Sharjah: The hidden city of culture and heritage

Sharjah has a lot of attraction, it is very similar to its famous neighbor Dubai, and in fact many Emiratis consider Sharjah one of the most important cities there. Many important cultural events are held in the city of Sharjah by specialization, and this is because Sharjah is considered the cultural capital of the Emirates. Sharjah has a folklore rich in detail. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are perhaps more famous and international because they are tourist cities, but the city of Sharjah has a mixture of culture, modernity and heritage, and this makes it a global cultural tourist destination. In this article, we will explain the most important cultural events and tourist activities that can be done in Sharjah so that you can enjoy visiting this beautiful city.

Cultural Events

The city of Sharjah is considered one of the most interested cities in the UAE in the entire Arab world, so there are many diverse museums, and many annual events and cultural festivals held in the name of the city of Sharjah itself:

Sharjah Book Fair

The Sharjah Book Fair is one of the largest book fairs in the world, and all writers and authors from all over the world are invited in all languages, and many events are held there, such as signing ceremonies for the most famous writers in the world, and this is an opportunity for readers and fans to meet their favorite writers. Also, many new books are launched in this exhibition, along with educational workshops, and cultural performances, so that this exhibition is a real festival that happens every year in November.

Sharjah Cultural Award

The Sharjah Creativity Award is one of the oldest cultural awards as it was established in 1981 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Rulers of Sharjah. The aim of this award was to encourage the creative process in the Arab region in all cultural fields, and the prize is reserved for novel writers, short stories, children's literature, critical studies and poetry.

Sharjah Visual Arts Exhibitions

There is more than one exhibition specialized in the field of visual performances in Sharjah held annually, such as the Biennial Festival, to which many architects and designers from all countries of the world are invited to display their works and architectural masterpieces, and this festival also includes the display of many sculptures, drawings, photographs and modern plastic arts. There is also the Sharjah International Visual Arts Exhibition, where many Arab, international and local artists gather to display their latest works and creations, including works of art and plastic arts.

Sharjah City Museums

There are many heritage and art museums in the city of Sharjah, and this made visitors feel permanently that this city tends to cultural and heritage tendency significantly, due to the availability of many museums and art galleries permanently to visit there, here are the most important of these museums to visit:

Sharjah Museum of Fine Arts

Sharjah Art Museum This museum is built on an area of 111,000 square meters of various galleries. It was established in 1997 for the purpose of hosting the most important art exhibitions during the year. It consists of a main building consisting of three floors, which includes many multifunctional galleries, also contains important pieces of art by local and international artists, and there are many of these pieces that reflect the Emirati heritage in particular, educational workshops are also held in the museum periodically in addition to events and open art dialogues that aim to enhance the value of art in the Emirates, visiting hours are from Saturday to Thursday from eight in the morning until eight in the evening.

Sharjah Heritage Museum

Established in 2003, the Sharjah Heritage Museum is located in the old area of Sharjah, which is considered the most important area in the city of Sharjah, reflecting the traditional aspects of Emirati heritage. The museum's building is built in the traditional Emirati Arabian style, and the purpose of this building was to introduce the Arab structure and the Emirati identity through the general form of the Heritage Museum. The museum includes many important pieces related to Emirati heritage, such as jewelry, old pieces of furniture, old and modern traditional clothes, and tools used by the people of the Emirates in the past. The museum also hosts many cultural shows and events during the year. The museum is open daily on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and the rest of the week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission tickets are between AED 5 - AED 5.

Sharjah Children's Museum (Sharjah Discovery Centre)

The Children's Museum in Sharjah was established in 2005, and it is one of Sharjah's most important cultural projects, located in the Al Qasba area, which can be easily traveled by bus, because it is the heart of the city. The value and importance of this museum is due to the fact that it provides a distinctive educational environment that encourages children of all ages to love learning, through the use of interactive learning techniques, where the educational process turns into an enjoyable process in various fields such as science, technology, arts and culture. There are a lot of activities that can be practiced there, such as interactive play by passing by children in the various sections of the museum such as the world of water games, Sharjah International Airport for children, the Human Body Exhibition and the City of Construction, all of these sections are interactive places for children to learn about the most important professions and sciences, but in a realistic and simplified way.

Conclusion

The city of Sharjah represents an essential part of the Emirati heritage and culture, through continuous support for art and culture through several major events such as the Sharjah Book Fair, and the Sharjah Cultural Award, which is considered one of the oldest and most important Arab awards in the field of literature and culture, and the city of Sharjah pays great attention to preserving the Emirati heritage through the establishment of many important museums such as the Emirates Heritage Museum, the Sharjah Museum of Fine Arts and the Children's Museum, which instills the value of culture and science in children there.