Sharjah Museums: A Comprehensive Guide to the Top 9 Museums

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Sharjah is one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE and is considered the capital of culture and arts in the region. Sharjah has many diverse and distinctive museums that display its history, heritage, civilization, sciences and arts.

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  • Sharjah is renowned as the cultural and artistic capital of the UAE, offering a variety of museums that celebrate its rich heritage and history.
  • The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization features extensive collections that highlight contributions of Islamic culture in science, art, and daily life.
  • At the Sharjah Heritage Museum, visitors can explore restored historic homes that vividly depict traditional life across various environments in the UAE.
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  • With over 250 marine species, the Sharjah Aquarium provides an immersive experience into the diverse underwater ecosystems of the region.
  • The Calligraphy Museum in Sharjah preserves and showcases the elegance and evolution of Arabic and Islamic calligraphic art.
  • Science enthusiasts will enjoy the Sharjah Science Museum, which offers over 200 interactive exhibits that make learning scientific principles engaging and fun.
  • From aviation history at the Station Museum to maritime heritage at the Sharjah Maritime Museum, the emirate offers educational insights into its development and global connections.

In this article, we will review the 9 best museums in Sharjah that you can visit and enjoy. We'll talk about what makes each museum special, what you can learn and see in it, the working time and the price of a ticket. We hope this guide was helpful and interesting for you.

1. Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization

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The Museum of Islamic Civilization is one of the most important museums in Sharjah, located in the heart of the city on Al Khan Beach. The museum displays an impressive collection of antiquities, art, manuscripts, coins and jewellery representing Islamic civilization from its inception to the modern era.

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The museum has seven main sections: Islam and Science, Islam and Art, Islam and Architecture, Islam and Everyday Life, Islam and Hajj, Islam and the Qur'an, and Islam and the Middle East.

When you visit this museum, you will learn about the achievements of Muslims in various fields, and you will see wonderful works of art that reflect the beauty, creativity and cultural diversity of Islamic civilization.

2. Sharjah Heritage Museum

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The Heritage Museum is a museum that aims to preserve and disseminate the folklore, social and cultural heritage of Sharjah and the UAE. Located in the Shuwaiheen area, the museum consists of six historic houses that have been restored and equipped with furniture, collectibles, photographs, clothing and tools that reflect people's lives in the past.

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The museum includes five main sections: the Department of Marine Environment, the Department of Desert Environment, the Department of Agricultural Environment, the Department of Social Life, and the Department of Crafts and Traditional Industries.

As you tour the sections of this museum, you will discover the history, traditions, customs, professions, arts, music, dance, games, and cuisine of Sharjah and the UAE.

3. Sharjah Archaeology Museum

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Sharjah Archaeology Museum is a museum that displays the history of Sharjah and the Emirates from the Stone Ages to the Islamic era. The museum is located in the Lake District and includes three main sections: the prehistoric section, the antiquity section, and the Islamic era section.

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The museum displays an amazing collection of antiquities, jewellery, utensils, weapons, coins, sculptures, mummies and tombs discovered at various archaeological sites in Sharjah and the UAE. In this museum you can learn about the life and culture of the peoples who have lived in this region through the ages.

4. Sharjah Aquarium

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The Sharjah Aquarium is a museum showcasing the diversity and beauty of marine life in the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean. Located in Al Khan, the museum features 20 aquariums containing more than 250 species of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, invertebrates and marine plants.

In this museum you will enjoy viewing local, threatened and alien species of marine organisms, and watching their behavior, nutrition and interaction with each other.

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5. Sharjah Calligraphy Museum

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Sharjah Calligraphy Museum is a museum that aims to preserve, develop and disseminate the art of Arabic and Islamic calligraphy. Located in Shuwaiheen area, the museum consists of three historic buildings that have been restored and equipped with calligraphy, equipment, materials and references that display the history and development of calligraphy.

The museum includes four main sections: the Department of Arabic Calligraphy, the Department of Islamic Calligraphy, the Department of Modern Calligraphy, and the Department of Creative Calligraphy. In this museum, you can learn about the beauty and creativity of Arabic and Islamic calligraphy, and see wonderful calligraphic works.

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6. Sharjah Science Museum

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Sharjah Science Museum is a museum that displays scientific concepts, experiments and inventions in various fields such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, biology, and engineering.

Located in the Jaraydah area, the museum features 22 interactive science galleries containing more than 200 display items that visitors can interact with, experience and learn from.

In this museum, you will learn about the phenomena, laws and scientific principles that govern the world around us, and you will see and explore science in a fun and simplified way.

7. Sharjah Art Museum

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Sharjah Art Museum is a museum that displays a diverse and distinctive collection of artworks representing Arab, Islamic, Eastern and Western art from the eighteenth century to the present.

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Located in the Shuwaiheen area, the museum consists of 72 exhibition halls containing more than 500 works of art including paintings, sculpture, drawings, engravings, and photographs. In this museum, you can learn about the history and development of Arab, Islamic, Eastern and Western art creators, and see wonderful works of art that reflect beauty, creativity and renewal in art.

8. Station Museum

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The Station Museum is a museum showcasing the aviation history of Sharjah, the UAE and the region. The museum is located on the site of the old air terminal that was opened in 1932, which was considered the first international airport in the Gulf. The museum houses a collection of aircraft, engines, equipment and documents that show the evolution of aviation from its inception to the present.

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In this museum, you will learn about the role played by Sharjah and the UAE in the history of regional and global aviation, and you will see rare and distinctive aircraft such as the Douglas DC3 used by British Imperial Airways, and the Hunter aircraft used by the British Royal Air Force.

9. Sharjah Maritime Museum

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Sharjah Maritime Museum is a museum that showcases the history, heritage and culture of Sharjah, the UAE and the Arabian Gulf in relation to marine life and marine industries.

The museum is located in the Al Khan area, near the Museum of Islamic Civilization, and consists of three main sections: the Marine Environment Section, the Pearling Section, and the Ships and Navigation Section.

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In this museum you will learn about the ecosystem, biodiversity and environmental challenges of the Arabian Sea, and you will see a collection of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, invertebrates and marine plants that live in it. You can also learn about the pearling industry, which was the main source of wealth, trade and identity for the inhabitants of Sharjah, the UAE and the Arabian Gulf before the discovery of oil, and see equipment, tools, clothing, jewelry, documents and photos related to pearling and divers.

You can also learn about the history of the methods and techniques of ships and navigation used by the inhabitants of Sharjah, the UAE and the Arabian Gulf in travel and trade, and see real models and photos of ships, boats, ports and navigators.

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Sharjah Museums Working Time and Ticket Price

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Sharjah Museums is open from Saturday to Thursday from 8am to 8pm and Friday from 4pm to 8pm. The ticket price is AED 10 for adults, AED 5 for students, and free for children under 12 years and older adults over 60 years old.

You can also participate in the activities and lectures organized by these museums periodically.

We have provided you with a comprehensive guide to the 9 best museums in Sharjah that showcase you the history, heritage, civilization, science, art and culture of Sharjah and the UAE. We hope you enjoyed reading this article, visit these museums when you come to Sharjah, and benefit from the information, knowledge, experiences and fun they offer you. Sharjah is a cultural and distinctive city, worth exploring.

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