Things to do in The Northern Emirates
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Thriveni Restaurant
This dirt-cheap Indian eatery is usually packed with guest workers from the subcontinent eating thalis, biryanis and curries. As is usually the case in worker's cafeterias, women are required to sit in the family area, which in this case is rather shabby but is worth tolerating unless you enjoy being ogled.
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University City
A cross between Oxford and Disneyland, this sprawling and somewhat surreal campus is artificially greened, with splendid fountains, expansive lawns and flowerbeds galore. Its architecture is truly stunning and it's a popular stop on most expat's visitor sightseeing tours.
Check out the American University of Sharjah, with its Middle-East-meets-the-White-House building, the School of Sharia'a Law, the Sharjah Library, and the University of Sharjah. The city is unlike anything else in the country and is a sign of the importance placed on higher education in the UAE. It's next to Sharjah airport, 15km from the centre of town.
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National Museum of Ras al-Khaimah
The National Museum of Ras al-Khaimah, set in an imposing 18th-century fort built of stone and gypsum, and with a wonderful wind tower, was the residence of the Qawassim rulers until the 1970s. The thoughtfully curated collection includes exhibits on the area's natural history, archaeology, ethnography and the Qawassim tribe. Highlights include intricately patterned Iron-Age softstone vessels, 18th-century terracotta urns and other splendid artefacts from Julfar, the biggest port in the UAE from the 13th until the 18th century, and Shamal.
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Sharjah Desert Park
About 26km east of central Sharjah towards Al-Dhaid, Sharjah Desert Park packs four venues into a one-square-kilometre package. The main attraction is the Arabian Wildlife Centre, a zoo and breeding centre showcasing the diversity of critters that call the region home. The indoor aviary is home to flamingos, Houbara bustards and Indian rollers, while the outdoor enclosures house hamadryas baboons, striped hyenas, Arabian wolves and the splendid Arabian leopard.
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Al-Sahari
RAK's locals keep coming back to this popular eatery for its friendly service and cheap tasty food. How can you resist the charm of a place that boasts ‘our objective is salubrious food and the sweet taste and the special arabic kindness'? The expansive menu features Lebanese staples, a few Emirati favourites, with some ‘international' dishes thrown in, from fried Sultan Ibrahim fish and shish tawooq to ‘Chateau Briand' and ‘chicken Maggi soup'.
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Sharjah Archaeological Museum
This fascinating museum is housed in an elegant building set in manicured gardens, next to the Science Museum near Cultural Sq. The displays, accompanied by audiovisual interpretations, cover the earliest archaeological finds in the emirate (dating from 5000 BC) up to the present day, including coins, jewellery, pottery and weapons. Wednesday afternoon admission is for women only. A taxi here from the centre will cost around Dh7 to Dh10.
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Ajman Museum
Undergoing renovation at the time of research, the splendid AjmanMuseum occupies an imposing old police fort. Built in the late 18th century, the attractive fort served as the ruler's palace and office until 1970. From 1970 to 1978 it was Ajman's main police station; hence the bizarre exhibit featuring handcuffs and police uniforms. In the fort yard is a charming reconstruction of a traditional souq.
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Heritage Area
The beautiful historic buildings in the Heritage Area, just inland from the Corniche between Burj Ave and Al-Maraija Rd, have been carefully restored and faithfully reconstructed using traditional materials such as sea rock, coral, and gypsum. First visit the imposing Al-Hisn Fort, with its fascinating historical exhibits inside, before making your way to the atmospheric Literature Square and the House of Poetry.
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Sharjah Art Museum
Anchoring the Arts Area, Sharjah Art Museum is one of the UAE’s largest and most impressive galleries. Its permanent exhibition includes 18th- and 19th-century oil paintings, watercolours and lithographs from the ruling family’s collection; curators also mount changing shows of local and international contemporary talent.
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Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation
A short stroll north of Sharjah Art Museum is the fantastic Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation, which zeroes in on different aspects of the Islamic faith, scientific accomplishments in the Arab world and 1400 years of Islamic art. Don’t miss taking a peek at the central dome with its striking deep-blue zodiac mosaic.
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Sanad Winner Cafeteria
Local guys keep coming back to this popular fast-food place (especially late at night, when the pavement is packed) for its inventive pizzas (Dh15 to Dh30) – try the ‘mango craze' with beef strips, green pepper and slices of mango. There's also tangy shwarma (Dh4), generous club sandwiches (Dh8) and big burgers (Dh7).
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Al Gahwa al-Shaabiya
This traditional barasti coffeehouse, overlooking the lagoon, serves mint tea, local coffee, ginger milk and Arabic snacks. Extremely popular with Emiratis, it's a wonderful place to sit in the evenings, play backgammon and watch the city lights reflected in the water of the lagoon.
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Sharjah Maritime Museum
West of Qanat al-Qasba, at the Sharjah Maritime Museum, wooden dhows, fishing tools, devices used in pearl diving and historic photographs of grizzled old sea captains pay tribute to the key role the sea has played in the emirate’s heritage.
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Al Shafah Bakery
This hole-in-the-wall Afghani bakery, a few doors down from the Vegetarian's Restaurant, does delicious ‘pizzas'. Try the cheese and zaatar (thyme), or mutton with cheese. Eat them while they're piping hot, straight out of the stone oven.
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Sharjah Heritage Museum
Next door to the Islamic Museum, the Sharjah Heritage Museum, has similar traditional exhibits to Bait Sheikh Sultan Bin Saquer al-Qassimi though without the wind towers, but it is still worth a look. Wednesday admission is for women only, all day.
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Islamic Museum
Walking past the Sharjah National Theatre, you'll come to the Islamic Museum, with interesting exhibits including a large collection of coins from around the Islamic world and a number of beautiful handwritten Qurans. Friday evening is women only.
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India House
Specialising in vegetarian dishes, this spotlessly clean cafeteria is popular with the Indian expat community for its extensive menu, featuring cheap thalis (Dh6 to Dh10), decent biryanis (Dh8 to Dh12), tandoor kebabs (Dh11 to Dh14) and curries.
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Al Fakher Popular Café
Local guys love the traditional barasti coffeehouse Al Fakher Popular Café, overlooking the lagoon where they play backgammon, drink coffee and puff on a sheesha well into the night. It's near Mina Saqr.
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Al Masa Cafeteria & Coffee Shop
The local guys love the ‘Cocktail sheeshas' (sheesha made with real fruit) at Al Masa on the Corniche, just opposite the mosque. It's hard to find a spare plastic seat after midnight.
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Bait Sheikh Sultan Bin Saquer al-Qassimi
The splendid Bait Sheikh Sultan Bin Saquer al-Qassimi is a traditional house with wind towers set around a courtyard. Inside are wonderful displays of traditional costumes, jewellery, ceramics and furniture.
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Sharjah Aquarium
The Sharjah Aquarium has ethereal sea horses, charming clownfish, spooky moray eels, prowling reef sharks and 250 or so other underwater species never fail to amuse, enlighten and entertain.
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Lebanese House
This spotlessly clean Lebanese eatery specialises in simple home-cooked Arabic favourites, including lentil soup, fried kibbeh , and grilled Egyptian pigeon. It's next to Al-Nakheel Hotel.
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Gold Centre
Also worth a wander is the glittering Gold Centre, on the corner of Sheikh Humaid bin Saqr Al-Qassimi Rd and Al-Wahda Rds, which has scores of stores selling gold jewellery.
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Arts Area
Tucked behind the textile shops and souqs on the opposite side of Burj Ave is the Arts Area, home to the country's most impressive art gallery, the Sharjah Art Museum.
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Bait Obeid al-Shamsi
The Bait Obeid al-Shamsi, opposite the art museum, is a restored house used as an international artists' studio; don't miss the intricate pillars on the upper level.
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