Sharjah City Tour from Dubai
The UAE Cultural Capital, half an hour up the coast from Dubai. Old coral-brick souks, the Museum of Islamic Civilization, King Faisal Mosque and the lagoon at Al Majaz. Private vehicle, your family only, one price for up to six people.
What you will see
- Souk Al ArsaOne of the oldest heritage marketplaces in the UAE. Coral-brick walls, hanging lanterns and narrow shaded lanes of antique dealers. This is the stop people photograph most and the one that looks least like anywhere in Dubai.
- Sharjah Museum of Islamic CivilizationHoused in a renovated souk on the creek under a landmark gilded dome. Thousands of historic artifacts, scientific manuscripts and calligraphy across several galleries. Entry ticket is not included and is paid at the door.
- King Faisal MosqueOne of the largest mosques in Sharjah, opened in January 1987, with two minarets standing seventy metres and room for over sixteen thousand worshippers. We stop for photographs from the outside.
- Quran Roundabout, Cultural SquareA forty-two metre roundabout built around a monument of an open Holy Quran, ringed by the old government and cultural buildings. A short photo stop.
- Blue Souk, the Central SoukSharjah’s twin-building market, famous for its blue tilework. Gold and silver, antiques, carpets and perfume. Prices here are generally better than the Dubai souks and haggling is expected.
- Al Majaz WaterfrontLandscaped promenades along Khalid Lagoon, restaurants, and the Sharjah Musical Fountain. We finish here so you get the lagoon in the late afternoon light.
What is included
- Pickup and drop-off anywhere in Dubai
- Private air-conditioned vehicle, your group only
- English-speaking driver and guide
- All the stops listed above
- Bottled water
- Museum of Islamic Civilization entry ticket
- Food, drinks and personal expenses
- Anything you buy in the souks
How the day runs
We collect you from your hotel or residence anywhere in Dubai mid-morning. The drive up the coast takes around thirty to forty-five minutes depending on the road. We start in the old heritage area by the creek, where Souk Al Arsa and the Museum of Islamic Civilization sit within walking distance of each other, so you are out of the vehicle and on foot for the best part of it.
From there it is the mosque and the Quran Roundabout for photographs, then the Blue Souk if you want to shop, and we finish at Al Majaz Waterfront on the lagoon. You are back in Dubai in the late afternoon.
Because this is a private tour it is yours to change. If you would rather spend an hour in the museum and skip the shopping, or the other way round, tell the driver on the day and he will rearrange it. Nothing here is on a fixed timetable.
Good to know
Small things that make the day easier. Your driver takes care of most of it.
Wear something loose. Sharjah dresses a little more traditionally than Dubai, and shoulders and knees covered keeps you comfortable and welcome everywhere we go. Light cotton is the most pleasant thing in the heat anyway.
Sharjah is a dry emirate. No alcohol is served, which is part of why the old quarter still feels the way it does. This is a daytime tour, so save the evening drink for back in Dubai.
Fridays simply start later. The museum opens in the afternoon on Fridays instead of the morning. If Friday suits you best we start later and run the route the other way round, and you see exactly the same six places.
We time it around the road. We collect you once the morning commuter traffic has cleared and have you back before the evening rush. Knowing that road is most of the job, and it is why five hours in Sharjah feels unhurried.
Questions people ask
Five hours door to door, including the drive each way. That leaves roughly three and a half hours on the ground across the six stops, which is unhurried for a group that wants to see them properly.
Around thirty to forty-five minutes by road depending on the traffic. It is the closest emirate to Dubai, which is why this works comfortably as a half day rather than needing a whole one.
Private only. The 500 AED is for the vehicle and covers up to six people, so you travel with your own group and nobody else. There is no shared Sharjah option.
No, Sharjah is a dry emirate. It makes no difference to a daytime tour like this one, and you are back in Dubai in time for the evening.
Shoulders and knees covered. Sharjah dresses a little more traditionally than Dubai, and light cotton is the most comfortable thing in the heat anyway.
We stop outside for photographs. It is a working mosque with prayer times through the day, so we do not include an interior visit. If seeing inside a mosque matters to you, tell us and we will suggest the better option for that.
Completely different in feel. The Dubai City Tour is modern Dubai — Burj Khalifa, the Marina, the new city. Sharjah is the old coast: coral-brick souks, museums and the creek, with almost no high-rise. People who like one often want the other on a separate day.
No. You book now and pay on the day, cash or card with the driver.
Yes. There is some walking in the heritage area and the souks, but the vehicle is never far and you set the pace. Tell us if anyone in the group needs it slower and the driver will plan around it.
Pickup is included anywhere in Dubai. If you are staying in Sharjah or Ajman, message us with your address and we will confirm what we can do.
Ready to book?
Tell us your date and how many people. We will confirm straight away, and you pay the driver on the day.
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