Must-see attractions in Sharjah

  • Sharjah Art Museum

    Sharjah

    Sharjah's heritage and arts areas are anchored by one of the region's most dynamic art museums, a treat for committed art-lovers and casual visitors alike…

  • Mleiha Archaeological Site

    Sharjah

    If you thought the UAE's history only really began when oil was struck, you'd be wrong, and this site is a fascinating introduction to a mind-boggling…

  • Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization

    Sharjah

    Just about everything you'd want to know about Islam is addressed in this museum set in a stunningly converted souq on the waterfront. The ground-floor…

  • Al Qasba

    Sharjah

    This canal-side pedestrian-zone development presents a mix of cafes and kid-friendly activities, including an outdoor amusement park and an inside soft…

  • Sharjah Fort

    Sharjah

    A row of cannons welcomes visitors to Sharjah's beautifully renovated 1823 fort (hisn), which reopened as a museum in 2015. Once through its mighty teak…

  • Al Majaz Waterfront

    Sharjah

    This park at the bottom of the Khalid Lagoon fills with strolling families, roller-skaters and power-walkers after sunset. The main attraction are the…

  • Sharjah Heritage Museum

    Sharjah

    This museum goes a long way towards demystifying Emirati culture for visitors. Each of the five galleries examines different aspects of local life, from…

  • Rain Room

    Sharjah

    It's impossible for the desert to miss the rain with the opening of this installation, where you can walk beneath a never-ending downpour of 2500 litres…

  • Al Noor Island

    Sharjah

    Paths meander past art sculptures amid landscaped gardens on this island across a bridge behind the Al Noor Mosque. The main draw is the wavy-roofed…

  • Sharjah Art Foundation New Art Spaces

    Sharjah

    Urban meets traditional in this cluster of white-cube galleries set within restored Emirati homes in the Heritage Area, behind Al Zahra Mosque…

  • Bait Al Naboodah

    Sharjah

    A fine example of early Emirati architecture, this 1845 house was once home to pearl merchant Obaid Al Naboodah. Note in particular the teak-wood ionic…

  • Sharjah Calligraphy Museum

    Sharjah

    Don't think calligraphy is worthy of your time? Think again. The two galleries here showcase this swirling, beautiful art form at its best with works by…

  • eL Seed Calligraffiti

    Sharjah

    Renowned French-Tunisian street artist eL Seed brought his trademark 'calligraffiti' street art to Sharjah in 2015 with this snake-like design sprawling…

  • Archaeological Findings

    Sharjah

    If you're interested in digging a bit further into Sharjah's trading history, this small shop space in Souq Al Shanisiyah has been turned into an exhibit…

  • Maraya Art Centre

    Sharjah

    If you're interested in modern art, it's worthwhile checking Maraya's website to see if there's an exhibition on while you're in town. This art centre has…

  • Sharjah Maritime Museum

    Sharjah

    For a salty introduction to the UAE, visit this charming museum that displays enough traditional dhows (cargo ships), exhibits on pearling and fishing…

  • Shakarchi Mural

    Sharjah

    Street-art fans should make a short detour from the Al Qasba waterfront area to view this joyous mural by British-Iraqi artist Marwan Shakarchi of…

  • Eye of the Emirates

    Sharjah

    This 60m-high observation wheel is the place to head for bird's-eye views of the Sharjah skyline. Hop into one of the 42 capsules here to do a full circle.

  • Al Noor Mosque

    Sharjah

    Among the most beautiful of Sharjah's 600 mosques, with its architecture based on traditional Ottoman design, Al Noor has a dream setting overlooking the…

  • Sharjah Desert Park

    Sharjah

    This wildlife centre packs four venues into a 1-sq-km package, including a natural-history museum, a botanical museum and a children's farm where kids get…

  • Al Eslah School Museum

    Sharjah

    This teensy museum was Sharjah's first school, and three rooms have been set up to show what classrooms would have looked like 70 years ago while framed…

  • Sharjah Aquarium

    Sharjah

    Close-up views of maritime creatures from the UAE's west and east coast – without getting your feet wet. Moray eels lurk, blacktip reef sharks prowl,…