Sharjah
Sharjah is a major port city and the third-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
It is the capital of the Emirate of Sharjah and forms part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area. The emirate shares legal, political, military and economic functions with the other emirates of the UAE within a federal framework. Each emirate has jurisdiction over some functions such as civil law enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Sharjah has been ruled by the Al Qasimi dynasty since the 18th century.
Getting to Sharjah
For visa requirements to visit Sharjah, see the United Arab Emirates page.
- 01Sharjah International Airport
It is the home of the low-cost carrier Air Arabia which has connections with various Middle East and Indian Subcontinent cities.
Worth seeing
Heritage Area - Good overview available here including a few restoration of old houses. The Heritage is near the Corniche between Burj Avenue & Al-Maraija Road. Many historic buildings have been reconstructed with traditional materials. The most interesting sites are Al Hisn Fort, Literature Square with House of Poetry, Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Sharjah Heritage Museum and Souq al-Arsa.
Things to do
Jetskiing is very famous around summer time in the Khalid Lagoon. F1 Boat Races happen around the human-made island in the Buhaira Corniche sometime around December. Qanat al Qasba has a beautiful mosque right by the canal. From Al Qasba there is a ferry that gives a boat tour around Sharjah. Several different yearly festivals take place, and each one is a wonderful cultural experience.
- 01Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Sharjah's heyday was in the 1990s when it held many ODI tournaments.
Where to eat
The ubiquitous shawarma is sold all over Sharjah and makes a very cheap and hearty meal. Khuboos made of wheat also a cheap food available at very cheap Mushmaool Arabic Grill Restaurant, Al Miraj Building 1, beside Megamall Entrance 3, Abu Shagara,. Noon-4PM & 7PM-midnight. Mushmaool is good food and amazing service. Provides the best grill in town and an outstanding dining experience.
Getting around Sharjah the local way
- Get inSmall ferries called heritage abra cross the Creek from Bur Dubai.
From Wikivoyage: Dubai/Deira, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.