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    Sharjah

    United Arab Emirates

    Sharjah

    CityCulture

    Sharjah is the capital of the namesake emirate and is situated on the Persian Gulf, directly bordering Dubai.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. United Arab Emirates
    7. Sharjah Emirate
    9. Sharjah
    Sharjah is the capital of the namesake emirate and is situated on the Persian Gulf, directly bordering Dubai. The city prides itself as a cultural hub of the Emirates: in 2019, it was UNESCO World Book Capital, and surrounding the restored old town, Heart of Sharjah, are museums and the buildings of the Sharjah Art Foundation. Alcohol is not served in the emirate, even in hotels.

    Sights in Sharjah

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Heart of Sharjah
    Historic Landmark

    1Heart of Sharjah

    The Old Town quarter between the Corniche and Souks is being restored by the development authority Shurooq in several phases, aiming to recreate its 1950s appearance. Among the restored residential buildings with courtyards are museums, galleries, and small markets.
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    Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
    Museum

    2Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization

    The building on the Majarrah Waterfront was opened in 1987 as Souq Al Majarrah and was re-inaugurated in 2008 as the Museum of Islamic Culture. For its opening, more than 5,000 objects from the Islamic world were displayed.
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    Al Noor Mosque
    Mosque

    3Al Noor Mosque

    At Al-Noor Mosque, the Sharjah Centre for Cultural Communication provides free tours for non-Muslims, covering architecture, Islam, and Emirati traditions. Lonely Planet lists Mondays at 10 AM, please confirm ahead. Modest dress is mandatory; abayas are provided for women.
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    Al Mureijah Square (Sharjah Art Foundation)
    Museum

    4Al Mureijah Square (Sharjah Art Foundation)

    The Sharjah Art Foundation has converted old buildings in the Al Mureijah old town district into exhibition spaces; the connected rooftops also serve as open-air galleries. The complex includes exhibition spaces, an info center, shop, café, and restaurant; it is open Saturday to Thursday 9 AM to 9 PM, and Fridays 4 PM to 9 PM.
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    Rain Room
    Gallery

    5Rain Room

    The installation by artist collective Random International is on display in Al Majarrah since May 2018, as the project's first permanent version and part of the Sharjah Art Foundation collection. Tickets are available online and on-site, a visit takes approximately 15 minutes.
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    Sharjah Aquarium
    Museum

    6Sharjah Aquarium

    The Aquarium in the old district of Al Khan opened in June 2008 and is operated by the Sharjah Museums Authority. Right next door is the Sharjah Maritime Museum, which, according to guidebooks, is included in the ticket.
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    City walks in Sharjah

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Through the Heart of Sharjah to the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization

    The tour begins at the Al Mureijah Art Spaces, leads through the restored Old Town with its Fort, Merchant's House, and Souq Al Arsah, and concludes at Majarrah Waterfront. The Old Town museums cost 10 Dirham each, a combo ticket is 20 Dirham. Plan half a day and note the shorter opening hours on Friday.

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    Stops (3)

    Restaurants in Sharjah

    1

    Arabian Tea House

    The restaurant at Souq Al Shanasiyah in the Old Town serves Emirati and Arab cuisine in a shaded courtyard with traditional decor, including Machboos with chicken, Lamb Ouzi, and Emirati breakfast with Regag bread.
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    2

    Shababeek

    Lebanese restaurant on Al Qasba Canal, whose menu Chef Maroun Chedid compiled. Critics highlight braised lamb shank and Freekeh pilaf in puff pastry.
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    3

    Bait Elowal

    The restaurant is located in a more than 100-year-old house, restored in 2024, on Al Mureijah Square opposite the Creek, with dining in the courtyard with a fountain. The cuisine combines influences from Morocco, Persia, India, and Turkey, reminiscent of the centuries-old trade in the region.
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    4

    Kashtat Amina

    Emirati restaurant in Aljada, which Chef Mariam Almansoori named after her mother. The menu features classics like Balaleet, Harees with beetroot, Madrooba, and Luqaimat.
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    5

    Beit Setti

    Restaurant with Damascene cuisine on the Al Qasba Canal, decorated with traditional Syrian details. For breakfast, there's Foul, Hummus, pastries, and Manakeesh, while lunch and dinner feature Damascene dishes.
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    Food & Beverage

    The restaurants of the Old Town serve Emirati and Arabic cuisine, alcohol is not served anywhere.

    Machboos

    Spiced rice with chicken, lamb or seafood, flavored with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and dried lime (Loomi). Considered the national dish of the Emirates.

    Harees

    Wheat and meat, slow-cooked into a creamy stew. Commonly eaten during Ramadan to break the fast.

    Balaleet

    Sweet-savory breakfast of vermicelli with saffron and cardamom, topped with a thin omelette.

    Luqaimat

    Fried dough balls with date syrup, typical at iftar and on holidays.

    Culture and Local Customs

    Art and MuseumsSharjah was UNESCO World Book Capital in 2019. The Sharjah Art Foundation uses historic and new buildings in the old districts Al Mureijah, Al Shuwaiheen and Al Shoyoukh; the Rain Room in Al Majarrah is in its collection.An Old Town in TransitionThe Heart of Sharjah project has been restoring the old city between the Corniche and the souks for years, aiming to restore its 1950s appearance. For this, the development authority Shurooq collaborates with the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, the Museums Authority and the Art Foundation.Rules for Daily LifeSharjah is the strictest of the Emirates: alcohol is prohibited, and the 2001 decency rules forbid public clothing that exposes the stomach or back or ends above the knee; men should not wear very short shorts or go shirtless. For current advice, check the UK FCDO travel advice (gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice).

    Arrival and On the Go

    From DubaiThe RTA intercity buses E303 (from Union Square) and E306 (from Al Ghubaiba) go to Al Jubail Bus Station in the centre of Sharjah. Under normal traffic conditions, the journey takes about 50 minutes and payment is made with the Nol card. During rush hour, traffic between the two cities is often heavily congested.AirportSharjah International Airport is located about 13 km from the city centre. According to Visit Sharjah, a taxi to the city costs about 60 Dirham, which includes an airport surcharge of 20 Dirham.In the CityHeart of Sharjah, Al Mureijah Square, and the Museum of Islamic Civilization are close to each other and can be connected on foot. Al Qasba, Al Noor Mosque, and the Aquarium in Al Khan are best reached by taxi.

    Accommodations in Sharjah

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    Nearby

    Sharjah Emirate

    Sharjah Emirate

    The Emirate of Sharjah is the third-largest of the United Arab Emirates and has coastlines on the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Beyond the capital Sharjah, the emirate includes the Mleiha desert with the UNESCO World Heritage site Faya, and the east coast enclaves of Khor Fakkan, Kalba, and Dibba al-Hisn.
    Ajman

    Ajman

    Ajman is the capital of the smallest emirate by area, situated on the Persian Gulf north of Sharjah. At its heart is a fort, presumably built in the late 18th century, now the Ajman Museum, just a few steps from the Corniche and Souks. On Ajman Creek is a dhow shipyard, and on the outskirts, the Al Zorah mangrove area.
    Ajman & Umm al-Qaiwain

    Ajman & Umm al-Qaiwain

    This region brings together the two smallest emirates: Ajman, the smallest in area at approximately 260 km², and Umm al-Qaiwain, the least populated. Both are located on the Persian Gulf north of Sharjah and offer forts with museums, mangroves, and quiet beaches.
    Dubai Emirate

    Dubai Emirate

    The Dubai Emirate is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf and comprises, in addition to the eponymous city, the exclave of Hatta in the Hajar Mountains. Approximately 4.8 million people live here (as of September 2026). Between the Old Town on Dubai Creek, the skyscrapers of Downtown, and the reservoirs of Hatta, there is approximately a ninety-minute drive.
    Dubai

    Dubai

    Dubai, the emirate's namesake city, lies on the Persian Gulf, straddling the Dubai Creek. The Creek's banks host old quarters Deira and Bur Dubai, with souks, wind-tower houses, and museums. Along Sheikh Zayed Road are Downtown (with the Burj Khalifa), followed southwest by Dubai Marina and JBR. Metro, Tram, and Abras link the districts.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI