Sharjah Travel Guide
In Sharjah, the warm greetings and friendly smiles of Arabic hospitality combined with the variety of
foods,makes for a fantastic experience.
The variety of scenery in Sharjah is a major attraction for tourist groups from all over the world.
Sharjah has been a major Middle East tourist Destination since 1932! Tourists intending to visit Sharjah
do not have to go far to get what they are interested in. That's why Sharjah was the first emirate to attract tourist groups in 1980. Since then, tourism has developed in leaps and bounds.
Full Name
Sharjah
Capital City
Sharjah city
Government Type
Federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved
Area Size
The emirate covers 2,600 km, which is 3,3% of all of the UAE.
Time Zone
GMT +4 hours
Climate
Sharjah's climate is idyllic from November to April with warm sunny days, cool evenings and low humidity. Daytime temperatures range from 18 to 30 degrees C. You can expect some rainfall and tropical storms during January, February and March. After heavy rains you will need a good pair of rubber boots to negotiate the streets ! (Rainwear can be purchased in Rolla Square) From May to September the climate is hot with midday temperatures in July and August reaching in excess of 45 degrees C. Even the nights are warm averaging 25 degrees C. Humidity is often at 100% so all in all, it's stifling! Most people head to cooler climates during the summer.
Geography
Sharjah is the only Emirate to have land on both the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. In addition to Sharjah City which is located on the three mile deep subkhat (salt) strip along the coast, the Emirate has three provinces on the Batinah (the East Coast), Hisn Dibba, Khor Fakkan and Kalba, plus the Islands of Abu Mousa and Sir Abu Nu'air. The Batinah consists of the spectacular, rugged Hajar mountains rising in places to 2,500 feet, intersected by sheer sided wadis, with gravel beds and rich soil. Beautiful sandy beaches and the clear blue Indian Ocean have made this coast a haven for diving, fishing and relaxing. The UAE has 700 kilometres of coastline. Along the Arabian Gulf coast, there are offshore islands, coral reefs and sabkha, or salt marshes. Stretches of gravel plain and sandy desert characterise the inland region. To the east, a range of mountains lies close to the Gulf of Oman and forms a backbone through the Mussandam Peninsula. The western interior of the country, most of it in Abu Dhabi, consists mainly of desert interspersed with oases.
Languages
The official language is Arabic. English is widely understood and ranks alongside Arabic as the language of commerce.
Travel Information
Travel to the UAE has never been easier since it is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Most of the leading airlines of the world fly into the UAE, but you can also travel by road or sea. The vast majority of visitors take advantage of the excellent deals on offer through a number of tour operators. The national airlines Etihad Airways and Emirates offer a comprehensive air service to the UAE international airport at Sharjah. Road access to the UAE from Saudi Arabia and Oman is excellent. Connections can be made with the Trans-Arabian Highway on the overland route to Europe. Daily bus service runs between Muscat and Abu Dhabi via Al Ain. There is a twice daily bus service between Oman and Dubai via Hatta. There are also bus services between Abu Dhabi and Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Accommodation
Accommodation in the UAE is of a very high standard and many of the world
Visa Requirements
Citizens of the following countries will be issued with a free-of-charge VISIT VISA on entry to the UAE: UK, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. /Citizens of other countries should apply to their nearest UAE embassy.
Getting Around
Most tourists visiting the UAE on all-inclusive package tours will base themselves at one or more hotels in the UAE, using the ubiquitous and inexpensive taxis for sightseeing and shopping and local tour companies for more extended trips. However, it is worth remembering that cars and four-wheel drives are readily available for hire, the road network is excellent and there are intriguing places to visit far from the cosmopolitan cities.
Health & Safety
Remarkably, the UAE was one of only two countries with no reported cases of holiday illnesses recorded in a survey by the leading British consumer magazine, Holiday Which? This is a tribute to the success of government immunization programmes, the provision of adequate clean water and high standards of cleanliness in hotels and restaurants. No special immunizations are required, however it would be wise to check beforehand if you are travelling from a health-risk area. The sun can be fierce throughout the year so heatstroke and heat exhaustion are always a risk. Adequate sunglasses, hats and high factor sun creams are essential, especially for children. Hospitals in the UAE provide a high standard of care. It would be wise to take out medical insurance to cover all eventualities, especially if you need to attend a private hospital or clinic where treatment can be quite expensive. In all instances, medical procedures, including the use of sterilized needles and the provision of blood transfusions are very reliable. If you need a doctor, ask at your hotel, or ring your embassy for recommendations. If you need emergency treatment and are unable to contact a doctor, try one of the major hospitals. The UAE is one of the safest places in the world to visit. In fact, it has been designated the world
National Holidays
Fixed dates: 1 Jan (New Year's Day) 1 Jan (Eid al Adha/Feast of Sacrifice) 2 Jan (Eid al Adah Holiday) 20 Jan ( Islamic New Year) 31 Mar (The Prophet's Birthday) 6 Aug (Sheikh Zayed's Accession, Regional) 10 Aug (The Prophet's Ascension) 13 Oct (Eid al Fitr/End of Ramadan) 15 Oct (Eid al Fitr Holiday) 2 Dec (National Day) 19 Dec (Eid al Adha/Feast of Sacrifice) 22 Dec (Eid al Adha Holiday)
Currency
UAE Dirham (AED)
Electricity
220V G
Working Hours
There are no set business hours in the United Arab Emirates. Companies will either work "straight" which is between 08hrs and 17hrs, or "shift" which is anytime between 08hrs and 13hrs, and then again between 16h00 and 21hrs or even 22hrs. Government departments are open from 07hrs until 14hrs, Saturdays to Wednesdays. Banks are open from 09hrs to 13hrs Sundays to Wednesdays and from 09hrs to 12hrs on Thursdays./Shops Normal shopping hours are from 9.00 a.m.
Emergency Numbers
ambulance/fire/police 998/999
