Craig C. Leslie The sights of Sharjah are often compared to the jewels of the Arabian Peninsula. Sharjah is a small but modern and welcoming city set on the coast of the Arabian Sea. Despite the proximity to Dubai, many travellers choose to stay here. The main reason is that Sharjah surprisingly has enough space for tourist attractions (quite a rarity in the UAE), huge shopping malls, and white sandy beaches.
Unlike modern Dubai, there are simple, concise buildings as well as museums and many cultural centres. There are over 600 mosques alone. Sharjah has many interesting places to visit on your own and there is plenty to see and do.
Attractions
Historically, Sharjah is one of the richest cities in an already impoverished country and has a wealth of attractions. It is often referred to as the crown jewel of the Emirates. So what is worth seeing on your own in Sharjah?
Al Noor Mosque
Al Nour Mosque (Arabic for ‘prostration’) is perhaps the most famous landmark in the Emirate of Sharjah. It is a beautiful and picturesque white marble structure modelled on the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Similar to the ancient Turkish Temple, Al Nour Mosque has 34 domes and is open to tourists. It was built in 2005 and is named after the son of the Emir of Sharjah, Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi. State-of-the-art technology and materials were used in the construction of the landmark.
The interior decoration of the Muslim temple is also strikingly beautiful and luxurious: the walls are lined with natural stone and painted by local artists. The mosque traditionally has two prayer halls: one for men (1800 people) and one for women (400 worshippers).
At night, the whitewashed building becomes even more spectacular by turning on the lights and giving the mosque a sparkling golden hue. At night, the white-washed building becomes even more striking as the lights come on and the mosque takes on a brilliant golden hue.
The Al Nour Mosque is open to all comers and not only to Muslims, but to followers of other religions as well. The following rules should be borne in mind when visiting the shrine on your own: you must not eat, drink, hold hands, talk loudly or wear open clothing in the mosque.
Al Noor Mosque is one of the first places you should see in Sharjah.
- Location: Al Mamzar Corniche St, Sharjah.
- Opening hours: Monday 10am-12pm (for tourists and tourist groups), other times services.
- Special features: Dark, closed robes must be worn.
Mleiha Archaeology Centre
Mlekha is a small town in the Emirate of Sharjah, recognised by historians as the oldest archaeological site in the Arab Emirates. The earliest artefacts were found not long ago, in the 1990s, when a water pipeline was being laid. Today, the site is home to the Mlekha Centre for Archaeology. The tourist site is not yet very popular, as it only opened in 2016. However, the authorities plan to turn it into a centre for tourism and archaeology.
The Mlech Archaeology Centre is a huge complex comprising many buildings. Firstly, it is the main museum building that houses all the artefacts: pottery, jewellery and tools. Secondly, there is the huge fort where archaeologists have found several ancient tombs and many treasures. Thirdly, there are the usual residential houses: many of them are historical monuments, and it will be fun to just stroll around the town.
- Location: Mleiha City, Sharjah, UAE.
- Opening hours: Thursday to Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., other days 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Ticket price: adults AED 15, teenagers (ages 12-16) AED 5, children under 12 free.
Sharjah Classic Car Museum
What else is there to see in Sharjah (UAE)? The first thing many people will say is the Car Museum. It’s a huge showroom with cars from different eras and countries. In all, there are about 100 vintage cars and about 50 vintage motorbikes on display. The two “oldest” models are the Dodge and Ford Model T made in 1916. The ‘newest’ machines rolled off the production line in the 1960s.
During the tour, the guide will not only explain the making of the cars, but also demonstrate how the various vehicle parts function. However, the showroom is not the only place where you can see the rarities for yourself. Just step behind the museum building and you’ll see a huge number of broken, shabby and decommissioned vehicles. All of them were also built in the 20th century, but just haven’t been restored yet.
- Location: Sharjah-Al Dhaid Road, Sharjah.
- Opening hours: Friday 4pm to 8pm, other days 8am to 8pm.
- Cost: AED 5 for adults, free for children.
Arabian Wildlife Centre
The Arabian Wildlife Centre is the only place in the UAE where you can see the animals of the Arabian Peninsula for yourself. It is a huge zoo located close to Sharjah Airport, 38 km from the city.
The animals live in spacious enclosures and can be watched through huge panoramic windows. A great advantage of the centre is that tourists don’t have to walk under the scorching sunlight, but can watch the animals from the cooler rooms.
- Location: Al Dhaid Rd | E88, Sharjah Airport Road at interchange 9, Sharjah.
- Opening hours: Sunday – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday (9.00-18.00), Friday (14.00-18.00), Saturday (11.00-18.00).
- Cost: AED 14 for adults, AED 3 for teenagers and free admission for children.
Al Majaz Dancing Fountains (Al Majaz Waterfront)
Al Majar Park is home to the famous dancing fountains. You can see the attraction from the promenade, one of the many cafés, or a nearby hotel. In addition to the colourful fountains, the park also boasts numerous sculptures, a golf course, a mosque and several stages where concerts are periodically held.
The dancing fountains have five show programmes. The most famous and unusual is Ebru. It is an unusual performance created in the water marble technique by the show’s designer Garib Au. All five shows are performed daily (although they are always performed in a different order).
- Location: Al Majaz Park, UAE.
- Opening times: shows start daily at 8pm and run every half hour.
Buhaira Corniche promenade
Buhaira Corniche promenade is one of the favourite destinations of locals and tourists alike. It offers spectacular panoramic views of Sharjah with its tall skyscrapers, Ferris wheel and cosy restaurants. Experienced travellers advise taking an evening stroll here after a hot day. The buildings are beautifully lit and the palm trees add to the ambience.
Locals recommend renting a bike so you can explore the town on your own. If it’s daytime, you can sit on the grass and relax. The promenade is a great place to start: almost all the sights are nearby.
Museum of Islamic Civilisation
If you think you’ve visited everything and don’t know what else to see on your own in Sharjah, head to the Museum of Islamic Civilization.
All the exhibits touching upon the culture of the East are collected here. It includes ancient works of art, banknotes from different epochs and antique household items. The building is divided into 6 parts. First one is Abu Bakr Gallery. Here you can see the Quran and see for yourself the most outstanding models of Islamic architecture. This part will be especially important and interesting for Muslims as it tells about the role of Hajj in the life of believers and the five pillars of Islam.
The second part is the Al-Haifam Gallery. Here you can see for yourself how science developed in Muslim countries and get acquainted with various household items. The third section is a collection of ceramics, clothing, woodwork and jewellery from different periods. In the fourth section, you can view all the artefacts dating back to the 13th-19th centuries. The fifth section is dedicated to the 20th century and the influence of European culture on Muslims. The sixth section contains gold and silver coins from different eras.
Sharjah Aquarium
One of the most spectacular attractions in Sharjah is the city’s enormous aquarium, located on the Gulf of Sharjah. It is an amazing structure in many ways.
Firstly, there are over 250 species of Indian Sea and Gulf creatures, including various species of fish, seahorses, prawns and turtles. There are even moray eels and sea sharks. Secondly, you can feed the fish and other creatures in the aquarium for a fee. Thirdly, there is a special display on each screen where you can find out interesting facts about each sea creature.
Maritime Museum
Like many cities with access to the sea, Sharjah has been alive since ancient times thanks to the water: people fish, build ships and trade. Archaeologists have found so many marine artefacts that a museum was created in 2009. It is a grandiose structure with many halls. Among the interesting exhibits are many ship models, various types of shells (they were often used as utensils) and a reconstructed ship’s cabin with goods that were carried to other parts of the world (spices, fabrics, gold).
In the maritime museum you can also see how pearl fishers harvested real Arabian pearls: how they identified the shells, weighed the precious mineral and made jewellery from them. There are a number of pearl-fishing devices on display.
Conclusion
There is certainly plenty to see and do in Sharjah – the sights are sure to amaze even seasoned travellers.
