Sharjah Desert Park
The park covers an area of one square kilometre and offers four venues in one with the Sharjah Natural History Museum, Sharjah Botanical Museum, Arabia’s Wildlife Centre and the Children’s Farm. The Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife is also located at the park and is an impressive research and breeding facility, but one that is not open to the public.
With over 300,000 visitors a year this ‘park’ is definitely one of the most popular and highly recommended attractions in the UAE. Situated 28 kilometres from Sharjah on the road to Al Dhaid, Sharjah Desert Park is easily accessible for a days outing. Cafes and picnic facilities are available and be assured, whatever your age or interest, this park will definitely entertain you.
School and group visits are welcome but you need to book in advance.
The Sharjah Natural History Museum with its interactive and high tech exhibits takes visitors on an incredible voyage of discovery from long before the age of dinosaurs to the present day.
Different halls show the emirate’s natural history with wonderful displays from desert and marine ecosystems. ‘Man & the Environment’ takes a close look at nature’s adaptations and man’s influence on our landscape, and find out how we classify organisms in the Living Creatures gallery. Go back in time to encounter dinosaur models and real bones, erupting volcanoes, prehistoric fossils and meteorites from outer space and explore the beauty and diversity of the fauna and flora that have evolved over time.
The newest of the four centres is the Sharjah Botanical Museum. The bright and colourful educational destination shows the development of plants and the complex relationship between humans and botany. Walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs through the landscape of the Cretaceous period, explore the inside of a plant cell an see the truly weird and wonderful plants that Mother Nature has bestowed upon us.
For an amazing display of Arabian animals exhibited in their natural habitat head for Arabia’s Wildlife Centre. Many of the species on view only survive today in captivity and others are on the verge of extinction, the magnificent Arabian Leopard for example. Common but rarely seen animals, reptiles, birds and insects from the region include the Sand Cat, Camel Spiders, venomous vipers, Houbara Bustards, Rock Hyrax and hedgedogs. The nocturnal house turns day into night and then delight in the larger species such as hyena and baboons, up to their tricks. The centre demonstrates the surprising diversity of the fauna to be found in the Arabian Peninsula, in safe and spacious surroundings.
Younger visitors to Sharjah Desert Park will enjoy a ‘hands-on’ experience at the Children’s Farm where they can learn about our four legged and feathered friends. From camels, goats, cows, sheep and horses to ducks and chickens, children can pet and feed their favourite animals. Pony and camel rides are available at the weekend at a cost of Dhs 5 per ride, per child.
Allow several hours to visit Sharjah Desert Park or keep your ticket and return another day to view the rest.
Sharjah Aquarium
Opening in 2008 this family destination will submerse you into the colourful, rich and diverse undersea world found in the seas around us.
Displaying over 250 species of marine life, there is so much to see from the smallest clown fish and delicate seahorses to crabs, jellyfish and the larger moray eels, rays and reef sharks. Take a walk underwater for a close up view of the larger ocean creatures and discover the amazing variety of life to be seen in the rock pools, coral reefs, lagoons and mangroves.
