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. One that isn’t just good when you’re hangry or after a night out. 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).
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/bZwJCMUwsQP5rhju8
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.
The way it works is that they’ve created an underground space which is darkened, so it first takes your eyes a few seconds to adjust. In the middle of this darkened room, it’s raining. The rain falls in a square continuously, and there’s a single spotlight to guide you. They have these 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 then walking through this rainstorm without getting a single drop of water on you, even though you’re surrounded by what feels like a storm. So you have to move slowly so that you give the cameras enough time to detect you. Otherwise, you will feel a few droplets of rain. Ofcourse, if you run, you’ll probably be drenched. 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. Like when you listen to sounds of nature in the woods, or the sound of waves in the ocean, it gives you this clear-headed calm which is super relaxing.
The Rain Room uses 2,500 litres of water within a self-contained system, and the same water is recycled and reused.
Website: www.sharjahart.org/sharjah-art-foundation/projects/rain-room. Operating hours are from 9AM until 9PM, Saturdays to Thursdays. 4PM until 11PM on Fridays. 15 minute visit slots. You can book your tickets online (advisable) or buy them over the counter. Tickets for adults are priced at AED 25. Comfortable flat shoes are recommended.
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 at the Sharjah Art Museum sheds light on a field of art history, Arab Modernism, that has been, only until recently, little known to the public. Also fascinating to see is the intertwining of life and politics, revealed in the artworks. I was incredibly impressed with the diversity of the collection and the powerful messages behind many of the paintings. Would highly encourage asking for a guided tour or looking up the artworks as you go along.
Website: www.sharjahartmuseum.ae. Operating hours are from 8AM until 8PM, Saturdays to Thursdays. 4PM until 8PM on Fridays. Admission to the museum is free.
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 , both named after the patriarchs of the families who lived there once upon a time. The houses (bait = house, singular) have been beautifully restored and still could feel like you’re walking into someone’s private home. They showcase the traditional architecture used in this former residential neighborhood and the lovely courtyards where families would gather. Fen serves a variety of dishes and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their dessert menu had my name all over it and I opted for the Ube Leche Flan which apparently is the house favorite.
Website: www.facebook.com/fenrestaurant. Operating hours are from 9AM until 11:45PM daily. Call their contact number ahead to ensure they are open. The area has its own paid parking which is close by the entrance, after you turn right before the blue mosque.
HOUSE OF WISDOM
The absolutely stunning House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikmah) in Sharjah, is a library which is 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. The monument outside is inspired by ancient Arabic scrolls and symbolizes the lasting power of books. 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 students or businesses, there are also private rooms available called ‘pods’ which you can book to study or conduct meetings.
I even came across a space called the Espresso Book Machine which sounds like a café but it’s actually a printing room. If there’s any book available on their database that you’d like to buy printed, they’ll have it for you printed and bound in about 5 minutes.
For ‘there is no friend as loyal as a book’ - Ernest Hemingway
Website: www.houseofwisdom.ae. Operating hours are from 10AM until 10PM daily. The library is free to enter and is currently free to borrow books and read; however, on site only. Also, there are 2 dining/café options available inside.
Other fantastic spots worth venturing to are the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Sharjah Maritime Museum, and if you drive a little further, the Mleiha Archaeological Centre.