Sharjah is the UAE's cultural capital — the country's third-largest emirate and a graceful, heritage-rich alternative to its flashier neighbours. A UNESCO-recognised hub of museums, Islamic art and beautifully restored old quarters, it wraps traditional souqs and grand mosques around a creek-side corniche, all just a short hop from Dubai. Calmer, more conservative and notably more affordable, it is a rewarding, family-friendly place to live.
Sharjah has a hot desert climate, with warm, pleasant winters and long, very hot summers. It is home to a huge international community, with English spoken almost everywhere alongside Arabic. A tax-free salary, a low cost of living and excellent schools make it popular with teachers and families — and while it is the most traditional of the emirates, the bright lights of Dubai are only a few minutes across the border.
Location Info
- Tax-free salary and a lower cost of living than neighbouring Dubai
- Very safe and family-friendly, with a rich cultural and heritage scene
- A car-based emirate with cheap fuel and ride-hailing, minutes from Dubai
Top Experiences
Heart of Sharjah
Wander the largest heritage restoration project in the region — a labyrinth of restored coral-and-mud houses, museums, courtyards and craft workshops recreating the emirate as it was a century ago.
Al Noor Mosque
Admire one of the few UAE mosques open to non-Muslim visitors, an elegant Ottoman-style building of slender minarets and 34 domes on the edge of Khalid Lagoon.
Sharjah's Museums
The cultural capital is packed with them — the superb Museum of Islamic Civilization, the Sharjah Art Museum and the Classic Cars Museum among more than a dozen world-class collections.
The Blue Souq & Corniche
Browse the distinctive blue-tiled Central Souq for gold, carpets, pashminas and antiques, then stroll the lagoon corniche as the fountains play.
Al Qasba & the Eye of the Emirates
Ride the giant observation wheel and wander the cafés, canal and dancing fountains of this lively family-friendly waterfront district.
East Coast & Mountains
Sharjah stretches to the Gulf of Oman — head across the mountains to the emirate's east-coast enclaves for diving, beaches and the historic Al Bidya Mosque.
Getting Around
Sharjah is a car-based emirate, so most expats drive — fuel is famously cheap. Ride-hailing apps (Careem and Uber) and taxis are inexpensive and easy, and a public bus network covers the city. There's no metro, but Sharjah borders Dubai, and frequent intercity buses connect the two — though the rush-hour traffic between them is best avoided.
When to Go
October to April is the best time, with warm, sunny days ideal for the corniche, the souqs and the heritage quarter. Summers (June to September) are long, very hot and humid, often topping 42°C, so daytime life moves into the air-conditioned malls and museums.
Good to Know
- The UAE dirham (AED) is pegged to the US dollar, so prices stay stable and predictable.
- Arabic is the official language, but English is spoken almost everywhere.
- The weekend is Saturday and Sunday, and the emirate runs on GMT+4.
- Sharjah is strictly dry — alcohol is banned emirate-wide, though Dubai is minutes away.
- Dress is more conservative here than elsewhere in the UAE — modest clothing is expected in public.
- Sharjah is very safe and family-friendly, with very low crime.
