Time Heart of Sharjah for Friday afternoon, not morning

The Chedi Al Bait is a five-star hotel made from restored Emirati family houses in the Heart of Sharjah, with courtyards, coral-stone walls, wooden beams and a rare circular wind tower. It backs onto Souq Al Arsah, and the fort and museums are within walking distance, so you can step out early before the heat. Ask for…

Sharjah Heritage Days is an annual festival run by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, with craft demonstrations, folk groups, workshops and a Heritage Days Kitchen. The 2026 edition ran in February across Sharjah city and six other areas of the emirate, after earlier editions in spring, so check the institute's…

Sharjah Biennial 17 opens on 21 January 2027 and runs to 13 June 2027, with works by more than 100 artists in 11 venues, six of them in Sharjah city, including Arts Square, Al Mureijah Square and the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation. The Sharjah Art Foundation says its exhibitions are free, and opening week, 21…

Al Majaz Amphitheatre is an open-air theatre on Al Majaz island, on the shores of Khalid Lagoon, with seats for about 4,500 people. Its Let's Majaz season has brought leading Arabic singers such as Tamer Hosny and Wael Jassar, along with theatre nights. Check the venue's own site for the current line-up and book…

Souq Al Shanasiyah, rebuilt on its original site in the Heart of Sharjah, is the souq for custom work: Sharjah's tourism blog sends shoppers here for bespoke, high-quality clothing as well as furniture and homewares. You will also find handmade crafts, perfumes, Emirati attire and dates. If you want something made…

Wasit Wetland Centre sits in the Ramtha area northeast of the city and is the only nature reserve inside Sharjah's boundaries. Several hides around the lake each show different species, and a glass-walled visitor centre looks over the water. The lake walk is a flat circuit of about 6 km. Winter is the comfortable…

Souq Al Arsah is a quiet restored market of tiny shops under coral-stone walls in the Heart of Sharjah. It suits odds and ends rather than bulk shopping: brass, silver and wooden antiques, dallah coffee pots, oud and frankincense, silver jewellery, spices and Arabic sweets. Walk the whole lane before you buy, since…

Al Madam is an abandoned village about 50 km from the city, with small houses and a mosque that sit partly buried by sand. Sunrise or sunset gives the soft golden light for photographs. There is no public transport, so drive or arrange a round-trip taxi, bring water and expect little shade. November to March is the…