Sharjah is the third largest of the seven states which form the United Arab Emirates.

The settlement of Sharjah dates back some 6,000 years when it is believed to have been called Sarcoa. The population was small and people relied on trade and sea faring in addition to, farming, hunting, fishing and pearling. Many of the early settlements were based around the 'falaj', a man made underground water course.

In the following pages, you will find information about the history, culture, heritage and the language of Sharjah and the Arab world in general.

Dining
In the UAE, the warm greetings and friendly smiles of Arabic hospitality combine with the variety of food to make eating more than just an interesting experience.

Sharjah has an increasing number of restaurants and cafes offering a choice of cuisine from all over the world at prices to suit all budgets.

Accommodation

Sharjah has been a major Middle East tourist Destination since 1932! Tourists intending to visit Sharjah do not have to go far to get what they are interested in. That's why Sharjah was the first emirate to attract tourist groups in 1980. Since then, tourism has developed in leaps and bounds.

Tours
Organized tours in Sharjah range from half day trips to one or even two night safaris. Tour operators will arrange desert diving, shopping tours, camel riding, sand boarding, sand skiing and dune buggy driving. Orient Tours and SNTTA are two of the largest tour operators in Sharjah. Most hotels in Sharjah have special packages during the summer and during the Holy month of Ramadan.