Is Sharjah a holiday destination?

Sharjah skyline

The name simply rings of luxury and excess; Dubai. Bigger than big construction projects, glitz and glamour, and ridiculously unnecessary displays of wealth all come to mind when one thinks of the desert kingdom which is the United Arab Emirates’ face to the world.

So synonymous with luxury is Dubai that many people don’t even know which country it lies in. Even fewer know that it is not the capital of the United Arab Emirates; that title goes to Abu Dhabi, 2 hours down the road.

Even more than Abu Dhabi, a part of the country which is overlooked by many is Sharjah, the UAE’s third biggest city which lies directly to the northeast of Dubai.

(Image: Ksamahi)

It’s easy to see why it doesn’t attract the same level of interest for many visitors; Sharjah lacks the tourist infrastructure for visitors (good luck trying to use the local bus system), it’s completely dry (except for grog smuggled over the border from Dubai) and it lacks a whole lot of world-class tourist attractions.

But that’s not to say that Sharjah is a lost cause. In fact I recently spent a few days in the UAE’s most conservative emirate, and had a wonderful time! Sharjah is not about to beat Dubai in terms of appeal – and it probably never will. However for those who want to explore the UAE beyond the two biggest cities, Sharjah is a logical – and very pleasant – next step. Here’s what Sharjah has going for it…

Proximity

Sharjah is very close to Dubai. Like, metres away – in fact I stayed in an apartment across the road from the border. Many of the expat workers you see in Dubai live in Sharjah and commute every day (which leads to no end of traffic jams in rush hour – ask anyone in Sharjah and they’ll regale you with their stories of the Sharjah – Dubai highway at 8.30am on any given day).

This means that it’s easy to base yourself in Dubai and visit Sharjah, or vice versa – just remember that the only way to get between the cities is on the aforementioned roads. The traffic is predictable though; it is Dubai-bound between 7:30 – 9:30am, and Sharjah-bound between 5pm – 7pm. Additionally, Sharjah is really close to Dubai International Airport.

Sharjah Airport

Sharjah International Airport

Sharjah has its own airport! Who knew? Truth be told, it’s nothing special – a relic from the early oil exploration days, and it seems to have given up in the face of the sleek airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but it is an interesting (and sometimes convenient) way to enter or leave the UAE. Consider also that Air Arabia, the Middle East’s biggest budget airline, is based in Sharjah, and you’ll start to see why it’s not necessarily a bad idea.

Cultural attractions

What Sharjah lacks in glittery buildings and shiny infrastructure it makes up with honest, if humble, cultural attractions. Cultural Square in the centre of the city is home to the Cultural Palace which hosts numerous events.

Cultural Square, Sharjah

Closer to the waterfront is the Sharjah Museum of Islamic History, well worth a visit to learn about the cultural legacy of Islam in the region, and on Al Noor Island in the middle of Khalid Lake is the Sharjah Butterfly Park. On the mainland near Al Noor Island is the Al Noor Mosque – it’s highly photogenic, especially at sunset – but be warned that as with most mosques in the UAE, non-Muslims may not enter.

Qasba Canal

Meanwhile the Qasba Canal which links two lakes is lined with restaurants and al fresco dining, and further afield is the well-regarded Sharjah Aquarium. As well as all of this, the typical desert safari and mall attractions exist in Sharjah as they do elsewhere in the UAE.

Views from the Corniche

Sharjah’s waterfront is built around three large saltwater lagoons (referred to as lakes). Like all Arab cities built by the water, Sharjah sports an extensive and handsome corniche which is simply bliss at sunset. There are sections of parkland, cafes, restaurants, and even a dancing fountain display. Moreover, this is where Sharjah comes to life on Thursday and Friday nights – eateries are open until all hours and the locals spend their time here unwinding rather than the hyperactive streets of Dubai.

Hot tips for taxis

Two tips for getting around Sharjah – firstly, use taxis, as they will get you where you’re going cheaply and quickly, without the need for figuring out the underwhelming bus system. Secondly, know that taxis add 20 Dirhams to the price of any trip which crosses the emirate border into Dubai. I got stung by that when I was coming from Dubai Airport – my friend told me to get dropped off across the road, but instead I gave my driver the exact address I would be staying at. As we turned the corner and officially entered Sharjah from Dubai, the price jumped 20 Dirhams just in time for the driver to say “we’re here!” and stop the meter. If you’re staying in central Sharjah you could take a Dubai – Sharjah bus to cross the border, then a taxi from there, or otherwise just “bite the bullet” and fork out 20 Dhs (about US$7), however if you’re staying close to the Dubai border you might have the opportunity to save a lot of money on frequent trips.

Al Noor Mosque, Sharjah, at sunset

What do you think? Is Sharjah a tourist destination? Comment below!