Sharjah Travel Guide by naki.mustafa

SHARJAH

WELCOME TO SHARJAH! It is the third largest of the seven states which form the United Arab Emirates. Sharjah is the cultural capital of the UAE, and has preserved its identity and traditions even in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s changing times. The city boasts of attractive beaches, museums, wildlife and public parks and many Arabic attractions. Sharjah is an ideal family-friendly destination which can be enjoyed by the entire family, from the kids to grandparents together. The kids can enjoy the wide entertainment options whereas the adults can find solace in the art galleries and historical monuments. So get ready to explore the magic of Sharjah!

INDEX

Hotels & Resorts

Restaurants

Useful Apps

Taxi & Bus Services

Sightseeing

3-Day Itinerary

Map

Emergency Contact

WHERE TO STAY? Centro Sharjah â&#x20AC;&#x201C; By Rotana USD 75/AED 280

Check-in: 14:00 - 00:00 Check-out: 06:00 -12:00 Contact: +971 6 508 8000

Al Majaz Hotel, Sharjah

USD 62/ AED 230

Check-in: 14:00 - 00:00 Check-out: 12:00 - 12:30 Contact: +971 6 552 1555

Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort and Spa USD 150/AED 590

Check-in: From 15:00 Check-out: Until 12:00 Contact: +971 6 563 0000

Copthorne Hotel Sharjah

USD 95/ AED 350

Check-in: From 14:00 Check-out: Until 12:00 Contact: +971 6 593 0555

Tulip Inn Hotel Apartments USD 43/AED 160

Check-in: From 15:00 Check-out: Until 12:00 Contact: +971 6 740 3444

MUST VISIT RESTAURANTS Milas Offering classic Arabian service and hospitality, Milas offers traditional Emirati dishes with a Middle Eastern twist.

Location: Sharjah Mega Mall, Al Estiqlal Street, Bu Danig, Sharjah Contact: +971 6 5503190 Timings: 10:00 - 00:00

Sharjah Dhow Restaurant As the name suggests, is situated on a beautiful dhow boat, docked near the scenic Sharjah Corniche. The large-portioned and reasonably priced seafood, vegetarian or grilled dishes are a must, and so is their popular mixed grill selection.

Location: Corniche St â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sharjah Contact: +971 6 5730222 Timings: 12:00 - 00:00

Shababeek Meaning ‘window’ in Lebanese Arabic, Shababeek restaurant offers a glimpse into a Middle Eastern world of luxury and fine dining. Modern Lebanese dishes are a specialty here, but there’s something for everyone, especially for families with Shababeek’s excellent children’s menu.

Location: Block B, Al Qasba 66911, Sharjah Contact: +971 6 5540444 Timings: 12:00 - 00:00

Katis Well known for its steamed momos, handi dum biryani and Kati Rolls, this Indo–Chinese restaurant is a great low-budget option that’s a hit with the locals as well as tourists.

Location: Al Khan Street, Al Qasba, Sharjah Contact: +971 6 5565598 Timings: 11:30 - 15:00 / 17:00 - 00:00

Masala Craft Another entry in Sharjah’s sizable pantheon of Indian restaurants, Masala Craft specialises in what they call the ‘Live Takatak Tava Tandoor’, as well as a variety of other types of Indian cuisine.

Location: Block F, Al Qasba, Sharjah Contact: +971 6 5566284 Timings: 12:00 - 01:00

India Palace India Palace concentrates of Mughal cuisine, and the royal Mughal dynasty that produced it. Strongly influenced by Persian, Iranian and Afghan cuisine, this food is often associated with a distinctive aroma and ground spices.

Location: Safeer Mall, Sharjah Contact: +971 6 5374331 Timings: 12:00 - 00:00

Mushmaool Arabic Grill Restaurant Often seen as the best grill in town, Lamb chops and shish tawook come highly recommended, with the waffle fries also a popular choice.

Location: Al Miraj Building 1, Abu Shagara, Sharjah Contact: +971 6 5754244 Timings: 12:00 - 00:00

Gazebo Gazebo explores the Indian regions of Lucknow, Hyderabad and the North West Frontier to present a varied, rich menu.

Location: Matajer Mall, Opp. Sharjah Muroor, Al Goze, Sharjah Contact: +971 6 5529697 Timings: 11:30 - 23:30

Seashells A seafood restaurant that serves fried or grilled shrimp, tuna fish, hammour (grouper) or a seafood platter at low prices.

Location: Ahmed bin Dar-eish Square, AL-Chan Road, Sharjah Contact: +971 5 283501 Timings: 07:00 - 02:00

El Manza Authentic Moroccan dining comes paired with elegant interiors and methodical preparation to create a fantastic dining experience.

Location: Khalid Lagoon, Al Majaz Waterfront, Sharjah Contact: +971 6 5521882 Timings: 08:30 - 00:00

USEFUL APPS Food on Click

This app lists most of Dubai’s larger outlets from McDonald’s and Burger King to Circle Cafe and Domino’s pizza, with helpful categorisation through food types, areas and average delivery times. Free – Iphone & Android

Big Bus Tours

This app provides handy information on local landmarks and what to look out for. Designed to be used in conjunction with the actual tour, it also provides 3D maps along with useful reminders of where you can get on and off the bus. Free – Iphone & Android

Careem

This local car service allows users to create an account, from which you can book a vehicle to pick you up, using the map to plot their location (not always accurate), or by typing in the location (more reliable).You can also get a fare estimation. Free – Available on Iphone, Android & Blackberry.

TAXI & BUS SERVICES Bus Service Mowasalat

Contact: 600 522 282 (Toll Number) Email: contact@kglpts.com Website: http://www.mowasalat. ae/index.php

Taxi Service Sharjah Taxi

Types of Taxis: Small Taxi (5 Passengers) Small Ladies Taxi (5 Passengers) Family Taxi (8 Passengers) Handicap Taxi Contact: 600525252 (Toll Number) Online Booking: http://services.stc.gov.ae/complaintsystem/TaxiBooking_Services_En.aspx

Emirates Cab

Contact: +971 6 5396666 Email: operation@etaxiuae.com

Citi Taxi

Contact: +971 6 5333550/ +971 6 5334444 Email: cititaxi@cititaxisharjah.ae

SIGHTSEEING Al Mamzar Beach Park Al Mamzar Beach Park offers barbecue sites, private chalets for hire, swimming pool, food kiosks, sheltered beach and safe lagoon, a scenic train and many childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play areas. Piped music is played throughout the day and there are pleasant grassed picnic areas.

Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization holds thousands of rare and important Islamic artifacts, here; you can admire the timeless achievements of Islamic civilization and its universality, learn about aspects of Islamic faith, science, discoveries and culture, and cherish the beauty of Islamic art.

Al Qasba Al Qasba is renowned for offering stateof-the-art tourist and leisure attractions, including restaurants, cafĂŠs, the Kids Fun Zone, the Al Qasba Musical Fountain, the Maraya Art Centre and numerous other facilities that cater to visitors of all ages and family-tourists.

Eye of the Emirates If you want to discover one of Al Qasbaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best attractions, just look up! At 60 metres, the majestic Eye of the Emirates Wheel is the most visible landmark in Al Qasba. From there, you can enjoy spectacular views of landmark buildings, scenery, and even the Gulf coast stretching all the way to Dubai.

Adventureland + Sahara Centre A premium family entertainment centre, offering 17 rides and attractions and over 70 video simulator and redemption games. A great shopping hub that offers all the stores that a person needs.

Central Souk

The Central Souk was built in 1978 and is featured on the Dh5 note. It is located between King Faisal Road and Khalid Lagoon, and overlooks the picturesque Al Jazeera Park and the Buhaira Corniche. The souq has 600 shops and its main feature is its intricate design of Arabic architecture. It is situated at a convenient area in the city that provides motorists easy access to other commercial areas.

Sharjah Aquarium Explore the fascinating hidden world of the deep sea with its amazing creatures. Enjoy a close-up look at the local fishes and learn about Sharjahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic coasts and ports.

Al Shaab Village

Al Shaab Village represents the traditional and heritage look of Arabic Culture with modern facilities on board to serve the visitors with more comfort and ease. It is a shopping mall in Sharjah, which has an exhibition hall consists of 250+ Stores, an ice-skating rink, outdoor amusement park, a food court, a supermarket, indoor gaming, billiard center and a Cinema.

Al Noor Mosque Al Noor Mosque on Buhaira Corniche is famous for its architecture which resembles the ‘Blue Mosque’ in Turkey. It is bedecked with 34 elegant cascading domes in the exterior. Al Noor Mosque that stands beside the Khalid lagoon on Buhaira Corniche is the most famous. “It is hosting mosque visits every Monday at 10am for expatriates and tourists for them to know about UAE culture and religion.”

Sharjah Heritage Museum The museum is dedicated to highlighting Sharjahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s authentic heritage and the rich culture of Emirati people and Sharjah residents over the past decades. It, also, emphasizes the value of the deep rooted Arabic customs and traditions which are a legacy from our ancestors and a source of pride and joy to the coming generations.

Al Mahatta Museum It is the first airport in the UAE, built in 1932 and then turned into a museum highlighting the history of flight in the UAE and the region. It is a prominent place due to its unique collectibles that show manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first attempts to fly, to landing on the moon.

Al Majaz Waterfront Al Majaz Waterfront is an exciting fun-filled destination for the whole family, with an array of services to make every outing and event truly memorable.

Flag Island & 1971 Design Space

The flag island is a beautiful area hoisting the U.A.E flag high and mighty. 1971 is a multi-functional design space dedicated to exhibition, display and discussion on all forms of contemporary design ranging from graphic, furniture to interior as well as interactive design and new technologies.

DAY ITINERARY

Day 1 08:00

Breakfast at C.Taste by Centro Sharjah

10:00

Leave for Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization

13:30

(Spend 3.5 hours there)

Lunch at Milas

(Spend 2.5 hours there)