Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Sharjah: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization

The museum began in 1996 as the Islamic Museum and later moved into its present building, a structure originally built as an indoor market. It was inaugurated on 5 June 2008 by the Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi.

It has seven thematic galleries, six permanent and one for temporary exhibitions.

Useful facts

Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization facts at a glance

Location

Corniche Street, Al Majarrah, across from Sharjah Creek

Experience type

Large indoor museum

Known for

5,000+ Islamic objects, calligraphy, science galleries

Opened

5 June 2008 (earlier museum from 1996)

Time or schedule

Allow up to two hours; check opening days

Why it matters

Why Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is worth your time

Islamic art and science are usually seen in India through monuments, rarely through the objects behind them. This museum puts instruments, manuscripts and everyday ceramics in one place, which is helpful for families who want a context for what they will see in mosques and forts across the Gulf.

It also shows how Sharjah presents itself. The emirate has invested heavily in culture, and this museum, set in a converted market building on the creek, is the clearest example. It is the best single answer to the question of what there is to do in Sharjah beyond shopping.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   Calligraphy and manuscripts

   Quranic pages and decorated scripts show how writing became Islamic art.

2. 02

   Ibn Al-Haytham Gallery

   Science and technology instruments, including optics and astronomy, are explained well for families.

3. 03

   The coins and clocks boulevard

   A long, level gallery that makes a good first impression and an easy warm-up.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

Begin on the central boulevard, where the coins and clocks are displayed in long cases that give you an easy orientation. Then pick galleries by interest instead of walking all seven. The Abu Bakr Gallery of Islamic Faith suits first-time visitors, and the Ibn Al-Haytham Gallery of Science and Technology is the one most children remember.

The four Islamic art galleries are the heart of the collection: calligraphy, ceramics, glass, metalwork and manuscripts from across the Islamic world. Look for the way script becomes decoration; once you see it here, you will notice it on every building in town.

Break the visit in two if you are travelling with older parents. Do the boulevard and one or two galleries, rest on the waterfront side of the building, then return for another. The building was originally an indoor market, so the open interior is easy to read and the golden dome makes a good landmark from the corniche.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

Corniche Street, Al Majarrah waterfront, facing Sharjah Creek

Time needed

1.5 to 2 hours

Best time

Morning or the hottest part of the afternoon; any month, since it is indoors

Walking level

Easy

Senior comfort

Fully indoors and air-conditioned, with wide galleries and a central boulevard. Lifts and seating are normally provided in modern museums of this kind, but confirm on arrival if mobility is a concern. Expect long stretches on foot between galleries.

Tickets and access

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.

Plan it with

FAQs