Sharjah Day Trip: Culture and Heritage Next Door

Sharjah, the third-largest emirate, borders Dubai to the north and offers one of the most significant concentrations of arts, culture, and Islamic heritage in the Gulf — a remarkable contrast to its neighbour that takes only 20 to 30 minutes to reach. Sharjah was named UNESCO World Book Capital in 2019 and is home to more than 20 museums, the densest concentration in the UAE. The Sharjah Art Museum houses one of the largest public art collections in the Arab world, displayed in a purpose-built facility that would be notable in any global city.

The Heritage Area in central Sharjah is a beautifully restored cluster of traditional courtyard houses, souks, and public squares that gives a genuine sense of Gulf urban life before the oil era. The Blue Souk (Souk Al Markazi) is the most architecturally elaborate bazaar in the UAE — a twin-towered building of blue tile and lattice work housing hundreds of shops selling carpets, antiques, jewellery, and textiles at prices more negotiable than those in Dubai. Sharjah has strict public decorum regulations — no alcohol is sold in the emirate and modest dress is expected in public areas.

The Sharjah Art Foundation organises the Sharjah Biennial — one of the most important contemporary art events in the Arab world, held every two years and drawing international curators and artists. The waterfront Khalid Lagoon connects the heritage area to the Al Majaz Waterfront development, which has a pleasant evening ambiance for strolling and is popular with families at weekends. The emirate is particularly lively during Sharjah Light Festival, when public buildings and heritage sites are illuminated with projection-mapped artworks each January.