Sharjah Travel: Museums & Heritage

At a glance

Sharjah at a glance

Best months: November to March
From New York: About 12 hours nonstop to Dubai on Emirates, then a short drive
Airport: Sharjah International (SHJ), about 25 minutes from Dubai International by car
Alcohol: Not served anywhere in Sharjah
Dress: More conservative than Dubai: cover shoulders and knees in public
Visa for US passports: Free visa on arrival, usually 30 days; passport valid six months
Time difference: 8 hours ahead of US Eastern in summer, 9 in winter (no daylight saving)
Weekend: Saturday and Sunday
Currency: UAE dirham (AED), pegged at about AED 3.67 to US$1

From the United States

Sharjah for travelers from the US

The essentials for American travelers, at a glance.

Entry for US passports: Visa on arrival; 30 days, extendable; no fee. Visa details
Getting there: Nonstop to Dubai from New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Orlando, Miami and more on Emirates (about 12 hr 30 min from New York); Abu Dhabi from New York, Boston, Washington, Chicago, Charlotte and Atlanta on Etihad (about 12 hr 45 min from New York). All nonstops
Time difference: 8 hours ahead of New York (9 in the US winter)
Money: UAE dirham, pegged to the dollar: US$1 = about AED 3.67. Cards and Apple Pay almost everywhere.
Power plugs: Type G (the British three-pin), 230 V: bring an adapter (most phone and laptop chargers are dual voltage)
Weekend: Saturday and Sunday (Friday afternoon is quiet)

Checked October 18, 2026. Rules and schedules change, so confirm on the official portal before you book. Connecting on a Gulf or Turkish carrier? See stopover programs, and plan with your first trip.

Why go

Why go to Sharjah

Sharjah, the third-largest emirate, has long championed culture, learning and Islamic art. It has more than a dozen museums, a restored old town known as the Heart of Sharjah, one of the world's largest book fairs and the Sharjah Biennial, a major event on the international art calendar. UNESCO named it the Arab Capital of Culture in 1998 and the World Book Capital in 2019.

Sharjah also reaches the east coast, at Khor Fakkan, Kalba and Dibba Al Hisn, where mountains meet the Gulf of Oman. The desert interior holds Mleiha, an archaeological landscape, and Faya, a palaeolandscape inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025 for its evidence of early humans in Arabia. For the wider country, see our UAE guide.

A gallery of Islamic ceramics and carved calligraphy in the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization. — Photo: EditQ · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Practical notes for US travelers

Sharjah is the most conservative of the large emirates. Alcohol is not served, even in hotels, and modest dress is expected in public places; at beaches, swimwear is fine but cover up away from the sand. Many visitors stay in Dubai and visit Sharjah by day; traffic between the two can be heavy at rush hour, so plan midday crossings.

There are no nonstop flights from the US to Sharjah. Fly to Dubai on Emirates, then drive about 30 minutes. November to March is the best time to visit; February usually brings the Sharjah Light Festival, and November the Sharjah International Book Fair.

Things to do

Things to do in Sharjah

See also our museums guide and Islamic art and architecture.

Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization

Corniche

Over 5,000 objects from across the Islamic world, from astrolabes to calligraphy, beneath a golden mosaic dome.

Official site ↗

Heart of Sharjah

Old town

A carefully restored heritage district of coral-stone houses, souks and courtyard museums.

Sharjah Art Foundation

Al Mureijah

Contemporary art spaces in restored buildings and the Sharjah Biennial.

Official site ↗

Rain Room Sharjah

Al Majaz

Walk through falling rain without getting wet in this permanent installation.

Mleiha Archaeological Centre

Mleiha desert

Stone Age to pre-Islamic sites, fossil hunting, stargazing and dune drives.

Official site ↗

Al Noor Island

Khalid Lagoon

A garden island of art installations and a butterfly house.

Khor Fakkan

East coast

A mountain-backed bay with a beach promenade, waterfall and amphitheater.

Where to stay

Where to stay in Sharjah

The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah

★★★★★ Heart of Sharjah

A GHM hotel within restored merchants' houses in the old town, with serene courtyards, a fine spa and refined Emirati dining.

Official site ↗

Kingfisher Retreat

★★★★★ Kalba, east coast

Tented and pool villas beside a protected mangrove reserve, part of the Sharjah Collection.

Official site ↗

Al Faya Retreat

★★★★★ Mleiha desert

A tiny desert lodge in restored 1960s buildings near the Faya UNESCO landscape.

Official site ↗

Al Badayer Retreat

★★★★ Al Badayer desert

A fort-style desert retreat among red dunes, ideal for sunset and stargazing.

Official site ↗

Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa

★★★★★ Al Muntazah beachfront

A long-established beach resort with a private beach and family facilities.

Official site ↗

Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort & Spa

★★★★ Khor Fakkan

A beachfront resort on the east coast with diving and snorkeling nearby.

Official site ↗

Where to dine

Where to dine in Sharjah

The Arabic Restaurant at The Chedi Al Bait

Heart of Sharjah

Refined Emirati and Levantine dishes in a courtyard setting, the finest dining in the old town.

Official site ↗

Al Qasba

Al Qasba canal

A canal-side promenade of cafes and family restaurants beneath the Eye of the Emirates wheel.

Souk Al Arsah cafes

Heart of Sharjah

Traditional coffee, dates and karak tea in one of the UAE's oldest souks. See Arabic coffee and dates.

Cultural day

A cultural day in Sharjah

Begin at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization on the Corniche, then walk into the Heart of Sharjah, where restored merchants' houses and the Souk Al Arsah evoke the town of a century ago. After lunch at The Chedi Al Bait, visit the Sharjah Art Foundation's galleries in Al Mureijah, then cross to Al Noor Island for its sculpture garden at sunset.

With an extra day, drive inland to Mleiha for fossil hunting and a guided archaeology walk, followed by dinner and stargazing in the dunes, or head over the mountains to Khor Fakkan and Kalba on the east coast. Sharjah's festival calendar, from the Light Festival to the Book Fair, appears on our events calendar.

Sharjah's vision

Sharjah's long-term plan invests in education, heritage, the environment and eco-tourism, including new desert and coastal retreats; see Sharjah Vision. Many residents choose Sharjah for its family atmosphere and value; property is increasingly open to foreign ownership in designated developments, though most international investors focus on the Dubai property market.

Questions

Questions about Sharjah

Can I drink alcohol in Sharjah?

No. Alcohol is not served or sold in Sharjah. Visitors staying in Dubai can enjoy licensed venues there.

How do I get from Dubai to Sharjah?

By car or taxi, about 30 minutes outside rush hour. A chauffeur is the most comfortable option.

What is the dress code in Sharjah?

Clothing should cover shoulders and knees in public; tight or revealing clothing is not appropriate outside hotels and beaches.

Is Sharjah good for families?

Very. Museums, aquariums, Al Noor Island and calm beaches make it a favorite family day out.

Travel TodayBefore you travel, check the US State Department's current advice for the United Arab Emirates. See the advice ↗

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Weather

Sharjah weather by month

Average day highs, night lows, sea temperature and rainy days for each month, in Fahrenheit and Celsius side by side. The months in gold are the most comfortable for visiting.

Sharjah weather by month, in Fahrenheit and Celsius
Month	Day high		Night low		Sea		Rainy days
Month	°F	°C	°F	°C	°F	°C	Rainy days
Jan	75°	24°	59°	15°	73°	23°	4
Feb	77°	25°	62°	17°	71°	22°	1
Mar	83°	28°	66°	19°	75°	24°	1
Apr	89°	32°	71°	22°	78°	26°	2
May	96°	36°	77°	25°	85°	29°	0
Jun	103°	39°	83°	28°	91°	33°	0
Jul	105°	40°	88°	31°	94°	34°	0
Aug	105°	40°	87°	31°	94°	34°	0
Sep	102°	39°	82°	28°	92°	34°	0
Oct	95°	35°	77°	25°	89°	32°	0
Nov	87°	31°	71°	22°	84°	29°	1
Dec	80°	26°	64°	18°	77°	25°	1

Averages for 2020–2024, Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5). Sea temperatures: 2023–2024. Rainy days: days with at least 1 mm (0.04 in) of rain. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.

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Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.

Sharjah Travel: Museums, Heritage and Art

Sharjah at a glance

Sharjah for travelers from the US

Why go to Sharjah

Practical notes for US travelers

Things to do in Sharjah

Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization

Heart of Sharjah

Sharjah Art Foundation

Rain Room Sharjah

Mleiha Archaeological Centre

Al Noor Island

Khor Fakkan

Where to stay in Sharjah

The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah

Kingfisher Retreat

Al Faya Retreat

Al Badayer Retreat

Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa

Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort & Spa

Where to dine in Sharjah

The Arabic Restaurant at The Chedi Al Bait

Al Qasba

Souk Al Arsah cafes

A cultural day in Sharjah

Sharjah's vision

Questions about Sharjah

Own a home in Sharjah

Staying longer? Own a home in Sharjah

Sharjah weather by month

Keep exploring

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