Sharjah (; , Gulf Arabic: aš-Šārja) is a major port city and the third-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is the capital of the Emirate of Sharjah and forms part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area. The emirate shares legal, political, military and economic functions with the other emirates of the UAE within a federal framework. Each emirate has jurisdiction over some functions such as civil law enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Sharjah has been ruled by the Al Qasimi dynasty since the 18th century.
The city is a center for culture and industry, and alone contributes 7.4% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates. The city covers approximately 235 km2 and has a population of over 1,800,000 (2022–2023). Sharjah has been officially named as a WHO healthy city. The 2025 edition of QS Best Student Cities ranked Sharjah as the 76th best city in the world to be a university student. Sharjah is regarded as the cultural capital of the UAE, and was the Islamic culture capital of 2014 and Sharjah World Book Capital for 2019 by UNESCO.
On 1 January 2022, Sharjah made history when its public sector adopted a four-day working week and a three-day weekend, becoming the first government sector in the Gulf region and the entire Middle East to fully adopt a four-day working week.
Etymology The origin of the name of Sharjah is unknown, with most common interpretations linking the origin of the word Sharjah to the word sharq () due to the fact that the city is located to the east of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and that Sharjah was the easternmost settlement at the time.
However, other interpretations have disputed the origin of the name based on location, and suggested instead that it refers to the word shurūq (). Further theories have linked the name to a pre-Islamic idol called Abed Al Shareq that transformed into Sharjah. The origin of the word has also been linked to the Andalusi Arabic usage of the word, which was used to refer to a fort.
History
Sharjah was historically one of the wealthiest towns in this region with a settlement in existence for over 5000 years. In the early 18th century, the Huwayla tribe of the Qawasim clan established itself in Sharjah 1727, declaring Sharjah independent. On 8 January 1820, Sheikh Sultan I signed the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like its neighbors Ajman, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah's position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state (be it of the lowest class: 3 guns).
In 1829, English author and traveler James Silk Buckingham described Sharjah as such:
With the approach of the 20th century, Sharjah extended inland to the area now known as Wasit Suburb, the area between the city and Al Dhaid being under the control of the tribes of the interior. With a population of 15,000 inhabitants, Sharjah had some four or five shops in Layyah and a bazaar of around 200 shops in main Sharjah.
In the midst of World War II, Nazi propaganda infiltrated the town. Loud propagating of pro-Hitler speeches could be heard emanating from the Sheikh of Sharjah's palace during a period in 1940, and messages sharing a similar sentiment graffitied on walls in the town center according to British intelligence reports at the time, for the messages being propagated by the Germans was one of anti-imperialism, it found a sympathetic audience among some of the emirate's populace, particularly Abdullah bin Faris, a secretary of the Sheikh who was responsible for the broadcasts. After the Sheikh was confronted by the British, he wrote a letter reaffirming his support for the British war efforts and disputed the charges laid out against bin Faris. Attached to the letter was a petition signed by 48 prominent individuals testifying to bin Faris' character, which, according to the British, had been misrepresented to the signees. The incident resolved after the Sheikh and bin Faris ceased transmitting propaganda and doubled down on their support to the British.
On 2 December 1971, Sharjah, together with Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Qawain, and Fujairah joined in the Act of Union to form the United Arab Emirates. The seventh emirate, Ras al-Khaimah, joined the UAE on 10 February 1972 following Iran's annexation of Ras al-Khaimah's Tunbs islands.
Like the other former Trucial States, Sharjah's name is known by many stamp collectors because of the large numbers of stamps that were issued by the Sharjah Post Office shortly before the formation of the United Arab Emirates. These stamps that were printed in profusion became worthless to collectors and came to be known as Dunes. Many of the items featured on these stamps were unrelated to the emirate and therefore many catalogues do not list them.Carlton, R. Scott. The International Encyclopædic Dictionary of Philately. Krause: Iola, 1997, page 173.
Districts and landmarks
District بلديات Name DMG Arabic Areakm2UAE_Official_Boundaries / UAE_Districts_with_populations.geojson Population2017 Density Coordinates remarksAl Nahda quarter... حي النهدة 1,67 10610363513 smallest, most denseAl Majaz... ضاحية المجاز 3,34 11650334837 historic DowntownAl Gharb... حي الغرب 1,81 6156433974 municipal headquartersAl Qasimiah... حي القاسمية 4,88 15972332721 Al Sharq... حي الشرق 4,83 10054820838 Al Seneyat... الصناعيات 31,66 34037610753 Al Jazeera suburb... ضاحية الجزيرة 9,23 9869810692 Tugariet Muwaileh... تجارية مويلح 12,23 969267926 Al Riqah suburb... ضاحية الرقة 9,09 394144337 Halwan suburb... ضاحية حلوان 5,79 193893350 Al Hyrah Suburb... ضاحية الحيرة 5,73 187133268 Mughaider suburb... ضاحية مغيدر 8,35 235782826 Wasit suburb... ضاحية واسط 12,07 207581720 Muwaiih suburb... ضاحية مويلح 25,79 300741167 Al Sajaah... الصجعة 55,16 53079963 Al Ruqa Al Hamra... الرقعة الحمراء 32,88 19214584 University City... المدينة الجامعية 13,39 4241317 Rahmaniyah suburb... ضاحية الرحمانية 39,21 9052231 Basaten Al Zubair... بساتين الزبير 12,64 76961 Al Budaiya suburb... ضاحية البديع 41,04 242759 Khalid Sea Port... ميناء خالد 2,23 12054 Al Siyuh suburb... ضاحية السيوح 33,36 179354 Al Zubair... الزبير 15,7 67443 Kaya Masaar... ضاحية المنازل 9,05 26930 Al Jlail... الجليل 11,82 13511 Al Shnouf... الشنوف 24,21 1516 Suburb of Jweza... ضاحية جويزع 13,85 614 Mehathab... مهذب 15,68 382 Al Tayy suburb... ضاحية الطي 9,45 101 Al Sidairah... السديره 11,07 00 Sir Abu Nu'ayrAbū Ṣīr Nuʿair جزيرة صير أبو نعير 13,23 302 remote islandAbu Musa... جزيرة أبو موسى 12,88 433 Iran-occupied islandSharjah CityMadīnat aš-Šāriqa مدينة الشارقة 493,80 1324473 2684
Sharjah is the third largest city in the United Arab Emirates after Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The palace of the ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, is located about southeast of the city.
The city of Sharjah overlooks the Persian Gulf and has a population of over 1,600,000 (2022). It includes the main administrative centres of the Government of Sharjah along with commercial, cultural and traditional projects. The city hosts several museums of archaeology, natural history, science, arts, heritage, Islamic art and culture. Distinctive landmarks include two major covered souks, reflecting Islamic design, and a number of recreational areas and public parks such as Al Montazah Fun Park and Al Buheirah Corniche. The city is also acclaimed for its numerous elegant mosques.
Downtown Sharjah
Downtown Sharjah or Sharjah City, Al Majaz is a large-scale, mixed-use complex in Sharjah. It serves as the cultural and commercial heart of the emirate. It is characterized by a blend of traditional architecture, modern amenities, and numerous cultural landmarks.
Rolla Sharjah
It is one of the older parts of the city. It is a key commercial and residential hub within the emirate. Situated east of Khalid lake Rolla Sharjah stands out as a prominent community within the city as a historical and significant landmark within the city of Sharjah. The neighborhood derives its name from a historic banyan tree that once flourished in the area. Rolla is an integral part of the Al Ghuwair development.
Muwaileh Commercial
Muwaileh Commercial is a Suburb, Community city and residential area in Sharjah, with direct access to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) and Maliah Road. It is a prominent and rapidly developing area in Sharjah. It borders Industrial Area 15 and 17 to the south, and is close to the University City of Sharjah. It also features a diverse range of residential options, consisting of apartment buildings.
Rolla Square It is named after the large rolla (banyan tree) that once stood in the square, which inspired the sculpture at the center of the park, Rolla Square is a common location for people to stroll, unwind and enjoy the tranquil environment during the weekends. Rolla Square Market in Rolla Square is a vital part of the Sharjah shopping experience. Its mix of traditional market vibes where visitors can get their products at affordable prices and a wide range of products makes it a favorite for shoppers looking for deals and unique finds.
Bank Street Bank street is located near the main area of Rolla, many bank branches and offices are located on the street. The street has an urban park which is unique as local residents were invited to nominate significant urban features — like benches, trees, playgrounds, and signage — from various cities worldwide that hold personal meaning to them, representing anything from remarkable stories to fleeting memories. These objects were selected from the residents' home countries or places they came across during their travels. They were either replicated in exact 1:1 scale or purchased and transported to the designated site.
Al Hisn Sharjah
Al Hisn, also known as Sharjah Fort, was a fortified complex built in 1823 as the headquarters of the then-independent Emirate of Sharjah and the residence of the Al Qasimi family. Its situated in the center of the city, and was closed for renovations from 1996 to 2015, and it reopened its doors as an open-air museum under the administration of the Sharjah Museums Authority. The materials that were used for the building of the fort — ceilings are made out of chandal (mangrove poles), kumbar (rope), du’un (bound palm branches) and haseer (palm matts). The walls, with a thickness of 70–80 cm, are plastered with corals, harvested from the Gulf seabed and held in place using jus – a mortar formed by crushing and burning corals, limestone and shells.
"Smile, You're in Sharjah" roundabout Located between the Blue Souq and Fish Market, near the Union Bank Tower, there is a welcome sign "Smile, You're in Sharjah", spelled out in flowers in the middle of a roundabout, notorious for its rush-hour traffic jams.
Gold Souq Sharjah Central Souq, or Gold Souq (), stands as Sharjah premier shopping destination and comprises a gold souq, clothing souq, and antiques and jewellery shops. It stands out due to its design by British architects Michael Lyle & Partners under the guidance of Sharjah's ruler, H.H Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the building was completed in 1978. Its architecture evokes a grand-scale traditional bazaar. It is situated along the Khalid Lagoon and offers a stunning view of sunset, reflecting its beauty across the water. The Central Souq which is also called the Blue Souq includes around 600 shops and each shop has the unique masterpiece design.
Mahatta Fort