Absence of any signs of greenery at some places reminds us that Sharjah is a desert city
The Al Noor Mosque is the first mosque in Sharjah to allow non-Muslims and tourists
The interior design for Al Noor Mosque has been inspired from the famous Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and the marble used has been imported from Italy and India
The Quran is read in Tajwid, a style of reciting the holy book
The Al-Noor Island has Sharjha's Butterfly House, a shelter of exotic butterflies
An example of the convergence of culture and modernity- the Al-Noor Mosque admist high-rise buildings
Heading towards Sharjah Heritage Museum
In the Heart of Sharjah, the old part of the city, traditional markets have been restored
Friends at a Majlis, a socialising and meeting point
The Eye of the Emirates is a landmark of Sharjah
The vibrant downtown of Sharjah, Al Qasba, offers an eclectic range of cafes, carousels, boat rides, shops, a small musical fountain and a 60m-high Ferris wheel- the Eye of the Emirates
The views of the emirate are often defined by date-palm trees, all planted in symmetry in this desert city
Sharjah hosted the F1 H20 World Championship 2017 at its Khalid Lagoon
A safari over the sand dunes in Mleiha
The scenic views from Mleiha Archaeological Centre also offer an insight into the emirate's early history
A formation from ancient times in the Mleiha Archaeological Centre in the deserts of Sharjah
Sharjah should be visited for its offering of contrasting landscapes and cultures. A city built in a desert, which has ports at its two ends, its geography is rather interesting, just like the eclectic mix of people who live here and like its touristic offerings.
Third largest of the seven emirates, Sharjah is also the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With its well-kept traditions, and the prevalence of certain modern manners, it prides in its unique synthesis of culture. While the Emiratis are at the helm of its governance, people from across Asia have found their humble abode here. This is credit to its booming commercial sector, which is reflected in the numerous high-rises that have emerged in the city over the last decade or so. A metropolis, Sharjah was crowned the Cultural Capital of the Arab World in 1998, and the Islamic Culture Capital for 2014, by the UNESCO. The variations it is home to, can be experienced by a visit to its numerous sites, which offer a glimpse into the city’s history, its evolution and the face it boasts of in the present times. There are museums, mosques, shopping hubs, restaurant panels, deserts, ports, markets, all of which can be visited for an enlightening travel experience.
