Shopping

In a city bustling with life, you can shop almost 24 hours a day and buy everything and anything from Oriental carpets to tropical fruits, gold, silver and precious stones, jewellery, gifts and handcrafted souvenirs, designer fashions, delicious Middle Eastern sweets, the latest in electronics and so much more. Whether you are looking for a piece of furniture, the latest digital camera, a gold necklace or a diamond ring, you can shop around for the right shape, size or colour.

Sharjah offers a treasure trove of modern malls, stylish shops and boutiques and unique souks and bazaars. The city has several separate shopping areas with busy malls, large showrooms and smaller department stores and centres, as well as exciting furniture warehouses full of artefacts, with fantastic promotions throughout the year.

Shopping here is tax free, so retail prices tend to be reasonable for both brand name goods and especially for curios and handicrafts sold in the souks. Prices are fixed in the malls and the department stores but bargaining is a long-established tradition in the souks. Usually all major credit cards, travellers’ cheques and US Dollars are accepted. Smaller shops may only deal in cash. There are many exchange houses around town that are open all hours.

The shopping areas summarized below give you the opportunity to discover different parts of Sharjah. The city is rapidly developing and shopping opportunities continue to grow with new outlets and centres steadily opening up due to the expansion of the city and the new road networks.

Al Nahda: A fast expanding, busy and dynamic neighbourhood with Al Taawun Mall, Ansar Mall, Safeer Mall and Sahara Centre.

Al Qasba: A classy cluster of buildings on either side of Al Qasba Canal. With a vibrant atmosphere and landmark Eye of the Emirates observatory wheel, the scenic walkways combine shopping with trendy restaurants and cafés, open air terraces and exciting recreational facilities and cultural events all year round.

Al Wahda Road: The gateway to Sharjah and the longest shopping street is well-known for its department stores, men’s and ladies fashion, sports apparel, electrical goods, car showrooms, large furniture centres, popular restaurants and fast food outlets, and last but not least the renowned Sharjah City Centre Mall, a destination in itself.

Jamal Abdul Nasser Street: Parallel to Al Wahda Road and bordered by the refreshing expanse of greenery of Al Majaz Park, this busy residential street has restaurants, bakeries, hairdressing salons, shops selling mobile phones and musical instruments, photographic studios, grocery shops, small boutiques and supermarkets.

Along the Sharjah Creek: Follow the creek and explore a more traditional and very interesting area with the historical bazaars of Souk Al Arsah and Souk Al Bahar, banks, money exchangers, textile outlets and shops selling local perfume, crafts, traditional dresses, scarves and much more. Side shops offer custom-made floor cushions with many other small retailers that are worth discovering.

King Faisal Road: Joining Al Wahda Road and leading directly to the Central Souk this area brings together banks, restaurants, fast food chains, outlet stores, furniture and household showrooms, computer and stationery suppliers.

Al Qassimi/University City Road (Al Yarmook and Al Ghubaiba areas): These streets are lined with furniture showrooms, household items and children’s clothes shops, as well as restaurants and fast food outlets. Mobile phone shops are spread around Al Estiqlal Square (also called Al Qassimi Roundabout). Nearby in Abu Shagara, Sharjah Mega Mall provides exciting shopping especially for fashion lovers with plenty of entertainment for families.

Al Arouba Road: An interesting and diverse area to visit with the Rolla Gold Centre, Rolla Mall, Lulu Centre, Atlas Mall and a variety of shops selling reasonably priced household appliances and electrical goods. The Rolla bazaar offers an impressive textile selection, clothes, Indian saris, bags and suitcases, general hardware items and gardening equipment.

Al Buheirah Corniche: A panoramic and picturesque waterfront famous for its water fountain, cafés and coffee shops, the ever popular Central Souk, Al Fardan Centre, sports outlets and shops, entertainment centres and cinemas.

Industrial Areas: These busy localities are home to garages, tyre repair shops, upholstery centres, ceramic shops, carpentry and wrought iron manufacturers etc. Reputable car showrooms are also found in this area. A couple of well-known furniture warehouses can be found in Industrial Area 11, behind the main streets, and are worth a visit.

• Malls usually open daily from 10 am - 10/11 pm, closing later at the weekends. Other shops open from around 9 am - 1 pm and 4 pm - 10 pm.