,000 objects across seven galleries, inside a converted early-20th-century souq topped with a gilded dome. Entry is AED 10 for adults, AED 5 for children aged 2 to 12, and free under 2.
Galleries run from the foundations of Islam through astronomy, medicine, mathematics and navigation to ceramics, textiles and metalwork. A hand-made zodiac mosaic covers the third floor. Allow at least two hours; the building is air-conditioned, which makes it a sound midday choice in summer.
Khalid Lagoon waterfront & Al Noor Island
Khalid Lagoon is the evening half of a Sharjah day. Al Majaz Waterfront is free to enter, and Al Noor Island charges admission.
Al Majaz Waterfront has the Sharjah Musical Fountain, whose jets rise up to 100 metres, plus mini-golf and the Maraya Art Park. Restaurants face the fountain plaza, so a table at dinner doubles as a front-row seat.
Al Noor Island sits next to Al Noor Mosque on Buhairah Corniche Road. It opens at 9 am and closes at 11 pm on weekdays, while the Butterfly House runs 9 am to 6 pm daily and shelters more than 20 species. Arrive before 6 pm if the butterflies are the reason you are going.
Two other lagoon sites suit children. Flag Island has a 123-metre flagpole and a 1,000-seat amphitheatre, and Al Montazah Parks has the Pearls Kingdom waterpark and amusement rides.
Families, wildlife & beaches
Sharjah Aquarium and the Maritime Museum share one ticket: AED 25 for adults and AED 15 for children aged 2 to 12. Both sit on Al Meena Street in the Al Khan area and keep the same hours as the other museums, 8 am to 8 pm Saturday to Thursday and 4 pm to 8 pm on Friday.
Further out:
- Sharjah Desert Park groups four venues: a wildlife centre, a natural history museum, a botanical museum and a children’s farm.
- Al Hamriyah Beach is free and open from 6 am to 11 pm.
- Khorfakkan Beach on the east coast is free and open 24 hours, and Route 116 runs to it from Sharjah.
Shopping is split between the Blue Souk, with more than 600 shops selling gold, Persian carpets and handicrafts under blue-tiled halls, and malls such as Sahara Centre and City Centre Al Zahia.
What it costs
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization | AED 10 adult, AED 5 child (2 to 12), free under 2 |
| Sharjah Aquarium & Maritime Museum | AED 25 adult, AED 15 child (2 to 12), free under 2 |
| Al Majaz Waterfront | Free |
| Dubai to Sharjah ferry | AED 15 Silver Class, AED 25 Gold Class |
| Sayer bus card | AED 5 to issue, about 25% off bus fares |
Visa & entry rules
Entry depends on your passport: visa on arrival for listed nationalities, a visa arranged in advance for everyone else, and the same rules apply whether you land in Sharjah or Dubai.
- GCC citizens need no visa.
- Nationalities on the UAE’s visa-on-arrival list get either 30 days with a 10-day grace period or 90 days, depending on the country.
- Indian passport holders with a US visit visa or green card, or a UK or EU residence visa valid for at least six months, get up to 14 days on arrival.
- Every other nationality needs a visa arranged before travel.
- Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you enter.
Getting to Sharjah from Dubai & the airport
Sharjah International Airport is Air Arabia’s hub, and the Heart of Sharjah is 20 minutes from it. Dubai International also works as an entry point, with bus and ferry routes into Sharjah.
Bus
Dubai’s RTA runs E303 from Union Square, E306 from Al Ghubaiba, E307 from Deira City Centre and E307A from Abu Hail to Al Jubail Bus Station on the Sharjah Corniche. E315 links Etisalat station in Dubai with Muwailah in Sharjah. Journeys take 37 to 50 minutes and the E routes take a Nol card.
Ferry
The ferry runs from Al Ghubaiba Marine Station in Dubai to the Aquarium station in Sharjah in about 35 minutes. Sailing times are on the RTA ferry timetable, and tickets are sold at the station, by Nol card or online.
Getting around & parking
The Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) runs the city’s buses and taxis. Al Jubail is the main intercity terminal and Al Rolla serves mostly local routes. A Sayer card is sold by bus drivers and at the Al Jubail terminal.
Taxis are booked through the SRTA call centre on 600 525 252 or the Digital Sharjah app.
Paid parking runs from 8 am to midnight in every zone, including yellow-sign streets that used to stop at 10 pm. It is free on Fridays and official public holidays, except in blue-sign zones, which charge every day of the year. Pay by SMS to 5566 or through the Sharjah Digital app.
Where to stay
- Heart of Sharjah: The Chedi Al Bait is a five-star hotel built from restored heritage houses, with Souk Al Arsah behind it. It suits anyone spending the day on foot among the museums.
- Khalid Lagoon and Al Majaz: Hotels on Buheira Corniche Road, such as Copthorne Hotel Sharjah, sit within walking distance of Al Majaz Park and Al Noor Island.
- The beach strip: Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa and Coral Beach Resort both stand on Al Muntazah Street, and the Sheraton has its own private beach on a palm-fringed shore. These hotels are several kilometres from the old town, so museum days mean a taxi.
Every hotel in the emirate is alcohol-free.
Rules & etiquette
- Alcohol: Sharjah is the UAE’s only fully dry emirate. Sale, possession and consumption are banned everywhere, hotels included, and the ban covers visitors. Do not carry alcohol by road through Sharjah on the way from Dubai to the northern emirates.
- Dress: cover shoulders and knees in public. Women entering a mosque also cover their hair.
- Swimwear: wear it on hotel beaches and at hotel pools, and cover up on public beaches.
- Public affection: kissing and other displays of affection draw attention and can lead to police involvement.
- Emergencies: dial 999 for police, 998 for an ambulance and 997 for civil defence.
FAQ
Is Sharjah city the same as the Emirate of Sharjah?
No. The emirate is one of the seven that make up the UAE and stretches from the Gulf coast to the Gulf of Oman. Sharjah city is its capital, on the Gulf side.
Is Sharjah open on Fridays?
Yes. Museums, including the Museum of Islamic Civilization and the Aquarium, open from 4 pm to 8 pm on Fridays, and standard parking zones are free all day. Al Majaz Waterfront stays free every day.
How long does it take to get from Dubai to Sharjah?
The ferry takes about 35 minutes and the RTA buses take 37 to 50 minutes.
Can you drink alcohol in Sharjah hotels?
No. No hotel, restaurant or shop in the emirate sells or serves alcohol.
How many days do you need in Sharjah city?
One day covers the Heart of Sharjah, the Museum of Islamic Civilization and the lagoon at night. A second day adds the Aquarium and a trip to Sharjah Desert Park or the beach.
Plan the day
- Start in the Heart of Sharjah at 8 am from Saturday to Thursday, or at 4 pm on Friday.
- Spend the first two to three hours in the Museum of Islamic Civilization.
- Visit the Aquarium and Maritime Museum in the afternoon on one AED 25 ticket.
- Reach Al Noor Island before 6 pm for the Butterfly House.
- Finish at Al Majaz Waterfront for the fountain, and read the parking signs before you leave the car.
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