Sharjah: a practical visitor guide

Sharjah is the emirate next door to Dubai, and the reason to go is culture rather than glitz: 16 museums run by the Sharjah Museums Authority, the restored Heart of Sharjah district, the butterfly house on Al Noor Island, and two waterfronts with a free fountain show. Further out are Khorfakkan beach on the east coast and the desert archaeology of Mleiha.

Getting to Sharjah from Dubai

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) runs intercity buses that end at Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. These are the routes RTA has published:

Bus routes and timetables change, so plan the exact trip in RTA’s Wojhati journey planner on the day. Taxis and ride-hailing apps also make the trip. Either way, Visit Sharjah advises allowing extra time in the rush hours, roughly 7am to 10am and 5pm to 9pm (source).

Sharjah’s sights are spread out. The museums, Al Noor Island and the waterfronts sit in the city, but Khorfakkan and Mleiha are a long drive away, so they need a car, a tour or a transfer.

Sharjah’s rules are not Dubai’s rules

Alcohol. Visit Sharjah describes Sharjah as a “dry” emirate where no alcohol is available anywhere, including international hotels (Visit Sharjah). If you are based in Dubai, this is the single biggest difference you will notice.

Dress and behaviour. Sharjah has its own decency guidelines. We could not load the official text when we checked this page, so read the Visit Sharjah culture FAQ before you go. If in doubt, dress more conservatively than you would in Dubai. Our first-time guide to Dubai covers the UAE-wide basics.

Photography in museums. The Sharjah Museums Authority allows photography for personal use only; commercial filming needs a formal request (SMA FAQ).

Ramadan. Museum hours shrink. The Calligraphy Museum, for example, opens 9am to 2pm Saturday to Thursday and closes on Fridays during Ramadan (SMA).

The museums of the Sharjah Museums Authority

Full guide: Sharjah museums, hours, tickets and free entry

The Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) lists 16 museums: 13 in Sharjah city, two in Khorfakkan on the east coast (Hisn Khorfakkan and the Resistance Monument) and Bait Sheikh Saeed in Kalba (SMA). Most open Saturday to Thursday 8am to 8pm and Friday 4pm to 8pm only, so Friday mornings are not museum time (SMA FAQ). At the single museums we checked, adults (13+) pay AED 10 and children aged 2 to 12 pay AED 5; under-2s, visitors over 60 with one companion, and people with disabilities with one companion enter free.

The heritage joint ticket covers five museums in Heart of Sharjah (the Heritage Museum, Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn), the Calligraphy Museum, Bait Al Naboodah and Al Qasimia School, as the museum pages list it; the SMA FAQ still names Al Eslah School, so ask at the desk) for AED 20 adults and AED 10 children aged 2 to 12 (SMA, SMA FAQ). SMA also lists UAE National Day (2 December) as a free-entry day, and says wheelchairs are available in all its museums (SMA FAQ).

Heart of Sharjah: the restored old town

Heart of Sharjah is the restored historic district on Corniche Street in Al Mareija, open daily from 10am to 10pm (Heart of Sharjah). It holds Souq Al Shanasiyah, the Calligraphy Museum and the heritage museums on the joint ticket. A guided cultural heritage tour of 1.5 to 2 hours needs booking in advance by email or phone through the Heart of Sharjah website.

Nearby, Souq Al Arsah is described by Visit Sharjah as the oldest bazaar in town, with antiques and souvenirs (Visit Sharjah, Visit Sharjah blog).

Al Noor Island and the Butterfly House

Full guide: Al Noor Island tickets, hours and getting there

Al Noor Island is a car-free island in Khalid Lagoon, reached on foot by a bridge behind Al Noor Mosque (Visit Sharjah). Its Butterfly House holds more than 500 butterflies of over 20 species in a temperature-controlled building, and there is a children’s area, a café and art along the boardwalk.

The Butterfly House is open daily from 9am to 6pm (Al Noor Island).

Al Qasba and Al Majaz Waterfront: Sharjah’s evenings

Al Majaz Waterfront on the lagoon has a fountain show that is free to watch, plus paid attractions such as a splash park (AED 35) and boat rides from AED 20 (Discover Shurooq). Check show times on the official page before you go.

Al Qasba is a canal-side strip of more than 20 restaurants and cafés. Maraya Art Centre there is free; Al Qasba Theatre tickets are AED 49 and boat rides start at AED 20 (Discover Shurooq).

Khorfakkan: Sharjah on the east coast

Full guide: a Khorfakkan day trip

Khorfakkan belongs to Sharjah but sits on the east coast, 137 km from Sharjah city, roughly halfway between Dibba and Fujairah (Visit Sharjah). Its 3 km crescent beach has swings, football goals and water-sports rentals, and snorkelling trips go to Shark Island, a short boat ride away. Hisn Khorfakkan, the old fort, is one of the SMA museums. Treat it as a full day trip.

Mleiha: desert archaeology

Mleiha National Park lies in Sharjah’s Central Region near Jebel Fayah, about 65 km south-east of Sharjah city (Visit Sharjah). The Mleiha Archaeological Centre explains the finds, and the sites include a Bronze Age Umm an-Nar tomb and Fossil Rock. Activities range from hiking and stargazing to glamping. The park lists its hours as Sunday to Wednesday 9am to 7pm and Thursday to Saturday 9am to 9pm, with bookings through Discover Shurooq (Mleiha National Park). Visit Sharjah recommends a private vehicle and notes that return transfers from Sharjah are available.

Sharjah with children

• SMA names the Aquarium, the Science Museum and the Discovery Centre as its museums designed for children, though the Discovery Centre was closed when we checked (SMA FAQ).
• Al Noor Island has a children’s area inside the Butterfly House site.
• The Al Majaz fountain show is free; the splash park costs AED 35.
• The Calligraphy Museum runs drop-in workshops for ages 6 to 12.

How many days, and a sample day

One full day covers the city. Add a day for Khorfakkan and another for Mleiha. A city day that fits the official hours:

1. Morning: Heart of Sharjah on the heritage joint ticket and the Museum of Islamic Civilization (museums open at 8am Saturday to Thursday).
2. Afternoon: Al Noor Island, before the Butterfly House closes at 6pm.
3. Evening: Al Majaz Waterfront for the fountain show, then dinner at Al Qasba.

On a Friday, swap the order: the waterfronts first and museums after 4pm.

Where to check prices and opening times

• Sharjah Museums Authority: hours, tickets and Ramadan changes for each museum.
• Discover Shurooq: Al Noor Island, Al Qasba, Al Majaz Waterfront and Mleiha bookings.
• Heart of Sharjah: district hours and heritage tours.
• Visit Sharjah: the emirate’s official tourism site.
• RTA journey planner: buses from Dubai.

For hotels, restaurants and services in the emirate, see our Sharjah directory.

Checked against the official sources listed on this page on 7 October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so confirm on the official site before you go. See our editorial policy.