The short answer
Sharjah Archaeology Museum: what visitors should know first
Yes, if you like archaeology or are travelling with children. It is a short taxi ride out of the old town, and you should allow about 90 minutes. Pair it with the science museum next door and check opening days beforehand.
History and context
The story behind Sharjah Archaeology Museum
The museum opened on 5 January 1993 and moved to its present building in May 1997, in the Halwan district. The Buhais 18 Hall opened in March 2008.
Useful facts
Sharjah Archaeology Museum facts at a glance
- Location
- Halwan district, next to the Sharjah Science Museum
- Experience type
- Archaeology museum
- Known for
- Mleiha finds, Buhais 18 cemetery gallery
- Opened
- 5 January 1993; present building from May 1997
- Time or schedule
- Allow about 90 minutes
Why it matters
Why Sharjah Archaeology Museum is worth your time
The UAE is often presented as a young country, and this museum corrects that. The finds show people living, trading and burying their dead here for tens of thousands of years, and the Mleiha material points to links with the wider ancient world.
For visitors who go on to the Mleiha site or the desert, the museum gives the background that signs in the field do not. It is also one of the few places in Sharjah where children can handle a dig-style activity.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Mleiha golden bridle
A 2,000-year-old golden bridle from Mleiha in the Arabian Peninsula Grand Hall.
- 02
Buhais 18 gallery
A Neolithic cemetery with remains of about 500 individuals.
- 03
Children's dig area
A model dig site and interactive displays for children.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Begin with the chronological galleries, which run from the Stone Age to the beginning of Islam. Pottery, tools, weapons, jewellery and coins are displayed by period, and the museum shows human presence in the emirate as far back as about 125,000 years ago.
The Archaeology Hall has a map of the northern Emirates and a model dig site for children, and the Buhais 18 gallery covers a Neolithic cemetery where the remains of about 500 individuals were recovered. The Arabian Peninsula Grand Hall displays Mleiha artefacts, including a 2,000-year-old golden bridle.
If you are travelling with children, build the visit around the dig area and the films. For adults, the Mleiha objects are the highlight, and they pair well with a later trip to the site if you plan the inland day trip.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Take a taxi, as it is outside the old town
- Check opening days
- Combine with the science museum nearby
- Allow time for the children's area
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Sheikh Rashid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Road, Halwan district
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Best time
- Morning or hot afternoon; any season
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- A modern, air-conditioned building with level galleries. Distances between halls are moderate; ask about seating and wheelchairs at the desk.
- Tickets and access
- 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.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Sharjah Archaeology Museum
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
A modern, air-conditioned building with level galleries. Distances between halls are moderate; ask about seating and wheelchairs at the desk.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Where is the museum?
In the Halwan district, next to the Sharjah Science Museum on Sheikh Rashid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Road.
Is it good for children?
Yes, there is a children's area with interactive displays and films.
What is Mleiha?
An inland archaeological area of Sharjah. Some of its finds are displayed here.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
