Museums in Sharjah
- 01
Bait Al Naboodah
A restored pearl merchant's house of about 1845 in the Heart of Sharjah, built around a coral-walled courtyard with carved doors and wind towers. It shows how a wealthy Gulf family lived.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, before the courtyard heats up
- Tickets
- Run as a museum under Sharjah's museum authority; opening times and fees were not listed on the tourism page, so check the official museums site before you go.
- 02
Sharjah Archaeology Museum
A museum in the Halwan district with finds from across the emirate, from Stone Age tools to the Mleiha treasures, including a children's dig area. A good rainy-day or heat-of-the-day stop for families.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or hot afternoon; any season
- Tickets
- Hours and tickets were not listed on the tourism page. Check the official museums site. The museum sits beside the Sharjah Science Museum, so you can combine the two.
- 03
Sharjah Art Museum
Sharjah's main art museum, with modern and contemporary work from the UAE and the wider Middle East and a gallery of orientalist paintings. A calm, air-conditioned stop that suits visitors who like art.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Afternoon, when outdoor sights are too hot
- Tickets
- Entry is handled through Sharjah's museum authority; fees, days and any free-entry periods change, so confirm on the official site first.
- 04
Sharjah Calligraphy Museum
A museum in the historic house of Hamad Al Midfaa on Calligraphy Square, devoted entirely to Arabic calligraphy, with work from early Kufic to flowing modern scripts. Calm, specific and good for a short visit.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or early afternoon
- Tickets
- Opening hours and ticket prices were not listed on the tourism page. Check the official museums site, and ask about calligraphy workshops if you want to try the art.
- 05
Sharjah Maritime Museum
A museum of Sharjah's sea life, with pearling dhow models, fishing and diving tools and antiquities showing trade as far as India. A short, clear visit that links the emirate to the Indian Ocean world.
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning; museum hours were listed as ending in early afternoon
- Tickets
- The tourism page lists weekday morning-to-early-afternoon hours with Sunday closed and gives a ticket price in dollars, but these details change. Confirm hours and fees with the official museum contact before travelling.
- 06
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
A large gold-domed museum on the Majarrah waterfront with more than 5,000 objects across seven galleries, from Quranic calligraphy to scientific instruments. The most rewarding indoor visit in Sharjah in hot weather.
- Time needed
- 1.5 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or the hottest part of the afternoon; any month, since it is indoors
- Tickets
- Ticketed through the Sharjah Museums Authority; fees and days change, and Sunday closures are common across the city's museums. Check the official site before you go, and ask about a combined museum pass.
Places of worship in Sharjah
- 07
Al Noor Mosque
An Ottoman-style mosque on Khalid Lagoon with cascading domes and two tall minarets, open to the public with guided tours for non-Muslims. One of the easiest ways for a visitor to see inside a mosque.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning for a tour; after sunset for the illuminated exterior
- Tickets
- Open to the public, and non-Muslims can join guided tours that cover Islamic culture, Emirati history and architecture, with questions at the end. Traditional Emirati dress is offered at the entrance. Check tour times at shjculture.com or on the mosque's official page, and avoid prayer times.
- 08
Sharjah Mosque
Sharjah's largest mosque, opened in 2019, with a large prayer hall, gardens and fountains, and facilities for non-Muslim visitors. Worth a detour for the scale, though it lies outside the old town.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours including the drive time on site
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, outside prayer times
- Tickets
- The mosque is equipped to welcome non-Muslim visitors, but visiting hours and dress rules were not listed on the tourism page. Check the mosque's official site (sia.gov.ae) or contact them before you go, and dress modestly.
Forts in Sharjah
- 09
Al Hisn (Sharjah Fort)
The restored fort at the centre of old Sharjah, now a museum of the emirate's rulers, treaties and daily life. A good first stop, because it explains why the old town sits where it does.
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, from November to March; the courtyards are shaded in part but the walk across is hot in summer
- Tickets
- Sharjah's museums are run by the Sharjah Museums Authority and usually charge a modest entry fee, and a museum pass has been sold. Opening days change and many sites close on Sunday, so check the official museums site on the day.
Landmarks in Sharjah
- 10
Al Qasba Canal
A canal about one kilometre long through central Sharjah, lined with apartments, shops and attractions, and home to a theatre and the Eye of the Emirates wheel until it was moved in 2018. A pleasant evening walk.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Evening, October to April
- Tickets
- The promenade is free to walk. Theatre events and attractions are separately ticketed, if at all; check what is on before going.
