WELCOME TO SHARJAH FROM THE BUSTLING CAPITAL CITY ON THE ARABIAN GULF, THROUGH THE INTERIOR DESERT AND OVER THE HAJAR MOUNTAINS TO THE PRISTINE BEACHES OF THE EMIRATE’S EAST COAST TERRITORIES, THIS GUIDE IS PACKED THE ESSENTIAL VISITORS’ GUIDE WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR HOLIDAY. • Essential Information • Heritage & Culture • Annual Events • Outdoor Adventure • Landmarks • Family Fun The essential visitors’ guide to a unique holiday destination A special edition visitors’ guide produced by Explorer exclusively for Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority askexplorer.com Tel +971 (6) 5566777 | Fax +971 (6) 5563000 PO Box 26661, Sharjah, UAE | [email protected] Special Edition visitsharjah.com Sharjah Sharjah the region’s where the adventure cultural hub never ends THE ESSENTIAL VISITORS’ GUIDE visitsharjah.com DEAR VISITOR, On behalf of the Sharjah One of the seven emirates comprising the United Commerce & Tourism Arab Emirates, Sharjah is an attractive and safe Development Authority, destination, rich in history and culture, warm and it gives me great pleasure friendly people and year-round sunshine. While its to welcome you to the varied landscape features majestic mountains, rolling emirate of Sharjah, the sand dunes and pristine beaches, its culture offers a culture and tourism distinctive blend of east and west. capital of the Arab world. Nowhere embraces the old and the new quite like Sharjah. Here you will find attractions and amenities Sharjah Visitors’ Guide to suit all types of travellers – from fascinating Copyright © Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority 2018 museums, ancient souks, wildlife centres and off-road 3rd Edition – April 2018 adventures to modern shopping centres, luxurious Published For hotels and resorts, delicious dining and thrilling Government of Sharjah Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) entertainment venues. PO Box 26661, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates +971 6 55 66 777 visitsharjah.com A visit to Sharjah is an adventure like no other. We Published By hope this guide will help you discover the emirate’s Explorer Publishing & Distribution charm and leave you with cherished memories of a PO Box 34275 Dubai, UAE remarkable experience. +971 4 340 8805 [email protected] askexplorer.com Enjoy your stay, and ‘Ahlan wa sahlan’ – Photographs © Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority Welcome to Sharjah. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa While every effort and care has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information Chairman contained in this publication, the publisher and Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority cannot accept responsibility for any errors and omissions it may contain. Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority 3 CONTENTS 06 ESSENTIALS 16 LANDMARKS 36 HERITAGE & CULTURE 56 OUTDOOR ADVENTURE 72 FAMILY FUN SPECIAL FEATURES 30 Sharjah’s Souks 34 Monuments & Memorials 46 Turn Back Time 54 A Taste of Sharjah 60 Going Off-road Download the Sharjah mobile 64 Take to the Seas app to learn more about the 70 Sharjah’s East Coast emirate, build your itinerary, 92 Wild Sharjah manage your accommodation bookings and explore all the emirate’s exciting offerings Visitsharjah.com is the one- stop destination for information on visiting Sharjah. This short guide couldn’t possibly cover everything about this fascinating Tel +971 (6) 5566777 | Fax +971 (6) 5563000 emirate, so be sure to visit the PO Box 26661, Sharjah, UAE | [email protected] website to learn more 5 ESSENTIALS Welcome to Sharjah, a vibrant From the bustling capital city metropolis that mixes tradition on the Arabian Gulf, through with modernity. This guide the interior desert and over the takes you across the emirate Hajar Mountains to the pristine to discover all this fascinating beaches of its east coast enclaves, destination has to offer. Sharjah boasts some of the UAE's most diverse landscapes – each with its own unique appeal and exciting attractions. Before you embark on your adventure, look through the next few pages where you’ll find essential information and helpful resources to ensure your visit to Sharjah is memorable for all the right reasons. 6 SHARJAH VISITORS’ GUIDE 7 EsseNTIALS USEFUL CONTACTS FACTS & FIGURES CURRENCY EMERGENCY AED (Arab Emirate Dirham) Police: 999 $1 = AED 3.67 Ambulance: 998 ACCOLADES Fire: 997 CULTURAL CAPITAL OF THE ARAB WORLD (1998) ELECTRICITY ISLAMIC CULTURE CAPITAL (2014) 220/240 volts TRANSPORT 50 cycles Sharjah International Airport CAPITAL OF ARAB TOURISM (2015) Square three-pin sockets sharjahairport.ae | +971 6 558 1111 WORLD BOOK CAPITAL (2019) +971 6 558 1555 (Flight information) TELEPHONE CODES 181 (Directory) Country +971 Sharjah Roads & Transport Authority Sharjah 06 srta.gov.ae | 600 52 5252 TIME ZONE Public Transport UTC +4 CLIMATE No daylight mowasalat.ae | 600 52 2282 savings ENCLAVES & EAST High 40°C to 48°C (104°F to 118°F) COAST TERRITORIES Sharjah Taxi Low 10°C to 24°C (50°F to 75°F) DIBBA AL HISN srta.gov.ae | 600 52 5252 Humidity 60% Precipitation 25 days/year KALBA KHORFAKKAN VISITOR INFO NAHWA visitsharjah.com Sharjah Commerce & Tourism POPULATION Development Authority 1.4 MILLION sharjahtourism.ae (Sharjah Census 2015) Sharjah Events sharjahevents.ae Land Area SQ KM 3rd largest emirate in the UAE Use the handy trip planner on visitsharjah.com to easily build an itinerary 2,590 that is catered to your budget and interests 8 SHARJAH VISITORS’ GUIDE 9 EsseNTIALS January January-February ANNUAL EVENTS SHARJAH WORLD SHARJAH CHILDREN MUSIC FESTIVAL BIENNIAL Throughout the year, Sharjah hosts an impressive array of sharjahworldmusicfestival.com sharjahevents.ae events, from international cultural festivals to family- This week-long festival celebrates A brilliant showcase of young friendly shows and world-class sporting competitions. music in many forms, with artistic talent, the SCB exhibits concerts held at venues works by children from around across the city by Arabic and the world and hosts workshops international performers. and activities to help kids get their creative juices flowing. SHARJAH ARABIC POETRY FESTIVAL February sdc.gov.ae SHARJAH LIGHT FESTIVAL A fixture on Sharjah’s calendar sharjahlightfestival.ae since 2002, this poetry festival Through a dramatic blend of brings together poets from all light, music and storytelling, over the Arab world to showcase Sharjah’s rich heritage and stunning their talents in a series of public architectural monuments are poetry evenings. illuminated in spectacular fashion during this colourful festival. HH SHARJAH RULER CUP INTERNATIONAL SHOW SHARJAH SPORTS JUMPING CHAMPIONSHIP DESERT FESTIVAL serc.ae sharjahevents.ae Local and international This adrenaline-filled weekend equestrians of all ages flock to packs in all the thrills and spills of a the Sharjah Equestrian & Racing world-class desert rally. Off-roaders Club to compete for the grand from across the region come prize while spectators enjoy the together in Sharjah's desert to festive atmosphere. compete for cash prizes. 10 SHARJAH VISITORS’ GUIDE 11 EsseNTIALS March SHARJAH CHILDREN’S SHARJAH BIENNIAL READING FESTIVAL sharjahart.org scrf.ae Every other year, this two-month This family-friendly event combines event brings cutting-edge more than 100 exhibitors contemporary art to Sharjah in a specialising in children’s literature show that leads the region’s artistic with thousands of fun and conversation and is highly regarded educational activities for both by the industry elite. children and adults. SHARJAH SHARJAH HERITAGE DAYS THEATRE DAYS heartofsharjah.ae sdc.gov.ae This hugely popular celebration This long-standing celebration of the emirate's cultural heritage of Sharjah's theatrical tradition, features events throughout the popular with all ages, promotes Heart of Sharjah, as well as displays ancestral storytelling practices, and demonstrations of traditional retells classical stories and art, dance and handicrafts. showcases new work. June-September April SHARJAH SUMMER SHARJAH CALLIGRAPHY FESTIVAL BIENNIAL shjsummer.ae sdc.gov.ae Take advantage of amazing deals at Showcasing work from over 100 some of Sharjah's top restaurants, internationally renowned artists, hotels and attractions during the the SCB exhibition features a summer months. There is a full variety of calligraphy styles and programme of events including techniques from cultures around workshops, classes and special the world. exhibitions for visitors of all ages. 12 SHARJAH VISITORS’ GUIDE 13 EsseNTIALS October December SHARJAH SHARJAH WORLD INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK CHILDREN’S FILM visitsharjah.com FESTIVAL Organised by Sharjah Commerce sicff.ae & Tourism Development SICFF presents the latest in film Authority, this action-packed and new media produced for and week in December features by young people to the UAE, with two of the highest-profile screenings and workshops held watersport events in the region throughout the week-long event. – the UIM Formula 1 Powerboat Championship and the Sharjah November Aquabike World Championship. SHARJAH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR SHARJAH DESERT sibf.com THEATRE FESTIVAL The third largest book fair in the sdc.gov.ae world and one of the oldest in This four-day festival hosts a series the Arab world, SIBF