A lot of people have been raving about Sharjah as one of the most family-friendly emirates of the UAE. Although it is not as popular as Abu Dhabi, Sharjah has its own set of charms to make your visit worthwhile, especially when you have the kids in tow. And if you worry about the kids finding activities in Sharjah boring, think again. More than an accessible location, Sharjah has modern attractions like edutainment centers, theme parks, and aqua parks as well as fascinating places to spot flora and fauna. A weekend visit to Sharjah with the little ones is certainly going to make you change your mind about Sharjah. It might even entice you to return to Sharjah every school holiday.
For your first time in the emirate, we have outlined the most recommended things to do in Sharjah with kids.
Cost: $1.3 to $2.7
One of the best spots for children while in Sharjah is the Sharjah Discovery Center. Especially designed for children, this edutainment center is a great opportunity for kids to learn through fun-filled activities. Inside the Sharjah Discovery Center, kids will be able to understand concepts in science and technology even better as they perform experiments and witness first-hand the phenomena they only learn in books and in the classroom. For example, your kids can explore the exhibits inside all interactive zones, namely, The Drive Town, Airport, Build Town, TV Studio, Climbing Walls, Water World, Petroleum Refinery, Sound Zone, and Human Anatomy. What’s even interesting is that they can move from an exhibit to another in their own pace, so they can spend an hour in a zone that they like. You can visit the Sharjah Discovery Center from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during Saturdays to Thursdays and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Fridays. Admission for children (ages 2 to 12) costs $1.3 and $2.7 for adults.
Cost: $1.3 to $2.7
A great alternative to visiting a zoo is the Sharjah Desert Park, which is home to over 100 species of baboons, gazelles, snakes, fish, wolves, insects, and birds. Established in 1995, the Sharjah Desert Park consists of various sections, including a children’s farm, a breeding center, an aviary, a tank to see the blind fish from Oman, a nocturnal habitat, and a natural history museum which you and your kids can explore together. While exploring the park, kids will gain knowledge about all the wildlife (birds, mammals, reptiles) they are both familiar and unfamiliar with. They can also feed the animals at the farm, such as the goats and sheep. After a few hours in the Sharjah Desert Park, you can continue the adventure at the Arabian Wildlife Center where you can view desert animals both kept outdoors and indoors. The Sharjah Desert Park is open daily. Opening hours are as follows: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from Sundays to Thursdays, 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays, and 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission costs $2.7 per adult and $1.3 per child (ages 2 to 12).
Cost: $4 to $8
A weekend trip to Sharjah is a reality when you’re done riding the Eye of the Emirates. Located in Al Qasba, the Eye of the Emirates is a huge Ferris wheel with 42 air-conditioned cabins. It will take you and your kids 60 meters above the city so you can enjoy a spectacular view of the waterfront, the lakes, the coastline of the Arabian Sea, and even the Burj Khalifa. The Eye of the Emirates can carry around 336 passengers in one spin. The Eye of the Emirates is usually open daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Entrance tickets cost $4 per child and $8 per adult.
Cost: $4 to $5.45
Life underwater has always been a fascinating subject for kids. They are addicted to aquarium visits just to watch the fish and sharks swim. They even try to race with other kids in finding Nemo or Dory in a tank filled with all sorts of marine creatures. At the Sharjah Aquarium, kids will have the most fun exploring the hidden world of the deep sea. They can also learn all about the history of Sharjah’s coast as well as be fascinated by the variety of sea creatures they’ll be able to have a close-up look. Kids will be able to meet the black-tip reef shark, sea turtles, stingrays, seahorses, jellyfish, eagle rays, crown fish, and reef sharks, among others. They’ll also be delighted to see the colorful coral reefs and the different sizes of mangroves and lagoons. With more than 150 species of marine life and 20 aquariums spread over two floors and filled with 1.8 million liters of water, Sharjah Aquarium will no doubt become a new favorite of your children. Adjacent to it is the Maritime Museum where the children can listen to the interesting stories about the rich marine heritage of the Emirate of Sharjah. In here, they can explore traditional wooden seafaring dhows, the Arabian pearls, and the various diving and fishing methods used by the early inhabitants of Sharjah. You can visit these attractions daily, except Sundays, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays until Thursdays, and from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays. Admission tickets to the Sharjah Aquarium cost $4 per child (ages 2 to 12) and $5.45 per adult.
Cost: $8 to $13.6
Al Noor Island is a popular weekend spot for local families in Sharjah due to its clear blue waters and several kid-friendly activities. At the Al Noor Island, your kids will be able to spend a fantastic day at playing in the playground and the pavilion. Your whole family can also take a stroll together and explore the miniature gardens, trees, light installations, artworks, and sculptures which are scattered beautifully in the island. But the best part of visiting the Al Noor Island is the Butterfly House where children can chase the prettiest butterflies. We recommend visiting the Butterfly House in cooler months, so the kids can get to know more than 500 exotic butterflies flying above their little heads. These butterflies aren’t just the native ones found in the Emirates, but they are from countries in East Asia. Before entering the sanctuary of these lovely winged creatures, you’ll stare in awe at the building which is a fine architectural masterpiece in itself. You can take your family to the Al Noor Island on any day, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 9:00 a.m. to 12 midnight on weekends. The Butterfly House, however, is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Admission to the island, inclusive of a visit to the Butterfly House, costs $8 per child and $13.6 per adult.
Cost: $1.36 to $2.7
Believe it or not, kids are interested in science as a subject. They look forward to doing scientific experiments at school. What they don’t know is that they’re in for a more exciting scientific discovery at the Sharjah Science Museum. This museum opened in 1996 to satisfy the curiosity of children about the most puzzling concepts in science. Nonetheless, adults will get their own dose of fun while accompanying their kids to this interactive museum. Some of the things the kids will love to do inside the Sharjah Science Museum are participating in experiments about aerodynamics and astrophysics, exploring the science behind illusions, and learning space secrets and mysteries. There are various demonstrations inside the museum which the kids will stare at in amazement. With more than 150 interactive exhibits, there is no doubt that the Sharjah Science Museum will grant your kids a lovely learning time. You can visit the museum daily, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays until Thursdays, and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Fridays. Admission tickets cost $1.36 per child (ages 2 to 12) and $2.7 per adult.
Cost: $20 to $32.6
If your kids are tired of taking a stroll and sightseeing in Sharjah, take them to a more adventurous activity sure to meet their expectations of what’s fun and thrilling. The Pearls Kingdom, the new waterpark in Al Montazah, measures 126,000 square miles with a number of water attractions and rides to have your kids jumping in excitement. Inside the Pearls Kingdom, kids can try the exhilarating speed slides and twisting tube rides. There are also different pools for all age range. There’s also a lazy river should your kids get exhausted from the wet and wild waterslides. Plus, your whole family can rent a private cabana inside the waterpark! And when your day is done at the waterpark, you can head to a nearby amusement park, which has go-karts, bumper cars, and a mini-train, before heading home. A complete day adventure for the kiddos, don’t you think? The Pearls Kingdom is open daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., although Tuesdays are entirely for ladies and children. Ticket prices vary according to each guest’s height: $20 for those whose height are under 110 cm, $32.6 for those whose height are 110cm and above, and free for children under 80cm.
Cost: $4 to $8
Another attraction in Sharjah guaranteed to make the kids yelp with delight is Adventureland. One of the leading indoor theme parks in the UAE, Adventureland has many attractions to amuse the children. Some of the activities they can do while in Adventureland are playing in the arcade and trying out more than 100 video games. They can also ride the usual roller coasters and go karts. Additionally, other unique adventures they can take are the ninja course challenge, the max flight 360 degrees of excitement, the falcon flight, wall climbing, air race where they’d be suspended upside down, and the F1 simulator race. Adventureland is open daily, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sundays until Wednesdays, and from 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. Ticket price varies according to the package you’ll choose. However, a ride typically costs $4 to $8.
Cost: Free to $1.6
For a quiet and more relaxed day with the whole family, we recommend going to the Sharjah National Park. The largest park in Sharjah, it measures 630,000 square meters. It’s also popular among the locals because of its colorful landscape lined with trees and dotted with gardens. In here, your whole family can enjoy nature with the park’s leafy trees and shrubs, rows of date palms, and beautiful flowers. You can have a family picnic on the grassy areas of the park, listen to the children’s amusing stories about school and their playmates, and listen to the birds chirping from a distance. There are also designated barbeque areas, picnic areas, a jungle gym, a mosque, a duck pond, a miniature city model, and playgrounds where the kids can play. You can also bring bikes with you as the park has cycling tracks as well. The Sharjah National Park is open daily, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays until Wednesdays, and from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Entrance to the park costs $1.6 per adult and free for children under 5 years old.
Cost: $2.72 to $4
Last one on our list of activities to do in Sharjah with kids is a day on the beach. At the Al Mamzar Beach Park, your kids will surely love the fine white sand, pristine blue waters, a swimming pool, clean picnic areas, and playgrounds. You can all spend a lovely family bonding experience on the beach doing water sports and having picnic. At the end of the day, you can all watch the sun as it goes down on the horizon. The Al Mamzar Beach Park is open daily, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Entrance tickets cost $2.72 per person or $8 per car. The children’s pool has a separate $1.36 entrance fee.
Hope you get the most of your adventures in Sharjah with the kids. Share this article to your friends, too!
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