Best Things to Do in Sharjah

Looking for the best things to do in Sharjah? I've rounded up a few great ideas to add to your list for the foodies, architecture and art enthusiasts, and for those who just want a change of weather, quite literally.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but what I hope is a useful starting point! Even UAE old-timers will find something new to add to their to-do list, between the city's essential museums, an ever-changing inventory of the best arts and culture scene, and even some off-the-beaten path secrets.

Al Mukhtar Bakery

One of the many things I would suggest a tourist try when visiting the UAE or any Middle Eastern country for that matter, is a cheese manousheh (and za'atar. and labneh. and knafeh. and kebabs). It's something easily found in many of the UAE's bakeries. Even supermarkets sell them. But, the real struggle is finding an above-average manousheh.

So to start your perfect day in Sharjah, I'd highly recommend a stop at Al Mukhtar Bakery on Al Etihad Road to pick up your oven baked cheese manousheh. Easy 10/10. They've been nailing it since 1981. If you've got any space left, you should also consider picking up the kaak with knafeh (and consider walking back home).

Rain Room

The Rain Room is an immersive installation where you walk through this downpour of rain without getting wet. The experience is brilliant especially when it feels like 100 degrees outside during summer.

They have motion sensors up in the ceiling that track your movements when you enter the square. So whenever a human body is detected, the rain stops in the area they're standing in. It's designed so that you're walking through this rainstorm without getting a single drop of water on you, even though you're surrounded by what feels like a storm.

The idea behind it is to give people the opportunity to experience something that they would normally find impossible: and that's the ability to control rain. It's quite a strange experience because you feel like your senses are heightened. The sound of the rain falling, the darkness, the smell. In a way, it's kind of therapeutic.

Sharjah Art Museum

Sharjah Art Museum is a lovely 3-storey gallery located in the Heart of Sharjah. You can explore the history of the region through the beautiful masterpieces of local painters and Arab artists who have left an important mark in the art world.

The Barjeel Art Foundation's semi-permanent collection sheds light on a field of art history, Arab Modernism, that has been, only until recently, little known to the public. I was incredibly impressed with the diversity of the collection and the powerful messages behind many of the paintings.

Fen Café and Restaurant

Fen Café and Restaurant is a lovely cozy spot located in the Sharjah Art Foundation area. The venue is split between 2 adjoining houses, Bait Hassan Mukhtar and Bait Abdul Rasoul. The houses have been beautifully restored and still feel like you're walking into someone's private home. They showcase the traditional architecture used in this former residential neighborhood.

Fen serves a variety of dishes and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their Ube Leche Flan is apparently the house favorite.

House of Wisdom

The absolutely stunning House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikmah) in Sharjah, is a library inspired by the original in Baghdad Iraq that was once upon a time the world's largest library and this melting pot that attracted minds from all over.

Inside is what I would best describe as a literary heaven. Tons of physical books and digital which you can read for all ages and interests. They have sofas, chairs, and even beds (for women) to lie back in and comfortably read. There's even an indoor garden space to sit in while reading.

"For there is no friend as loyal as a book" - Ernest Hemingway