Sharjah: the cultural capital of the Emirates

The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, housed in a former waterfront market, displays manuscripts, scientific instruments, and Islamic art from around the world.

Steps away, Souk Al Arsah, among the Emirates' oldest covered markets, preserves traditional architecture in wood and coral dating to before the oil discovery.

Heading toward the coast, you visit Souk Al Majarrah, known as the "Blue Souk" for its turquoise domes, selling carpets and traditional handicrafts.

Toward evening, Sharjah's Corniche, along the city's lagoon, animates families and evening strolls.

Sharjah was named UNESCO's Islamic Cultural Capital in 2014 thanks to its extraordinary concentration of museums, galleries, and libraries compared to other emirates.

Unlike Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Sharjah enforces more conservative laws prohibiting the sale and public consumption of alcohol, reflecting a distinct cultural identity within the Emirates and strong commitment to education.