Sharjah International Airport - Flight Information and Guide (SHJ)

Sharjah International Airport serves the emirate of the same name, known as the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates, approximately 10-13 km from the city center.

It is an important hub for regional low-cost flights, a more economical alternative to Dubai, just a few kilometers away.

Content verified on 04/09/2026

Official source: www.sharjahairport.ae/en

How to get to Sharjah International Airport

Sharjah city centre is approximately 10-13 km from the airport: the transfer takes approximately 15-30 minutes by taxi.

By Car

Visitors arriving by car reach central Sharjah in approximately 15-30 minutes; Dubai is reachable in approximately 30-45 minutes.

By Train

There is no way to reach the airport by train.

By Bus

Some public bus lines connect the airport to the city centre and to Dubai.

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Tips Sharjah is often used as a more economical stopover to also reach Dubai, about 30-45 minutes away: check intercity bus connections if your hotel is in the Dubai area.

Average travel time to SHJ

TrainNot available

Shuttle busService available

Taxi / Private hire15-30 minutes (50-85 AED)

Parking near Sharjah International Airport

The multi-level car park is located right next to the terminal.

The rates are generally lower compared to Dubai.

How to get to Sharjah from SHJ

By Train

There is no direct rail connection with the airport.

By Bus

Some public bus lines connect the airport to the centre and to Dubai.

By Taxi

The starting fare is 12 AED plus 2.8 AED/km, with a 20 AED airport surcharge: roughly 50-85 AED to the centre of Sharjah.

Need an airport transfer?

Compare taxis and shuttles on Booking.com

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Car rental at Sharjah International Airport

The desks of major car rental companies are in the arrivals area.

You need driving license, passport and credit card; IDP is normally required as well.

Hotels near Sharjah International Airport

Sharjah Airport is inland, far from the seafront: those with only a short layover find a budget hotel right opposite the terminal, but those who want the sea or the city centre need to travel 15-25 minutes towards the Corniche and the Khalid lagoon. Watch out for several hotels describing themselves as "close to Dubai" rather than to Sharjah: some, like the DoubleTree on the Al Majaz waterfront, are actually closer to Dubai Airport (13 km) than to Sharjah Airport (23 km), even though they remain within the emirate's borders.

Airport area

At the airport

About 1.3 km from the terminal, in the Al Qarayen/Muwaileh area, opposite the airport.

Best for: Short layovers and dawn departures, when only the minutes from the terminal matter.

Pros

The only hotel literally opposite the Sharjah terminal
Among the lowest rates in this guide

Cons

A basic 2-star property, with simple rooms and even dormitories
An outlying area with no restaurants or evening life nearby

Recommended hotels

Sharjah International Airport Hotel About 1.3 km from the terminal, in the Muwaileh suburb: simple rooms, executive pods and even dormitories, designed only for those needing to rest between two flights. View availability

See more hotels in this area

Neighbourhood

Corniche, Al Majaz and the Khalid lagoon

About 11.6-23 km from Sharjah airport depending on the hotel; the DoubleTree is also only 13 km from Dubai airport.

Best for: Those who want the seafront, the Khalid lagoon and the beach, 15-25 minutes from the airport.

Pros

Direct private beach for the Sheraton, overlooking the sea on Al Muntazah Street
Golden Tulip and DoubleTree are on the Khalid lagoon, 5 minutes on foot from the City Centre Mall

Cons

Longer distances from the airport than in the terminal area
The DoubleTree is geographically closer to Dubai: useful to know when planning the transfer from there

Recommended hotels