Sharjah's Cultural Heritage: Museums, Architecture, and Urban Life
Sharjah, the third-largest emirate in the UAE, successfully merges cultural heritage with tourism and economic development. The Heart of Sharjah project seeks to restore the historic area to its 1950s appearance. Notable landmarks include Al Hisn Sharjah fort, originally constructed in 1823 and renovated between 1996 and 1997, as well as Souq Al Arsah and Bait Al Naboodah from the 1840s. The Sharjah Art Museum, which spans 111,000 square meters, showcases modern art and the exhibition Parallel Histories until June. The Al Mahatta Museum chronicles aviation history, while the Sharjah Archaeological Museum, established on October 5, 1997, contains over 1,000 artifacts. The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, which opened in 2008, features 5,000 items. The Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre covers 12 square kilometers and is home to over 30 species. Religious diversity is highlighted by Al Noor Mosque (2003) and various churches.
Key facts
- Sharjah is the third-largest emirate in the UAE, facing both the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
- The Heart of Sharjah restoration project aims to return the historic center to its 1950s state.
- Al Hisn Sharjah fort was built in 1823 by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi.
- The fort was partially demolished in January 1970 and rebuilt between January 1996 and April 1997.
- Bait Al Naboodah was built in the 1840s by pearl merchant Obaid Bin Isa Bin Ali Al Shamsi.
- Sharjah Art Museum spans 111,000 square meters with 64 galleries.
- The current exhibition Parallel Histories runs until June.
- Al Mahatta Museum is housed in the former airport built by the British in 1932.
Entities
Artists
- Abdulqader Al Rais
- Louay Kayali
- Bashir Sinwar
- Faiq Hassan
- Mohammed Yusuf
- Ismail Fatah Al-Turk
- Bradley-Weaver
- Khalid Mezaina
- Joris De Raedt
- Obaid Bin Isa Bin Ali Al Shamsi
- Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi
- Sheikh Khalid bin Muhammad
- Sheikh Saqr bin Sultan
- Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad
- Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi
- Uthman ibn Affan
Institutions
- Sharjah Art Museum
- Barjeel Art Foundation
- Cobra Museum of Modern Art
- Tate Britain
- Gibran Museum
- Al Mahatta Museum
- Sharjah Archaeological Museum
- Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
- Buhais Geological Park
- Hopkins Architects
- Al Hefaiyah Mountain Conservation Centre
- Environment and Protected Areas Authority
- Artribune
Locations
- Sharjah
- United Arab Emirates
- Persian Gulf
- Gulf of Oman
- Dubai
- Abu Dhabi
- Sharjah City
- Al Hisn Sharjah
- Souq Al Arsah
- Souq al Shanasiyah
- Bait Al Naboodah
- Buhaira Corniche
- Al Noor Mosque
- Khaled Lagoon
- Istanbul
- Amsterdam
- London
- Bsharri
- Lebanon
- Jebel Buhais
- Khor Kalba
- India
- Pakistan
- Indochina