Entry to the Hanging Gardens in Kalba costs AED 5 per person, and the park is open from 6:00 AM to midnight every day. Parking costs more than the ticket, at AED 10 an hour.
The gardens opened on 8 March 2024, when the Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, inaugurated them as part of a plan to develop tourism in Kalba. They climb a mountainside beside the Sharjah-Kalba Road, with an artificial waterfall running down the middle.
The park has two levels, a lower garden and an upper terrace, and the highway exit you take decides which one you reach first.
Hours, fees & parking
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily, 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM |
| Entry fee | AED 5 per person, paid at the entrance |
| Advance booking | Not needed |
| Parking | AED 10 per hour, 262 spaces on an upper and a lower lot |
| Location | Sharjah-Kalba Road (E102), Alhafyah, Sharjah |
| Drive time | About 45 minutes from Sharjah city, about 90 minutes from Dubai |
| Time to allow | 2 to 3 hours |
| Accessibility | Lower garden wheelchair accessible, upper trails are stairs |
Tickets are sold at the entrance on the day, and there is no online booking step. The hours are the same on every day of the week.
Allow two to three hours for the garden itself. Add time if you plan to eat at one of the restaurants or climb to the top.
How to get there
The Hanging Gardens sit on the Sharjah-Kalba Road (E102). The drive takes about 45 minutes from Sharjah city and about 90 minutes from Dubai.
Both entrances are exits off the E102, so driving is the simplest way to arrive.
Driving from Sharjah or Dubai
- Join the Sharjah-Kalba Road (E102) and head east towards Kalba.
- For the upper level, take the exit just before the Al Heyar Tunnel and follow the signs for the upper track.
- For the lower garden, drive through the tunnel and take the exit after it. The gardens appear on your right, and the exit ends at the main parking area.
- If you miss the upper exit, a second one follows just after the park.
Coming from Khorfakkan or Fujairah
- Pass the Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre and take the mountain road heading west.
- Take the exit for Al Hefaiyah Lake, turn left at the roundabout and go through the underpass.
- Turn right at the next roundabout onto the old Kalba Road.
- Follow it to the top and park there, or continue down the far side to rejoin the E102 and take the exit after the Al Heyar Tunnel.
Parking
Parking at the gardens carries a paid parking fee of AED 10 an hour, double the AED 5 charged before Kalba brought in paid public parking in February 2025. The fee is separate from the AED 5 entry ticket.
Pay at the ticket machine, by SMS, or through the Sharjah Digital or Mawaqif app.
The 262 spaces are split between a lower lot beside the main entrance and an upper lot next to the mountain trails. Disabled bays and EV charging stations are included.
On busy evenings the lower lot fills first. When it is full, the upper lot is the better choice, and it puts you at the top of the trails.
How the park is laid out
Lower garden
The lower garden holds the lawns, the waterfall lake, the three children’s play areas and the central restaurant. The main entrance and the larger parking lot are here too.
Landscaping splits the lawns into screened pockets, which suits a family or a group that wants its own patch for a picnic. Paths slope gently throughout, and toilets sit on both sides of the park.
Upper level
The upper level sits 270 metres above sea level and holds the wooden-built restaurant, the upper cafeteria, one of the four train stations and the second parking lot. From the terrace you can see the mountains, the lagoon and the sea.
You can reach it by car or on foot, and the climb uses stairs and path sections that vary in steepness.
Waterfall & mountain routes
The centrepiece is an artificial waterfall that cascades down several levels into a small lake. It is lit at night, which makes the evening the best time to see it.
More than 100,000 trees and plants cover the 1.6 million square feet of slope and lawn, with flowers lining the terraces. The tree cover gives shade on the trails during the day.
Three mountain routes of different difficulty climb the terraces, passing flower beds, waterfalls and seating spots along the way. The upper sections use a lot of steps, so the routes suit people comfortable with stairs.
If you would rather skip the climb, drive to the upper lot instead.
Things to do besides walking
- Three children’s play areas, divided by age group, with benches for adults close by
- A skate park that suits beginners and experienced riders
- A 760-metre running track that loops around the park’s landmarks
- An excursion train that carries 55 passengers on an 820-metre route with four stations, one of them at the upper cafeteria
- Picnics on the lawns, within the no-barbecue rule below
Where to eat
Two restaurants and a cafeteria operate inside the park.
| Venue | Where | Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Habib Beirut | Centre of the lower garden | 215 | Lebanese food, windows facing the gardens and the waterfall |
| La Brasseria | Upper level, 270 m above sea level | 100 | Traditional wooden building with views over three sides of the gardens |
A cafeteria serving light meals sits near the upper train station. Habib Beirut needs no climb, while La Brasseria rewards one.
Facilities & accessibility
Wheelchair users can use the lower garden, which has sloping paths. The upper trails are mostly stairs, so they are not a good fit for wheelchairs or anyone with knee or breathing difficulties.
Facilities inside the park:
- Restrooms on both sides of the park
- Prayer rooms for men and women
- EV charging stations
- Disabled parking bays
- A cafeteria with light meals
Rules
Pets and barbecues are not allowed anywhere in the gardens.
Dress modestly. Kalba is a quieter, more conservative part of the UAE than the big cities. Wear shoes with grip, since most of the climbing is on steps.
Best time to visit
October to March is the most comfortable window for the stairs and trails. Summer afternoons are hot even at 281 metres above sea level.
Late afternoon works best on a day trip. You get daylight for the trails, and the waterfall lighting comes on after dark. Mornings are quietest, and weekends draw the biggest crowds.
Nearby stops
Kalba has several attractions within a short drive, so the gardens combine easily into a half-day or full-day plan.
- Al Hefaiyah Lake, on the other side of the highway, with a lagoon and picnic areas
- Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre, a nature reserve for more than 30 species of mountain wildlife
- Kalba Birds of Prey Centre, which runs falcon and bird-of-prey displays
- Khor Kalba Mangrove Centre, home to the oldest mangrove forest in the UAE
- Kalba Beach Corniche, a long sandy beach on the coast
For a longer east-coast day, Khorfakkan Beach is the next big stop up the coast.
FAQ
Is entry to the Hanging Gardens in Kalba free?
No. Entry is AED 5 per person, paid at the entrance. Parking is a separate charge of AED 10 an hour.
Is the park open 24 hours?
No. The gates open at 6:00 AM and close at midnight, every day of the week.
Can you drive to the top of the Hanging Gardens?
Yes. Take the exit just before the Al Heyar Tunnel and follow the signs for the upper track. It leads to the upper lot beside La Brasseria and the trails.
Can you bring pets or barbecue equipment?
No. Neither pets nor barbecues are allowed in the park. Picnic food is fine on the lawns.
Is the Hanging Gardens in Kalba wheelchair accessible?
Yes in the lower garden, which has sloping paths and disabled parking bays. The upper trails are mostly stairs.
How long do you need at the Hanging Gardens?
Two to three hours covers the lower garden, a meal and part of the trails. Add time for the full climb or for nearby stops like Al Hefaiyah Lake.
Before you drive out
- Pick your exit before you leave the E102: before the Al Heyar Tunnel for the top, after it for the lower garden.
- Install the Sharjah Digital or Mawaqif app so paying AED 10 an hour for parking takes seconds.
- Aim for late afternoon between October and March, in shoes made for stairs.
- Add Al Hefaiyah Lake or the Mountain Conservation Centre if the day has room.
