Bhavya Aggarwal lists some of Sharjah’s interesting sightseeing spots that one can visit over the weekend
Mirroring culture and heritage in its purest beauty is the third largest emirate of the UAE — Sharjah. It is a part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area; in comparison to them, it lacks the glitz of Dubai, but is more vibrant than the upcoming Ajman. Sharjah however, leads in tradition and culture so much so that in 1998, UNESCO declared it the “Cultural Capital of the Arab World”, and in 2014 it was recognised as the capital of Islamic culture. A gospel truth about Sharjah is that it never fails to delight. Be it the vibrant marketplaces or the majestic mosques, the art-wealthy museums or the exhilarating waterfront attractions; Sharjah is a juxtaposition of heritage and modernity. Here are a few things you could explore when visiting Sharjah.
AL NOOR MOSQUE
Located in the Khaled Lagoon at the Buhaira Corniche, Al Noor Mosque reflects Turkish Ottoman aesthetics. It has a total of 34 domes that not only serve as the roof, but aid in the acoustics within the mosque, amplifying the voice of the imam. The central dome is encircled by several half domes, finished with four small cupola domes at each corner. This main dome weighs approximately 100 tones and is supported by four main marble pillars. At the entrance, there are two cylindrical minarets, typical to Ottoman style, and are at a height of 52 metres. Sunrays filtering in through stained glass windows lit up the interiors. Indian and Italian marble overlay the walls of the mosque that display arabesque decorative patterns, which continue on the ceiling. Shades from white to off-white, and gold and play pink colour this beautiful building. The chandeliers within, when looked at from beneath, appear to be floral-like.
Al Noor Mosque is the first of Sharjah’s over 600 mosques to welcome the expatriate community and non-Muslim visitors. This is so that those interested may learn about the UAE national culture and religion. This is aided through one-hour guided tours held every Monday from 10am. Personal tours can be arranged by writing to the mosque at info@shjculture. (shjculture.com)
AL QASBA
Al Qasba is a waterfront neighbourhood popular amongst both tourists and locals. A traditional “abra” boat ride, available only in the evenings, operates here. The vessel is open from all sides, allowing passengers uninterrupted views of Sharjah from the lagoons.
- (Open Saturday-Wednesday 4pm-midnight, Thursday-Friday until 1am; ticket price AED 15/₹261 per person; alqasba.ae).
For an aerial view of the emirate, take a ride in any of the 42 air-conditioned cabins of Eye of the Emirates Wheel. It reaches a height of up to 60 metres, and is the most visible landmark of Al Qasba. Once at the pinnacle, you will have a bird’s-eye view of the traditional scenery and modern cityscape of this culturally rich emirate. Look far beyond into the horizon and you may even spot the border of Sharjah that blends into Dubai.
- (Open Saturday-Wednesday 10am-midnight, Thursday until 1am, Friday 3pm-1am; entry fee is AED 30/₹523; alqasba.ae/attractions.)
Some of the other neighbourhood attractions in Al Qasba include Lou Lou beach, the Al-Mahaj waterfront and the Sharjah Aquarium and Wildlife Centre. Al Qasba is known for offering a mix of local and international food outlets, events and art. One can easily spend a day of relaxation here, which can include an appointment at Body and Soul Health Club and Spa. This is also the spot from where one may buy a Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket for a sightseeing journey through Sharjah.
MARKETS
If you wish to travel back in time then Souq Al Arsah is what you should explore. It is the oldest market of the UAE, once used as a trading spot for visiting Persian and Indian merchants, and the local Bedouin tribe. On entering the air-conditioned building, Arabian culture stares back at you through its coral brick walls, wooden doors designed just as it was in the olden days and hanging lanterns and
other decor.
Some of the many items that one can look for here are the Arabic bridal and pearl chests, copper coffee pots called dhallahs, ethnic jewellery, incense sticks, attar, handwoven garments, old daggers locally known as khanjars, herbs and spices, carpets, Pashmina shawls and many more such items. If you plan on grabbing a bite, visit the famous Halwa shop within the souk, which is a delight to your olfactory senses too. It specialises in unique sweets exclusive to its kitchen — surely not something to miss out on. The souk also has a café that offers Arabic coffee and black tea or sulaimani.
- (Open Saturday-Thursday 9am-9pm, Friday from 4pm; free entry.)
The other market is located near Al Ittihad Square and is called Central Souq or Blue Souq. The 600 shops here are spread across two buildings connected by bridges. While one building overlooks the Khalid lake, the other opens into the busy King Faisal Street. This space vends just about everything from international watch brands, clothes and accessories to spices, henna, woven palm leaf baskets, hookah and other quintessentially Arabian curios. It’s not just what’s on the inside that is alluring, but its exterior is just as attractive. It has pretty blue carvings and tiles on the facade with ornate windows that face a large courtyard with a fountain. In the evenings it is lit by a reddish-golden light, thus enhancing its beauty.
- (Open Saturday-Thursday 10am-10:30pm, Friday from 5pm; free entry.)
SHARJAH MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION
Apart from its architectural opulence, the culture and history of the rich Islamic lineage is displayed with pride here. It holds more than 5,000 unique and rare artefacts. Here, as the museum states: “You can admire the timeless achievements of Islamic civilisation and its universality, learn about aspects of Islamic faith, science, discoveries and culture, and cherish the beauty of Islamic art.”
This dome-structured heritage treasury, situated in the traditional Al-Majarrah area, was originally a popular souk. It was later converted to a monochromic, golden coloured foundation exclusively raised to retain ancient Islamic collections that include coins, astrolabes, the lynx censer and copper and silver-Inlaid Neo-Mamluk Table.
The museum holds six permanent exhibitions divided on the basis of specific subjects. The first exhibit, Abu Bakr Gallery of Islamic Faith, is an introduction to Islam and the Holy Quran, as well as a showcase of rare historical Quran manuscripts and architecture of mosques worldwide. The Ibn Al-Haytham Gallery of Science and Technology educate visitors on contributions of Muslim scholars in fields such as medicine, astronomy and geography. There are four separate art galleries, each one dedicated to a certain time period from the seventh to the 20th centuries. The last room holds temporary exhibits.
- (Open Saturday-Thursday 8am-8pm, Friday from 4pm; entry fee is AED 10/₹170; sharjahmuseums.ae.)
Unlike Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Sharjah is more traditional in its beliefs. Tourists are requested to respect its culture, by keeping their knees and shoulders covered — both men and women. Public display of affection, even between married couples is not appreciated — this includes holding hands and walking.
