In search of pearl merchants and palm trees in Sharjah
Buy for a Group
Reviews
About the Tour
About the Tour
Sharjah prides itself on being the steady-as-she-goes emirate, but don’t let that dissuade you. It is confident, worldly, multi-dimensional, interesting, and definitely less noisy than its cousin down the road a little west from here. Join me on a wander down shaded laneways and in and out of old houses and new spaces, as together we will explore what remains of an old part of town. There are houses and mosques, museums and galleries, palm trees and pearl merchants, all waiting for you.
There are also plenty of places to stop on the way, if you want to find yourself a comfy cushion, order an Arabic coffee or a cool lime and mint juice. After all, it’s your time off, so enjoy.
You'll enjoy these sights along the way:
- peeking inside traditional houses
- contemporary design inspired by Sharjah's craft heritage
- souqs for shopping, and
- hidden little alleyways.
And there are fun stories about:
- coral farming
- what you can do with your leftover goat hooves
- who has a PhD in piracy studies, and
- palm trees on Mars (honest).
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Annette
I am the Director of Culture Counsel, specialising in international art, museum and heritage initiatives.
My life has been filled with travelling and exploring since I was little, but sadly, I don’t remember much of the first big trip since I was only three at the time. It must have been a fabulous round-the-world voyage, which included passing through both the Suez and Panama Canals.
In recent years I have been living and working between the Netherlands and the Arabian Gulf. I was drawn to the Gulf to work on some new museums, and it's a real adventure. During this time, I have gotten to know many locals, and learned much about their lives, their land and their culture. Sadly, Khaleeji, the local Arab dialect still eludes me.
Having been born in Australia, I am also lucky enough to have dual citizenship, thanks to my parents who migrated there from the Netherlands. I’m told that I speak Dutch with an Australian accent and use strange old-fashioned words that emanate from Twente in the east of the Netherlands (my parent’s original base) – but I don’t believe it. It all sounds perfectly fine to me. Judge for yourself on my walking tours of Hattem and Utrecht in the Netherlands.
Creating walking tours in interesting places is a great way of enabling others to see and experience the fascinating world that we all live in.
Please join me on a tour of Sharjah in the UAE, or Gouda, Hattem and Utrecht in the Netherlands.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 13
The gift of palm trees
But for now turn right, and keep walking... Read More
View locations and route
How VoiceMap Works
Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
-
Al Emam Al Tabarani Mosque
-
Sharjah Art Foundation - Al Mureijah Art Spaces - Al Mureijah Square
-
Fen Café & Restaurant
-
The Urban Garden
-
Art For All Centre- Falaj مركز الفن للجميع- فلج
-
Central Mosque
-
Sharjah Heritage Museum
-
Sharjah Calligraphy Museum
-
Calligraphy Square
-
Bait Al Naboodah
-
Heart of Sharjah Corporate Office
-
Souk Al Arsah
-
The Chedi Al Bait
-
Majlis Al Midfa
-
Masjid Al Zahra (SA)
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
-
Total distance2km
-
Distance back to start location78.73m
Directions to Starting Point
The start of our tour is on Corniche Street just north-east of the Al Merraijja Square roundabout, where the Corniche meets Al Marija Street. The whole neighbourhood is known as ‘The Heart of Sharjah’.
Sharjah is tricky to give instructions to, so it is best to plug the following GPS coordinates into your map app: 25.357515, 55.380436
Our destination is around 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport, but a little longer if it is peak time.
There is paid parking along the Corniche and nearby streets, and off the first lane next to Al Zahra Mosque there is a big car-park at the end near the Sharjah Art Foundation.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
For refreshments you can push the pause button when you are at the Fen Café and Restaurant, the Alarsa Café, and any of the cafés and restaurants at The Chedi Al Bait Hotel.
For shopping there's the Sharjah Foundation’s Art Shop, the heritage shop in Bait Al Naboodah, and then any of the many shops and stalls in Souq Al Arsa and Sikket Al Tauwawish. You are spoiled for choice.
Best time of day
It is lovely at most times of the day, and since many of the places on the way are open in the evenings, that too is a very pleasant time to visit.
Part of the tour goes through Souq Al Arsa which is usually open Saturday – Thursday 0900–2100, and Friday 1600–2100, but check the website first https://www.heartofsharjah.ae/souq-al-arsah.html
The tour goes past a number of museums and galleries, and if they are open and you want to go in, just pause this tour, and when you are ready, just click resume to keep going. Bait al Naboodah, Sharjah Heritage Museum and the Calligraphy Museum are usually open Saturday – Thursday 0800–2000, and Friday 1600–2000, and the Sharjah Art Foundation is usually open Saturday – Thursday 0900–2100, and Friday 1600–2100, but check the website first https://www.heartofsharjah.ae/index.html
Precautions
Many highlights on this tour can be experienced at any time of the day or year, but it will be easier for many in the cooler months of the year.
If it's a warm day, please bring a hat or umbrella, as some of the walk is outside. There are plenty of places to stop a while and revive, including places with air-conditioning.
Please don't forget your drinking water, preferably in something other than in a single-use container.
Get The App
Get The App
Questions and Reviews
