About 40 kilometers from the center of Dubai is Sharjah, the third emirate of the United Arab Emirates. The capital of the emirate is also called Sharjah and is located almost directly against the border of Dubai. In fact, the two cities are so close to each other that it is almost unnoticeable when you drive into Sharjah from Dubai.
Sharjah has a large coastal strip of more than 130 kilometers on the Persian Gulf. Due to its geographical split, the emirate also has two separate areas with a small 30 kilometers of coastal strip on the Gulf of Oman. Two islands far offshore, Abu Mousa and Sir Bunair, also belong to the emirate. In the east of the emirate lie the rugged slopes the eastern Hajar Mountains and in the north-east is the oasis of Al Dhaid.
Landmarks in Sharjah
Due to its many cultural attractions, Sharjah is also called the “Pearl of the Gulf”. The city was even declared the Arab Capital of Culture by UNESCO in 1998. Due to its direct location next to Dubai, Sharjah is a great destination for a short day trip. The city of Sharjah is definitely worth a visit for the Al Markazi Souk (the Blue Market) alone. At this special market there are more than 600 stalls spread over several floors full of clothes, souvenirs and other items. The Blue Market is considered one of the best places in the region to buy a Persian carpet.
A much-visited landmark in the emirate is the Heritage district, which spans the Al Sheyoukh and Al Maraija neighborhoods, near the Corniche of Sharjah. This area of the city has been completely restored and is only accessible to pedestrians. In addition to the beautifully restored Al Hisn Fort, this old center also houses some small special museums, including the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization. The Heritage district is also home to the traditional Al-Arsah souk, said to be the oldest market of the United Arab Emirates.
Sharjah’s most famous structure, the 60-meter high Ferris wheel The Emirates Wheel. From the Ferris wheel you have a beautiful view over the emirate, and you can also see a large part of Dubai, including the Dubai Creek.
A visit to Sharjah is not complete without the Al Noor Mosque. This beautiful mosque with its tall minarets was built in 2005 a request of the wife of the leader of Sharjah, Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi. For non-Muslims, this mosque can only be visited on Mondays, excluding public holidays, around 10 am. The tour of the mosque takes about 1 hour. For more information about the Emirate of Sharjah, visit the Emirate’s official tourism website.
Day Tour to Sharjah
From Dubai it is quite easy to book a day trip to Sharjah on your own initiative. For example, you can take the Dubai metro to the Al Qiyadah Metro Station metro stop on the green line and book a taxi from here to a location of your choice in Sharjah. Even easier book an organized half-day tour with Getyourguide or Tiqets. The costs are between 29 and 43 US Dollar per person.
Get even more excited and read the website for all the specific information. Look what suits you the most because there are price differences. The tour The Pearl Of The Gulf – Half Day Sharjah City Tour costs 43,50 US Dollar per person and is limited to 10 participants. This tour can be booked online via the GetYourGuide website. Via the Tiqets website they offer a ticket for 29 US Dollar and has a few differences.
Click here to book the Sharjah tour
Sharjah hop on bus
Do you want to discover Sharjah at your own pace and only see the sights you want to see up close? Then the hop on hop off bus in Sharjah is the ideal solution for you. The buses stop at all the highlights of the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates and you can get on and off wherever you want.
There are three different tours in Sharjah, the Leisure Tour (red line), Cultural Tour (green line) and the Night Tour (blue line). With your hop on ticket you also get free entry to the Sharjah Science Museum, Heritage Museum, Al Noor Island, Butterfly House and many more great spots in the city.
De 24 uur tickets voor de Sharjah hop on hop off bus kosten 24 euro voor volwassenen en 12 euro voor kinderen tussen de 5 en 12 jaar. Je kunt ook een 48 uur ticket kopen, deze kost 41 euro voor volwassenen en 21,50 euro voor kinderen. De hop on bus tickets voor de bustour in Sharjah kunnen online gereserveerd worden via de website van GetYourGuide. Betalen kan veilig en snel via onder andere iDeal, creditcard en PayPal en na enkele uren ontvang je de tickets in de mailbox.
The 24-hour tickets for the Sharjah hop on hop off bus cost 24 euros for adults and 12 euros for children between 5 and 12 years. You can also buy a 48-hour ticket, which costs 41 euros for adults and 21.50 euros for children. The hop on bus tickets for the bus tour in Sharjah can be reserved online at the GetYourGuide website. You can pay safely and quickly via iDeal, credit card and PayPal, and after a few hours you will receive the tickets in your mailbox.