MENA City of Culture
Ruled by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Sharjah is the third largest emirate in the country, with a population of approximately 1.6 million, and an area that covers 2,590 square kilometres. The official national language of the UAE is Arabic, although, English, Hindi and Urdu are widely spoken throughout Sharjah, due to the strong, expat labour force working here.
Nestled amidst the lapis-blue Persian Gulf, dramatic Fujairah mountains, and the aquamarine Gulf of Oman, Sharjah is spectacularly and geographically diverse. The emirate boasts of beaches, botanic gardens, desert and sand dunes, theme parks, museums, wildlife centres, historical monuments, ancient forts, public parks, lakes, canals and waterfront dining.
Be part of the city
While visitors to the United Arab Emirates might easily be drawn to Dubai based on its glitz and larger-than-life reputation, Sharjah can be likened to the ‘quiet achiever’ in the family of emirates. Sharjah has a strong commitment to education, art, culture and preserving its rich heritage through exhibitions, concerts, festivals, the Mleiha archaeological site and the charmingly restored Sharjah Heritage Area, renowned for its museums, galleries, souks and authentic eateries. The emirate was named Cultural Capital of the Arab World, by UNESCO in 1998; Capital of Islamic Culture in 2014 and UNESCO’s World Book Capital for 2019.
Immerse yourself
Sharjah is considered the cultural captial of the Middle East. There are so many interesting and immersive locaitons just waiting for you to visit, not only in Sharjah but through out the UAE.
Explore more cultural events at sharjahart.org