Sharjah is one of the seven Emirates in the United Arab Emirates and it is popularly known as the cultural center of the entire UAE. Sharjah may not be on the same level with Dubai or Abu Dhabi when it comes to high-tech innovations but one thing is certain, Sharjah is the better of the three when it comes to cultural heritage of the UAE; some people even refer to Sharjah as the city of museums.
The fact that Sharjah is your go-to Emirate when it’s time to learn the depth of UAE’s history and culture means there are lots of museums in this emirate ranging from science to archaeology, culture to maritime technology, not forgetting some real national museums that will give you all that you need to know about the country’s cultural heritage.
Below are the top 10 best museums in Sharjah you should visit, when you find yourself in the emirate.
1. Sharjah Art Museum
Sharjah Art Museum sprawls over 111,000 s.q.m. of contemporary art featuring the famous private collection of Sultain bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi which is the museum’s only permanent installations. The museum also contains a wide variety of oil and watercolor painting from top Middle Eastern artists like J.C Fraser and Ali Darwish. Admission to Sharjah Art Museum is free, and it is opened from Saturday to Thursday at 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, and on Friday at 4:00 am – 8:00 pm; timings are subject to change during public holidays and Ramadan.
2. Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization might as well be the biggest museum in Sharjah as it is a very good place to learn more about the deep roots of Arab and Islamic culture. The museum features some scientific and religious manuscripts as well as collection of Islamic arts that date back from 7th to 19th century. Also featuring are exhibit of clay, pottery, glass, and metallic handicrafts of different types. Entry fees to the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is free for children under 2 years, 5 AED for children of 2 – 12 years, 10 AED for adults. Opening hours on Saturday to Thursday is 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and on Friday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
3. Sharjah Archaeology Museum
History has it that people started to settle in what is now known as UAE about 125,000 years ago and that’s how far the Sharjah Archaeology Museum will take you. Located behind the Sharjah Television Building, the museum is an ideal place to explore the efforts of the archaeologists in the country, and to also learn more about the ancient history of Sharjah and its surrounding cities. Entry fees to the Sharjah Archaeology Museum is free for children under 2 years, seniors from 60 and above and people with disabilities, 5 AED for children of 2 – 12 years, 10 AED for adults. Opening hours on Saturday to Thursday is 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and on Friday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
4. Sharjah Heritage Museum
A trip to the Sharjah Heritage Museum will let you know all that you need to know about the Emirate’s rich culture and how life looked like many years ago. You’ll get to explore the Bedouin lifestyle and how the Emiratis lived in this part of Arabian Peninsula. The Sharjah Heritage Museum is a true place to discover a lot about Sharjah’s past and it exhibits facets of traditional Emirati life. Entry fees to the Sharjah Heritage Museum is free for children under 2 years, seniors from 60 and above and people with disabilities, 5 AED for children of 2 – 12 years, 10 AED for adults. Opening hours on Saturday to Thursday is 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and on Friday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
5. Sharjah Science Museum
An educational museum that’s ideal both for young ones and adults, family really love to come to the Sharjah Science Museum because it houses a colorful display of science, innovation, and technology. The museum boasts of over 50 educative exhibitions so you can spend your time in the museum learning more about physics, the entire universe, chemistry, and many more. Young people really love to be here especially the science enthusiasts as they get to explore most of the things they grew up dreaming about. Entry fees to the Sharjah Science Museum is free for children under 2 years, seniors from 60 and above and people with disabilities, 5 AED for children of 2 – 12 years, 10 AED for adults. Opening hours on Saturday to Thursday is 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and on Friday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
6. Sharjah Maritime Museum
Located at the Al Khan District of Sharjah, the Maritime Museum features amazing and interesting collections on traditional wooden dhows, coupled with pearl collecting and fishing which were both the most important trades in the UAE at a time. The highlights of the exhibitions here in the Maritime Museum includes the collection of glittering pearls which include what is considered the oldest pearl ever collected in the world, and the attractive wooden dhow that’s places right outside the museum. Entry fees to the Sharjah Maritime Museum is free for children under 2 years, seniors from 60 and above and people with disabilities, 5 AED for children of 2 – 12 years, 10 AED for adults. Opening hours on Saturday to Thursday is 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and on Friday: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
7. Sharjah Calligraphy Museum
Sharjah Calligraphy Museum is an amazing museum which houses extraordinary Arabic calligraphy made by both local and other Middle Eastern artists. In this museum, you can learn all that you can about the history behind Arabic calligraphy as the museum showcases both historical and modern displays. A trip to the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum will make you appreciate the beauty of the Arabic language more. Entry fees to the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum is free for children under 2 years, seniors from 60 and above and people with disabilities, 5 AED for children of 2 – 12 years, 10 AED for adults. Opening hours on Saturday to Thursday is 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and on Friday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
8. Sharjah Fort
Also known as Al Hisn, the Sharjah Fort is located at one corner of the Heritage District and the museum which was built over 200 years ago served as a defensive facility for Sharjah, and also as the traditional residence of the ruling family of Sharjah. The rooms inside the Sharjah Fort contain displays that trace the history of Sharjah, and also the town’s importance as part of the Gulf’s trade network. Entry fees to the Sharjah Fort is free for children under 2 years, seniors from 60 and above and people with disabilities, 5 AED for children of 2 – 12 years, 10 AED for adults. Opening hours on Saturday to Thursday is 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and on Friday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
9. Sharjah Classic Cars Museum
If you love automobiles a lot, there’s only one place you can get the true feeling of classic beauty of vintage cars; Sharjah Classic Cars Museum. Here, you can find over 100 different restored cars from all across the globe including Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Ford, and many more. The museum is separated into five rooms and each room showcases a different historical time point in the automobile history including the 1915 Dodge which is by far the oldest car in the museum. Entry fees to the Sharjah Classic Cars Museum is free for children under 2 years, seniors from 60 and above and people with disabilities, 5 AED for children of 2 – 12 years, 10 AED for adults. Opening hours on Saturday to Thursday is 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and on Friday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
10. Al Mahatta Museum
This museum was built to highlight the history of flight in the UAE and in the entire region. It was the first airport in the region, built in 1932 before being turned into a museum in 2000. The history of development and aviation is very rich and this museum is really historic as you can learn about man’s first attempt to fly and also landing on the moon. Entry fees to Al Mahatta Museum is free for children under 2 years, seniors from 60 and above and people with disabilities, 5 AED for children of 2 – 12 years, 10 AED for adults. Opening hours on Saturday to Thursday is 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, and on Friday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
