SHARJAH ARCHITECTURE TRIENNIALEDITION 1

SHARJAH VISITORS’ GUIDE

RIGHTS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS( NOV 9, 2019 - FEB 8,2020 )

https://www.shar jaharchitecture.org

ABOUT SHARJAH

Uniquely s i tuated on both the Gulf and Indian Ocean coasts, the Emirate of Shar jah—one of the seven that const i tute the United Arab Emirates—is at the crossroads of mi l lennia of exchange and mobi l i ty, thereby offer ing an ideal place for conversat ions about architecture and urbanism.

Archaeological s i tes and the art i facts displayed at local museums reveal int imate l inks between inhabitants of the var ious sett le-ments that f lour ished in Shar jah and contemporaneous civ i l i za-t ions, f rom the Mediterranean to the West, Mesopotamia to the north, and the Indus Val ley to the east.

This long history as a node for t ransnational networks has per-mitted twentieth-century Shar jah to evolve into one of the most v ibrant cit ies in the region, and a mult iethnic trading port fol low-ing the formation of the UAE in 1971. Home to the f i rst internation-al ai rport in the country, operat ional s ince the 1932, and the f i rst container port, constructed in 1976, Shar jah has been a crucial center for connections across the ent i re coast of the Gulf , as wel l as India and Afr ica, and beyond.

Shar jah also shares borders with al l other emirates in the UAE. I ts bui l t environment is marked by not only the habitable scale of i ts st reets, and an urban landscape where past and present coexist , but also, by ongoing exchanges with other emirates, Gulf coun-tr ies, and the wider region to which i t i s fundamental ly l inked.

Shar jah is home to a diverse populat ion with a strong Arab repre-sentat ion, and is embraced by i ts local and expatr iate inhabitants al ike. Architectural ly, Shar jah ref lects the divers i ty of i ts inhabi-tants as wel l as the vis ion of i ts leadership. Restored vernacular coral stone bui ldings with courtyards harken back to histor ical f i shing and pearl ing societ ies. Expanding modern planned sub-urban neighborhoods for Emirat is extend to the mult i -story urban center that houses expatr iate Arab and South Asian fami l ies. And neo-Is lamic government and educational bui ldings ref lect local pr ide in regional her i tage. Shar jah’s architecture is a unique amal-gam that dist inguishes i t f rom other cit ies across the region.

This r ich legacy of cultural encounters i s further highl ighted by Shar jah’s numerous cultural in i t iat ives. S ince i ts inception in 1993, the Shar jah Biennial has grown into one of the most inf luent ial global art inst i tut ions, Shar jah Art Foundation. The annual Shar jah International Book Fair , launched in 1982, attracts scholars and publ ishers f rom around the world. Addit ional ly, Shar jah has been named the Arab Capital of Culture as wel l as the Capital of Is lam-ic Culture in recognit ion of i ts pioneer ing cultural patronage, led by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Federal Supreme Counci l and Ruler of Shar jah s ince 1972.

The Tr iennial complements these diverse in it iat ives, focusing the conversat ion on the cr i t ical role that architecture and urbanism can play in the present and future of a welcoming and l ivable Shar jah.

SHARJAH HISTORY

Evidence of Shar jah’S history is v is ible in the cit ies and maps with archaeological evidence of human civ i l i sat ion reaching back at least 10,000 years. Excavations in the Mleiha area of Shar jah indicate that humans were already l iv ing in the area dur ing the Neol i thic Per iod, the Bronze Age and part icular ly the I ron Age (1200-400 BCE).

Almost 600 years later, the Greek geographer Ptolemy included Sarcoa (Shar jah) on one of his maps, demonstrat ing internation-al recognit ion of the Shar jah area. References to Shar jah can be found on a 1666 Dutch map, which accurately indicates the loca-t ions of Shar jah towns Calba (Kalba), Gorfocaan (Khorfakkan) and Dabba (Dibba), and an 1820 Br i t i sh Royal Navy map of the wal led city of ‘Shargah’.

Shar jah’s st rategic location and r ich natural resources have been major factors in the emirate’s economic development. From the s ixteenth to nineteenth centur ies, European powers such as Portu-gal, Hol land and Br i tain became interested in Shar jah as they vied to control t rade routes between the Mediterranean Sea and India. In addit ion to the general t rading activ i t ies, f i sh ing and pearl ing played an important role in the ear ly economy, but the pearl ing industry fel l v ict im to strong competit ion f rom Japanese cultured pearls in the 1940s and lost i ts prominence.

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WELCOME TO SHARJAH!

Please see below for some useful information you might need be-fore and dur ing your v is i t .

GENERAL DO’S AND DON’TS

•Sharjah is a fai r ly conservat ive emirate. Non-reveal ing clothing for both men and women, with shoulders and knees covered, is recommended.

•There is a very st r ict drug pol icy in the UAE. Recreational drugs are prohibited.

•The Emirate of Shar jah is a dry emirate. Alcohol i s prohibited. Vis i tors who wish to dr ink can go to hotels in Ajman or Dubai. I t i s advisable to go by taxi or have a designated dr iver. Penalt ies for drunk dr iv ing are severe.

•Bott led water i s recommended. Tap water is desal inated and can be safe, but i t i s not usual ly recommended as dr inking water.

AIRPORTS

Vis i tors to Shar jah are served by two airports , both about 20-30 mins f rom Shar jah Architecture Tr iennial recommended hotels .

1.Shar jah International Airport shar jahairport.ae 2.Dubai International Airport dubaiairports .ae

TRAVEL & TOURISM

Skyl ine Travel

Um Al Tarafa Area Arouba Street +971 6 563 6923 skyl ineuae.com Al Faisal Travel, Tour ism & Cargo Agency L.L.C.Al Murei jah Street

(aka Al Meena Road) +971 6 5683333 aftta.com Shar jah Boat Tours

Al Faisal Travel, Tourism & Cargo Agency L.L.C.

Al Murei jah Street (aka AL Meena Road) +971 6 5683333aftta.com

City Sightseeing Sharjah

Block D, Entrance 2(f i rst f loor), Al Qasba +971 6 525 5200citys ightseeingshar jah.ae

WEATHER

Temperatures f rom November to February range from 16.4°C (61.5°F) at night to 34°C (92.2°F) in the dayt ime. L ight clothes and a hat are recommended dur ing the day whi le a second layer might be needed as i t gets cooler in the evenings and in ai r con-dit ioned spaces.

ATM MACHINES

ATM machines can be found in the airport as wel l as at var ious banks in Shar jah (on Bank Street, in At las Mal l across the street f rom the Swiss-Belhotel Shar jah and next to the Corniche Post Off ice). Al l ATM locations are a f ive- to ten-minute walk f rom SAT off ices.

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UAE CURRENCY

The monetary unit i s the Arab Emirate Dirham (AED), or more s im-ply the dirham, which is div ided into 100 f i l s . The dirham is f reely convert ible, making exchange of t ravel lers cheques and currency easy. The local currency index is l inked to the US dol lar (1 USD= AED 3.67). The best rate of exchange is usual ly found in l icensed exchange off ices although banks and hotels also offer this ser-v ice.

We recommend the Al Ansar i Exchange on Al Arouba Street (+971 6 562 8778 )

Off ices are general ly open on weekdays 8:00 am–10:30 pm. On Fr iday, most off ices are open 2:00 pm–10:00 pm, but some may be open 9:00 am - 11:30 pm.

SHARJAH ARCHITECTURE TRIENNIAL

TELEPHONES

1. To cal l a UAE number f rom outs ide the country, use the country code (+971), the code for the individual emirate or mobi le phone and then the local phone number. P lease note that i f a cal l i s made ins ide the UAE, i t i s necessary to add a zero before the code for the emirate or mobi le phone. Mobi le phone codes vary and the most common codes are (0)50, (0)55 and (0)56. S IM CARDS

2. I f you want to get a local S IM card, we recommend obtaining i t at the airports ( r ight before you exit) . Et isalat business off ices and some hotels as wel l as WH Smith, Jumbo and Emax stores in the local mal ls .

• You have the option of two pr imary telecom providers in the UAE: du.ae & et isalat.ae

• The in it ial cost of the du Vis i tor Mobi le L ine is about AED 50 and includes 20 minutes of cal ls and 200 MB of data, al l prepaid for seven days.

SHARJAH HOTELS

1.Radisson Blu Resort Corniche Street, P.O. Box 3527, Shar jah +971 6 565 7777radissonblu.com

2.Swiss-Belhotel Shar jah Al Arouba Street, P.O. Box 5734, Shar jah +971 6 563 7777swiss-belhotel .com

3.Hi l ton Shar jah Corniche Street, Al Majaz 3, Shar jah +971 6 519 2222www3.hi l ton.com

4.Copthorne Hotel Shar jah Corniche Street, Al Majaz 3, P.O. Box 39887, Shar jah +971 6 593 0555mil lenniumhotels .com

5.Sheraton Shar jah Beach Resort and Spa Al Muntazah Street, Shar jah +971 6 563 0000 sheratonshar jah.com

LOCAL TRANSPORT

1.Taxis

Taxis operat ing in Shar jah are metered and the minimum fare for a tr ip in a Shar jah taxi i s AED 13.50. For t r ips within Shar jah, the cost ranges f rom AED 11.50 to AED 30. Vis i tors should expect to pay AED 70-100 (with an addit ional AED 20 surcharge added) to travel to Dubai and around AED 300 to go to Abu Dhabi.

2. Careem

Vis i tors should note that there is heavy traff ic going from Shar jah to Dubai between 6:00 and 10:00 am and from Dubai to Shar jah between 4:00 and 8:00 pm.

A smart taxi service cal led Careem (careem.com) also operates in Shar jah. Accessed through a free smart phone app, the service determines the location of the prospective passenger and sends a car. Careem accepts both cash and credit cards.

Taxi companies with telephone numbers are l i s ted below. For on-l ine booking for Shar jah government taxis , v is i t s r ta.gov.ae.

1.Shar jah Taxi +971 6 535 6111Tol l f ree number: 600 52 52 52

2.Emirates Cab +971 6 539 6666

3.Cit i Taxi +971 6 533 3550

4.Union Taxi +971 6 532 5555

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CAR HIRE

Vis i tors with a val id dr iv ing l icense from any of the fol lowing countr ies are permitted to dr ive a pr ivate or hi red vehicle in the UAE: Austral ia, Austr ia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republ ic, Denmark, F in land, France, Germany, Greece, Hol land, Iceland, I reland, I taly, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, S ingapore, S lovakia, South Afr ica, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzer land, Turkey, UK and US. Al l other v is i tors must hold an International Dr iv ing Permit ( IDP) issued by their home country. GCC nationals may dr ive on their respective l icenses within the UAE. For more information about dr iv ing l icences, see shar jah.ae.

Vis i tors on a vis i t v isa can also obtain a Temporary Dr iv ing L icense, which is i ssued at the Shar jah Traff ic & L icensing Department, Al Ramtha (+971 6 538 1111) at a cost of AED 80. The l icense is val id for one month and renewable for a further month at a cost of AED 30.

You can rent a car f rom the airport in Dubai orShar jah also has a number of local and international agencies. The minimum age for car rental i s 21. To hi re a car, v is i tors must produce their passport, two photos and a national or international dr iv ing l icence. The hi re rate per day for smal ler vehicles, including insurance, starts at AED 80, but pr ices vary.

1.Autolease Rent A Car Shar jah International Airport and DHL Bui lding,King Faisal Street, Al Majaz 1 (near Spinneys supermarket) +971 6 573 5333autolease-uae.com

2.Fast Rent A Car Shar jah International Airport and Al Wahda Street +971 6 533 8877fastuae.com

3.Hertz Shar jah International Airport and Al Wahda Street +971 6 552 8290+971 6 553 0964hertz.ae

8. Maximum Shar jah International Airport, Radisson Blu Resort and Al Khan Street+971 6 550 1515+971 6 556 0601 maximumcarrentals .com

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Pol ice: 999 Ambulance: 998

HOSPITALS

1.Al Zahra Hospital Clock Tower Roundabout +971 6 561 9999 alzahra.com

2.Zulekha Hospital Al Zahra Street+971 6 506 0000 zulekhahospitals .com

3.Central Pr ivate Hospital Sheikh Zayed Street, Mysaloon area +971 6 516 9221 centralpr i -vatehospital .ae

PHARMACIES

1.Mi l lennium Pharmacy Arouba Street, north s ide of Al Murei jah area +971 6 568 9416

2.Lamia Pharmacy Behind Al Corniche Post Off ice, Al Shuwaiheen area Next to Bait Al Bahar Trading+971 6 568 0781

MOSQUES

1.Al Daleel Mosque Bui l t in 1919, one of the oldest mosques in Shar jah Across f rom the Col lect ions Bui lding, Arts Square Next to Shar jah Art MuseumLadies sect ion avai lable

2.Al Maghfi rah Mosque Corniche Street, Al Seef area. Next to Radisson Blu Resort Ladies sect ion avai lable

3.Al Noor Mosque Near Khal id Lagoon, Majaz 1 area. On Al Buhairah Corniche La-dies sect ion avai lable

4.King Faisal Mosque Largest mosque in Shar jahKing Faisal Street, Al Soor area. Between Shar jah Central Post Of-f ice and Central SouqLadies sect ion avai lable

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BEACHES

Publ ic beaches in Shar jah are located across the city of Shar jah. Please note that Shar jah is a conservat ive emirate, and the dress code ( i .e. shoulders and knees covered) appl ies in al l publ ic ar-eas. In beach areas that are pr ivately owned or operated, stan-dard swimwear is acceptable.

Publ ic beachesThe area from Al Khan Lagoon to Al Mamzar Lagoon, s i tuated on the border between Dubai and Shar jah, i s an active location for motor ised water sports.

1.Al Corniche Beach is a peaceful beach area with palm trees st retching from the Shar jah Ladies Club to the Coral Beach Resort .

2.Al Khan Beach, located in the histor ic Al Khan area close to the Shar jah Aquarium, offers both beach sports act iv i t ies and areas for sunbathing. Managed by G20, the 600-metre beach area can be booked for pr ivate and corporate events.

Pr ivate beaches in hotels and clubs (fees charged) 1.Kempinski Ajman Weekdays: Chi ldren (under age 12) AED 50, Adults (12+ years) AED 150. Weekends and publ ic hol idays: Chi ldren (under age 12) AED 75, Adults (12+ years) AED 200Pr ices include pool access.+971 6 714 5555kempinski .com

2.Coral Beach Resort Shar jah Weekdays: AED 75. Weekends and publ ic hol idays: AED 150 + 971 6 522 9999hmhhotelgroup.com

3.Radisson Blu Resort Bay Club Weekdays: Chi ldren (under 5 years) f ree, Chi ldren (5-16 years) AED 60, Adults (12+ years) AED 100. Weekends and publ ic hol i -days: Chi ldren (under 5 years) f ree, Chi ldren (5-16 years) AED 75, Adults (12+ years) AED 150 +971 6 565 7777 radissonblu.com

USEFUL SERVICES

Al Jubai l Mobi le Phone Trading This shop repairs mobi le phones.Al Murei jah Street (aka Al Meena Road) Opening t imes: 8:30 am – 11:30 pm +971 52 734 7738

Al Mutanabbi Bookstore This store has a good range of books, art suppl ies and stat ionery. Off Al Murei jah Street, behind old Shar jah cinema, Al Murei jah area +971 6 568 3499

Dar Al Hayat Bookstore This store sel ls art suppl ies and stat ionery. Near Shar jah Central Post Off ice+971 6 572 3736

New Century Computer LLC This organisat ion works with both companies and individuals. They sel l hardware and software and offer services such as computer repair and data recovery.Al Murei jah Street (aka Al Meena Road) Opening t imes: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm +971 6 569 3939newcenturycomputers.com

Tanya Typing & Photocopy Centre This company photocopies documents and provides typing ser-v ices for legal documents.Al Arouba Street near Rol la Square+971 6 561 3021

Al Shuwaiheen Area - Shar jah Art Foundation bui ldings, Arts SquareSaturday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm, Fr iday: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm +971 6 568 5050shar jahart.org

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Bait Al Shamsi

Located across f rom the Shar jah Art Museum, Bait Al Shamsi i s a histor ic creekside house bui l t around 1845 and part ial ly restored in 1997. With excel lent v iews of the neighbourhood and the nearby creek, the house has been used for art ist studios and res idency spaces as wel l as Shar jah Art Foundation exhibit ions, the Shar jah Biennial and other publ ic and pr ivate events.

Bait Al Serkal

A three-storey house bui l t in the nineteenth century, Bait Al Serkal was once the res idence of the Br i t i sh Commiss ioner for the Arabi-an Gulf and members of the rul ing Al Qasimi fami ly. In the ear ly 1960s, the house was transformed into the f i rst hospital in Shar jah, where many prominent res idents of the city were born. The house was restored in the ear ly 1990s and is now used for Shar jah Art Foundation exhibit ions, the Shar jah Biennial and other publ ic and pr ivate events.

Sharjah Art Museum

Shar jah Art Museum, one of the main landmarks in Arts Square, was inaugurated dur ing Shar jah Biennial 3 in Apr i l 1997. Housing both permanent col lect ions and temporary exhibit ions, the mu-seum presents works by international and Arab art ists who have explored the history and culture of the region. Art ists with works in the permanent col lect ion include Abdulqader Al Rais , Louay Kay-al i , Bashir S inwar, Faiq Hassan, Mohammed Yusuf and Ismai l Fatah Al Turk. Saturday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Fr iday: 4:00 – 8:00 pm Ad-miss ion f ree+971 6 568 8222 shar jahmuseums.ae

Collections Bui lding

The Col lect ions Bui lding used to house the Oriental ist paint ing col lect ion of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi, part of which has now been moved to the second f loor of the Shar jah Art Mu-seum on Arts Square. Current ly, the Col lect ions Bui lding is used most ly for SAF workshops and events, but some exhibit ions are held there as wel l . Shar jah Art Inst i tute The Shar jah Art Inst i tute, located between the Col lect ions Bui lding and Bait Al Serkal , offers special ised courses in drawing, paint ing, sculpture, ceramics, graphics and the history of art . +971 6 568 8800 heartofshar jah.ae

Sharjah Al Hisn Museum

Located on Bank Street (also cal led Al Hisn Street) on the div iding l ine between Al Shuwaiheen and Al Murei jah, the Shar jah Al Hisn Museum is housed in an 1823 fort that has served as the seat of Shar jah government, the res idence of the rul ing Al Qasimi fami ly, a jai l and now a her i tage museum. Vis i tors can see a var iety of histor ic photographs and objects such as t radit ional weapons that offer ins ight into Shar jah’s dai ly l i fe and governance over the last two centur ies. Saturday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Fr iday: 4:00 – 8:00 pm Ad-miss ion fees: Chi ldren (2-12 years) AED 5, Adults (13+ years) AED 10 +971 6 568 5500shar jahmuseums.ae

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Sharjah Art Foundation bui ldings [ Al Murei jah ]

Close to the intersect ion between Al Murei jah Street and Corniche StreetSaturday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm, Fr iday: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm +971 6 568 5050 shar jahart.org

Emirates Fine Arts Society

Establ ished as a non-prof i t organisat ion in 1980, the Emirates F ine Arts Society has been instrumental in nurtur ing Emirat i art-i sts , represent ing art ists at local and international art events and providing media support. The Society, which is located next to the Shar jah Art Foundation off ices, also promotes art education and art appreciat ion with a focus on Emirat i art ists . In addit ion, the Society organises courses and produces a range of f ine arts publ icat ions. Saturday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm, Sunday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Closed on Fr iday+971 6 568 4488 artsuae.ae

Sharjah Call igraphy Museum

Located in the histor ic house of Hamad Al Midfaa, the Shar jah Cal l igraphy Museum is the only museum in the Arab world devot-ed ent i rely to cal l igraphy. The museum, located in Cal l igraphy Square, features works by local art ists and wel l - known interna-t ional cal l igraphers. The miss ion of the museum is to inspire an appreciat ion for Arabic cal l igraphy and preserve the cultural her i tage. Saturday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Fr iday: 4:00 – 8:00 pm Ad-miss ion fees: Chi ldren (2-12 years) AED 5, Adults (13+ years) AED 10 +971 6 569 4561shar jahmuseums.ae

Sharjah Heri tage Museum

Opened or iginal ly in 2003 and expanded for a 2012 reopening, the Shar jah Her i tage Museum consists of s ix gal ler ies cover ing the landscape, l i festy le, celebrat ions, l ivel ihoods, t radit ional knowl-edge and oral t radit ions of Shar jah. Saturday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Fr iday: 4:00 – 8:00 pm Ad-miss ion fees: Chi ldren (2-12 years) AED 5, Adults (13+ years) AED 10 +971 6 568 0006shar jahmuseums.ae

Sharjah National Theatre In Shar jah, theatre is valued as one of the most important con-tr ibutors to the development of culture and publ ic opinion. The Shar jah National Theatre was establ ished in 1975 under the pa-tronage of HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi to pro-duce meaningful plays and further the development of theatre in Shar jah. The Shar jah National Theatre hosts theatr ical , cultural and intel lectual forums as wel l as a number of lectures, seminars and workshops. I t has also part icipated in theatre fest ivals in the UAE and international ly. +971 6 568 6600 heartofshar jah.ae

Sharjah Inst i tute of Theatr ical Arts

Home of two state-of-the-art proscenium theatres, one that seats 209 and one accommodating 266, the Shar jah Inst i tute of Theatr i -cal Arts promotes the culture of theatre in Shar jah by providing a stage for theatre, drama training, theatr ical workshops and ac-ademic studies. The inst i tute also hosts conferences and school productions. +971 6 568 1333 heartofshar jah.ae

Emirates Handcraft Centre

Under the supervis ion of the Shar jah Inst i tute of Her i tage, the Emir-ates Handcraft Centre includes informational displaysabout local architecture and food and handcrafts related to the date palm. Of great interest i s the tradit ional house that hoststhe Emirates Handcraft Centre, which is cal led Bait Al Mazroo’a. Located on the edge of Al Murei jah next to the Corniche, the house has 17 rooms bui l t around a courtyard. +971 6 509 2666 shar jah-her i tage.ae Sharjah City Walls

The remaining sect ions of the Shar jah city wal l , which dates f rom the 16th century, enclose the s ide of Al Murei jah furthest away from the Corniche. The wal l , l ike the tradit ional houses, was bui l t f rom coral and gypsum.

Sharjah Museum of Is lamic Civi l isat ion [Al Majarrah]

Arranged across seven spacious gal ler ies and display areas, the Shar jah Museum of Is lamic Civi l i sat ion houses more than f ive thousand artefacts related to science, coinage, maps and art f rom around the Is lamic world. The museum opened in a renovat-ed house in the Her i tage Area in 1996 and then moved in 2008 to i ts current home in a converted Middle Eastern souq on the Cor-niche, a short distance from the Shar jah Art Museum. Saturday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Fr iday: 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm Admiss ion fees: Chi ldren (2-12 years) AED 5, Adults (13+ years) AED 10 +971 6 565 5455is lamicmuseum.ae

Al Mahatta Museum [Al Manakh]

This museum is dedicated to aviat ion history, with a part icular focus on the UAE. Named after the f i rst ai rport in the Gulf region, the museum explores f l ight development and aviat ion history f rom the 1930s to the present. One of the main attract ions is the col lect ion of ful ly restored propel ler planes and the or iginal refuel l ing tanker used at the Shar jah airport. Saturday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Fr iday: 4:00 – 8:00 pm Ad-miss ion fees: Chi ldren (2-12 years) AED 5, Adults (13+ years) AED 10 +971 6 573 3079shar jahmuseums.ae

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Khalid Lagoon [Al Majaz]

Khal id Lagoon, also known by i ts Arabic name Al Buhairah, i s located on the s i te of one of the ear l iest known Arabian Gulf sett lements, and some of i ts current res idents can trace their an-cestry to that ear ly per iod. Now an art i f ic ial lagoon spread over 1,720,000 square hectares of water surface, i t i s always a favou-r i te place for evening strol l s , fami ly picnics, abra boat t r ips and Shar jah Fountain l ight and music shows. Also located in the Kha-l id Lagoon area are Al Montazah Amusement and Water Park, Al Majaz Amphitheatre and Flag Is land, which has the seventh tal lest f lagpole in the world, design spaces and a restaurant.

Al Majaz Waterfront [Between Al Majaz]

Located on the Khal id Lagoon close to the Shar jah Fountain, Al Majaz Waterfront features a lakefront garden, jogging path, chi l -dren’s playground, t rain and boat r ides and miniature golf as wel l as a mosque and restaurants. On display in the Maraya Art Park is Wafaa Bi lal’s The Hierarchy of Being, a domed sculpture designed to recreate the camera obscura effect. +971 6 552 1552 almajaz.ae

Al Noor Is land [Al Majaz 1]

Cover ing 45,470 square metres, Noor Is land merges art and nature to create a quiet sanctuary in the middle of Shar jah. Included in the artworks are the OVO, Torus and EdgarTezak sculptures and l ight paint ings, al l jo ined together by a 3,500-metre walkway bordered by l ight instal lat ions and gardens containing plants f rom around the world. The is land is also home to a Butterf ly House and L iterature Pavi l ion. Saturday – Wednesday: 9:00 am – 11:00 pmThursday – Fr iday: 9:00 am – midnightAdmiss ion fees: Chi ldren (under 3 years) f ree,Chi ldren (3-11 years) AED 30, Adults (12+ years) AED 50 +971 6 506 7000 alnoor is land.ae

Sharjah Centre for Cultural Communication (SCCC) and Al Noor Mosque [Al Majaz 1]

The best known of Shar jah’s over 600 mosques is Al Noor Mosque. Located next to the Khal id Lagoon on the Buhairah Corniche, Al Noor Mosque is an example of t radit ional Is lamic architecture. Completed in 2005, the mosque features an intr icate f ramework, sweeping curves and soar ing spires. Under the auspices of the Shar jah Centre for Cultural Communication, Al Noor Mosque is the f i rst mosque in Shar jah to open i ts doors to the expatr iate com-munity and Shar jah vis i tors so that they may learn about the UAE national culture and rel igion. Vis i tors can join a special one-hour tour of Al Noor Mosque every Monday at 10:00 am. Registrat ion is required. Pr ivate vis i ts can also be arranged upon request. SCCC off ice in Souq Al Arsah open on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednes-day and Thursday: 8:00 am – 2:00 pm+971 6 568 0055shjculture.com

Al Qasba [Al Khan]

A centre for art , tour ist and business act iv i t ies, Al Qasba is locat-ed along a one-ki lometre- long manmade canal and features pe-destr ian br idges, a 250-seat theatre, a 60-metre-high Ferr is wheel and the Maraya Art Centre, a three-storey creative space with exhibit ion areas, mult imedia faci l i t ies, a video archive and l ibrary. The Bar jeel Art Foundation is also located in the Maraya bui lding. Vis i tors to Al Qasba can f ind restaurants serving local and interna-t ional food, boats for hi re and activ i t ies for chi ldren. +971 6 525 2444 alqasba.ae

Sharjah Mari t ime Museum [Al Khan]

The Marit ime Museum features information about the role of the sea in the development of Shar jah l i fe f rom 6,000 years ago unt i l modern t imes. Special exhibits focus on wooden seafar ing dhows and pearl ing and f ishing in the Gulf . Ships, pear ls and tools used for seafar ing activ i t ies are displayed. Saturday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Fr iday: 4:00 – 10:00 pm Admiss ion fees: Chi ldren (2-12 years) AED 5, Adults (13+ years) AED 10 +971 6 522 2002shar jahmuseums.ae

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Sharjah Aquarium [Al Khan]

The Shar jah Aquarium, a marine nature reserve, has an impress ive display of more than 150 species, including smal l f i sh, rare eels and reef sharks. The aquarium aims to increase awareness of the importance of the marine environment and the means to protect i t . Saturday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Fr iday: 4:00 – 10:00 pm Closed on SundaysAdmiss ion fees (a joint t icket with the Marit ime Museum): Chi ldren (under 2 years) f ree, Chi ldren (2-12) AED 15, Adults (13+ years) AED 25 +971 6 528 5288 shar jahmuseums.ae

Sharjah Archaeology Museum [Halwan/Al Abar]

The Shar jah Archaeology Museum houses col lect ions of artefacts that bear witness to human habitat ion in Shar jah f rom the Stone Age unt i l the r ise of Is lam. S ignif icant pieces in the col lect ionare an ivory comb ins ide an alabaster bowl (2200-2000 BCE), a ceramic dome and camel statue (900-600 BCE) and a golden br idle (150 BCE-200 CE). The museum has also exhibited artefacts f rom Petra in Jordan. Saturday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Fr iday: 4:00 – 8:00 pm Ad-miss ion fees: Chi ldren (2-12 years) AED 5, Adults (13+ years) AED 10 +971 6 566 5466shar jahmuseums.ae

Universi ty City

Establ ished in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Moham-med Al Qasimi, member of the Federal Supreme Counci l and Ruler of Shar jah, Univers i ty City is home to more than 10 educational inst i tut ions and over 22,000 students. Cover ing11 square k i lometres and s i tuated along a wide landscaped bou-levard, the var ious univers i ty bui ldings feature a range of archi-tectural sty les, including ornate entrance gates and great domed l ibrar ies and classroom bui ldings.

Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre for Gulf Studies* [Univers i ty City]

Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre for Gulf Studies provides researchers with integrated and comprehensive histor ical and geographical research mater ials that t race the development, history and her i-tage of l i fe in the Arabian Gulf .The centre exhibits artefacts and publ icat ions f rom the pr ivate col lect ion of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qass imi.

Included are or iginal and histor ical col lectors’ maps, the f i rst images of the region and rare coins with special relevance to the Gulf as wel l as His Highness’s publ ished works, degrees, awards and documentat ion of his ear ly l i fe. In addit ion to His Highness’s pr ivate col lect ion, the centre houses a l ibrary and archive with more than one and a half mi l l ion histor ical documents, maps and records, some of which are rare. Sunday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Closed on Fr iday and Satur-dayFree admiss ion +971 6 558 5855 dsqc.ae * The Centre is relocating to the opposite end of Univers i ty City. Some exhibits may be closed.

ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES

Archaeological s i tes bearing witness to ancient civ i l i sat ionsin Shar jah can be found al l across the emirate. Only some are reg-ular ly open to the publ ic; others can be vis i ted by appointment only. Three examples are presented below. Information about the others can be found on the website of the Shar jah Archaeology Author i ty, which is located within the Shar jah Archaeology Muse-um in the Halwan area of the city. +971 6 566 8001 shar jaharchaeology.com

Mleiha Archaeological Centre

Located about 45 minutes f rom Shar jah City, the Mleiha Archae-ological Centre offers i s bui l t around a preserved Umm Al Nar era tomb and concentrates on archaeological s i tes ranging from the Palaeol i th ic to the modern age. Excavations and discover-ies made over the past 40 years in Mleiha and surrounding areas ( including Al Thuqeibah, Jebel Faya, Al Madam and Jebel Buhais) , part icular ly the important Faya North East f indings, provide ev-idence that ‘anatomical ly modern humans’ were in the Mleiha area between 130,000 and 120,000 years ago and point to the spread of humanity f rom Afr ica across the Red Sea to the Gulf region. Interest ing s i tes include Foss i l Rock, Um an-Nar Tomb and the Mleiha Fort . An on-s i te restaurant serves food from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Saturday – Wednesday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm Thursday – Fr iday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pmAdmiss ion var ies according to act iv i t ies undertaken +971 6 883 1111 discovermleiha.ae

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We are grateful to our partner Shar jah Art Foundation for providing for the research and text for the Shar jah Vis i tors’ Guide.

For any further quest ion please contact Shar jah Architecture Tr iennial Off ices at info@sharjaharchitecturetr iennial .org