Banks: 08.00 to 15.00, Saturday to Wednesday; 08.00 to 12.00, Thursdays
Post Offices: 08.00 to 13.00 and 16.00 to 19.00, Saturday to Wednesday
Government Offices: 08.00 to 13.00 and 16.00 to 19.00, Saturday to Wednesday
Business Centres: 07.00 to 13.00 and 15.00 to 18.00, Sunday to Thursday
Shops: 10.00 to 23.00, Saturday to Tuesday; 10.00 to midnight, Wednesday and Thursday; 14.00 to 23.00, Fridays

Although Sharjah, and the rest of the UAE, is considered a very safe Arabic travel destination, visitors should still keep an eye on their valuables and avoid encouraging any opportunistic theft. Keep in mind that illegal drugs and alcohol are banned in Sharjah, and you will be arrested if caught using either. By keeping abreast of the daily political and social situation in the region, you should experience no problems in Sharjah.

Police: 999

220 or 240 volts AC, 50Hz; plugs are UK-style with three pins

Sharjah enjoys some of the highest standards of food and water in the world. At any decent restaurant the food will be of excellent quality and safely prepared. Be careful with streetside shawarma stands or when eating raw salads, however. The tap water is desalinated, and thus safe to drink. If you don’t like the taste of the tap water, bottled water is readily available.

Sharjah is hot and dry, so drink plenty of water. Use sunscreen whenever venturing outside or to the beach as the sun is very strong here. There are no diseases to worry about, and the quality of health care in Sharjah is very good. At least one pharmacy in the city is open 24 hours, and there are several private and public hospitals to choose from should you have any serious medical emergency.

Al Zahra Private Hospital: +971 6 5619999
Emergency services: 999

Sharjah’s official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, shops and souks.

Sharjah uses the dirham (Dh) as its official currency. There are 100 fils in a dirham. Banknotes come in denominations of Dhs 1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and five. Coins come in denominations of Dhs5, Dh1, as well as 50 fils, 25 fils, and five fils.

All visitors to Sharjah are allowed to bring 400 cigarettes, 2kg of tobacco, and a personal amount of perfume without incurring a duty. Alcohol is banned in Sharjah, even for non-Muslims.

Most of the social rules in Sharjah revolve around Islamic laws, so it is suggested visitors learn the most important ones and adhere to them. In this conservative society, dressing appropriately is very important. Women in particular should never reveal much flesh when in public.

When you enter a house or religious place, you must remove your shoes. Always use your right hand for shaking someone’s hand in greeting, and don’t offer to shake a woman’s hand unless she offers it first. Also, only use your right hand for giving or accepting something and eating.

Unless you are a citizen of an Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) nation, you will need a visa to enter Sharjah. Nationals of 33 countries are eligible for the Free Visit Visa. If you are not a citizen from one of these countries you will need a sponsor for your 30-day visa. This is usually done by travel agencies, hotels or airlines without much trouble. Your passport must be valid for six months prior to entering the UAE.

For more information about Sharjah, check out their website, or call their main office.

Sharjah Tourism Board
Phone: +971 800 7427524
Website: www.sharjah-welcome.com