Sharjah (Arabic: الشارقة) is the third largest city in the United Arab Emirates and the capital of Sharjah emirate. Sharjah is known for its Arabic and Islamic architecture as well as its libraries, Islamic museums, and cultural centers. The city is known as the cultural and literature hub of the United Arab Emirates. The city is rooted in its Arabic and Islamic heritage with many Umayyad and Abbasid-styled buildings and offers a glimpse of Arabic and Islamic environment in an otherwise largely westernized country.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Sharjah is very closely connected to Dubai through the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area, with commuter traffic creating rush hour traffic jams. Many people live in Sharjah but work in Dubai to take advantage of lower rents, hence traffic from Sharjah to Dubai and Dubai to Sharjah is largely expected in rush hours. The emirate is considerably larger than Dubai, with coastline on both west and east coasts of the peninsula, and with exclaves of Kalba, Khor Fakkan, and Dibba Al Hisn. The road to the east coast goes through rugged Al Hajar mountains.
Public buses are overseen by Sharjah Transport (Journey Planner) and operated by Mowasalat. There are local and express routes. Inside of Sharjah it costs 8 dirham in cash and 6 dirham with a Sayer card. The blue Sayer card you can buy from the bus driver for 50 dirham containing a credit of 45 dirham. The schedules of the buses operating only inside of Sharjah are not integrated in Google Maps. And the journey planner of SRTA on the website and in the app is not the most convenient. It may be better to use the network map of Mowasalat for bus rides. The bus lines starting with an "E" are only destined for passengers doing an intercity ride between Dubai and Sharjah.
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. Most sites in the Heritage Area have opening times set aside solely for women. Visitors of both genders should make certain of these on arrival in the city. Al Hisn Fort, Al-Hosn Avenue, ☏ +971 6 5685500. Sa-Th 8AM-2PM, F closed. The Sharjah Fort Museum dominates the Heritage District.
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.
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, ☏ +971 6 5754244. Noon-4PM & 7PM-midnight. Mushmaool is good food and amazing service. Provides the best grill in town and an outstanding dining experience. Committed to provide quality food and a healthy dining experience as close to as what you get at home. 35 dirham/person. Seashells, Ahmed bin Dar-eish Square, Al-Chan Road (near Raddission SAS Resort), ☏ +971 6 5283501. Sa-Th noon-3PM, 7PM-midnight.
Sharjah is a "dry emirate" which means sale or possession of alcohol within Sharjah is almost entirely forbidden. There are three exceptions: Sharjah Wanderers Club. Members and their guests only. Founded in 1977 as a sports club for rugby and diving, it has a pool, tennis courts and lighted rugby fields. There is a British bar which sells spirits, wine, bitter, lager and stout and which serves traditional British food.
Generally speaking, Sharjah is a safe place. Women are usually stared at in certain parts of the city, so bring a male relative or friend to be safe. Al Zahra Private Hospital, Al-Zahra Sq., Al Ghuair, ☏ +971 5619999, +971 5613311. (updated Mar 2020) Bristol Medical Center, Juma Al Majid Building, Al Nahda, ☏ +971 65266615. (updated Mar 2020) University Hospital Sharjah, University City - University Street, ☏ +971 6 505 8555. (updated Mar 2020) Zulekha Hospital, Al Zahra Street, ☏ +971 600 524442. (updated Mar 2020) Elite Medical Centre, Al Meena Street, ☏ +971 6 530 9898.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Sharjah typically sees ~42°C daytime highs and 0 rainy days.
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