SHARJAH TOURISM | TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT & TOUR PACKAGES (2024)
City
About Sharjah
Country: United Arab Emirates
#100 of 6 Places to visit in United Arab Emirates
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Nearest City to Sharjah: Sharjah, Dubai (24 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Sharjah: November to March
Peak Season: December to February
At a distance of 24 km from Dubai, 155 km from Abu Dhabi, and 701 km from Qatar, Sharjah is the third largest and third most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, forming part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area. Sharjah is the capital of the emirate of the same name and among the top places to visit in UAE as part of Dubai Tour Packages.
The emirate of Sharjah borders with Dubai to the south, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain to the north and Ras Al Khaimah to the east. It is the only emirate that overlooks the coastline on the Persian Gulf to the west and the Gulf of Oman to the East, with the eastern Sharjah coastal towns of Kalba and Khor Fakkan. The city is a center for culture and industry, and alone contributes 7.4% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates. Earning the title of 'Cultural Capital of the Arab World' by UNESCO in 1998, the city of Sharjah is best known for preserving its culture, tradition, and heritage. For art lovers, Sharjah is crammed full of excellent sightseeing opportunities.
Sharjah was historically one of the wealthiest towns in this region with a settlement in existence for over 5000 years. Around 1727, Al Qasimi clan took control of Sharjah and declared the polity independent. On 8th January 1820, Sheikh Sultan I signed the General Maritime Treaty with the British, accepting a protectorate to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like four of its neighbors, Ajman, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain, its position on the route to India made it the most significant seaport on the lower coastline of the Gulf for several years. Other than trading and fishing, pearling was also a major economy creating an industry for the city. In 1971, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi joined Sharjah to the United Arab Emirates. Soon Sharjah transformed from small town to a contemporary city with the discovery of oil in 1972.
Away from the glitz and glamour of Dubai, Sharjah is home to an eclectic range of awe-inspiring architectures and impressive places including well-maintained museums, beautiful mosques, stunning beaches, bustling Souks, and numerous parks. Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Sharjah Arts Museum, Sharjah Classic Car Museum, Sharjah Archaeology Museum, Sharjah Science Museum, Sharjah Heritage Area, Sharjah Natural History Museum & Desert Park, Sharjah Fort - Al Hisn, Kalba, Al Majaz Waterfront, Eye of the Emirates, the Al Noor Mosque and Al Noor Island are some of the most popular Sharjah Tourist Places.
Sharjah is also a shopper's paradise selling its famous Arabic rugs, rugs, gold, silver and precious stone jewellery at its markets including Souk Al Arsah on Cornich Road and Blue Souk, one of the major markets of the city with some 600 vibrant shops. Located at the junction of Al Qasimi and Al Wahda Street, Sharjah Gold Center is the perfect place to cherish and buy the most exclusive gold jewellery in terms of design, quality, and range. The premium air-conditioned malls of Sharjah are also a big hit among visitors. Sahara Centre, Safeer Mall, Sharjah Mega Mall, and Sharjah City Centre are some of the major malls of Sharjah housing myriad of shops of international standards.
The people in Sharjah are great art connoisseurs and relish every aspect of their traditions and culture. Ramadan and Eid Al Adha are the main religious festival celebrated in Sharja. Besides, the city also celebrates many social festivals like the Sharjah Arts Biennial, Sharjah Heritage Days, Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial and the Sharjah Light Festival. The objective behind these events was to propagate the local culture in Sharjah and also to attract tourists.
Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) is the main international airport serving Sharjah and receives flights from Middle Eastern countries as well as the Indian subcontinent. However, owing to better connectivity to major European cities and Asian cities, Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi Airport are preferred. One can hire taxis or book a ticket for inter-Emirate buses or a flight ticket to Sharjah from these cities. One can move around by local buses and is a much more cost-efficient mode of commuting within Sharjah.
November - March is the best time to visit Sharjah while December-February is the peak tourist season owing to comfortable weather and low humidity. The summer months of May-August are pretty hot. Escalation of heat and humidity makes it uncomfortable for outdoor activities and sightseeing during this time.
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