With vibrant souks and inspiring art galleries to enlightening mosques and historic monuments, Sharjah is aptly named the UNESCO cultural capital for the Arab World. The third largest and third most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, forming part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area. Sharjah has over 20 museums and galleries, featuring modern art, priceless paintings and Arabian artifacts that offer a comprehensive history of the UAE.
Sharjah International Airport is very well connected to major cities in the Middle East, parts of Europe and West Asia. Daily flights ply between Sharjah and cities in Lebanon, Jordan, UK, Netherlands, Ukraine, India, Egypt, Syria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Iran etc. 23 major international air carriers and 13 cargo carriers operate out of Sharjah including the country's low-cost airline Air Arabia. The other main international airlines that fly to Sharjah are Air India, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airlines. Travellers coming from other cities across the world can reach Sharjah from the Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports that are located at a distance of 30 km and 164 km respectively. These two airports are the biggest international hubs in the UAE
Winter from December-February is the best time to visit Sharjah. The season is often tagged as the peak tourist season owing to comfortable weather, no rain and low humidity. The average temperature during this time stays in and around 20 degrees Celsius. Even March and April are suitable for travelling to the country.
However, the summers (May-August) are pretty hot and uncomfortable for travelling during the day time. Sharjah has a dry climatic condition, and there’s no humidity. The summer months of May-August are hot with temperatures rising to 40-43 degrees Celsius. Escalation of heat and humidity make it uncomfortable for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
Earning a title of 'Cultural Capital of the Arab World' by UNESCO in 1998, the city of Sharjah is best known for preserving its culture, tradition and heritage. Its Art Museum is world-renowned while fascinating buildings in the Heritage Area are immersed with Emirati history.
Away from the glitz and glamour of Dubai, the city offers a plethora of entertainment and amusement options including well-maintained museums, beautiful mosques, Souks and numerous parks. National History Museum and Desert Park is one such place where petting animals is the major highlight for kids and the Science Museum is packed with fun facts and exhibits. Sharjah is also a shopper's paradise selling its famous Arabic rugs, rugs, gold, silver and precious stone jewellery at its markets including Souq Al Arsah on Cornich Road and Blue Souq, one of the major markets of the city with some 600 vibrant shops. Although rooted with Islamic traditions, the city has maintained a good balance between its traditional roots and 21st-century modern aspects.