There are more than 5,000 km between the third largest city in the UAE and Moscow. To overcome such a distance by car or bus is an unpleasant occupation – you have to go through dozens of border points, and the road will take about a week. So flying is the best way to get to Sharjah. The only Russian city from which you can fly in this direction is Moscow. One direct flight per day from the capital Domodedovo is operated by Air Arabia. Flight time – 5 hours, ticket price – from 240 USD. There are also flight options for Qatar Airways with a transfer in Doha. On the way, you will have to spend from 9 hours, but you can save about 20-50 USD compared to the previous option. The prices on the page are for August 2021.
Locals consider Sharzhda a suburb of Dubai: they live in the first, and work in the second, because there are only 40 km between them. Tourists from St. Petersburg and Kazan can use this fact as a life hack to avoid flying through the Russian capital.
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If you are in Iranian Bandar Abbas, you can use the ferry, which leaves every Monday and Wednesday at 21:00. The ship crosses the Persian Gulf in 12 hours. A ticket can be bought directly at the port, and those who carry a car with them will have to pay an additional 90 USD to the ticket.
From the airport to the city center
Sharjah Airport is located 15 km from the city center. Communication with it is mainly provided by hotel transfers and taxis. A trip by car will cost 40-55 AED. Thrifty travelers can get to the coastal zone on buses No. 14, 15 and 99 for 15 AED.
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Transport
Sharjah has a well-developed public transport network, and Mowasalat is responsible for it (off. site in English). Orange buses run on 10 routes from 05:30 to 23:30. To stop one of them, you need to attract the attention of the driver, for example, by waving his hand. Tickets can be purchased in the cabin. There is another option: get a Sayer Card city transport card for free at one of the stops. It can be replenished with the required amount and paid with it on buses: it is more convenient than counting out change or waiting for the driver to find change.
A much more popular mode of transportation in the Emirates is a licensed taxi, which can be stopped on the street or called via the Internet. Free cars include a green lamp on the roof. All vehicles are equipped with meters. You will have to pay 3.50 AED for landing, for every 1000 meters – another 1.60 AED. On average, a trip around the city costs 20-30 AED. To go to the airport or neighboring Dubai, get ready to pay from 20-30 AED on top. Taxi drivers only accept cash payments.
- Sharjah Map
Sharjah Hotels
Most of the hotels in Sharjah were built about 30 years ago, when the coastline was not considered a tasty morsel for hoteliers. In this city, unlike Dubai, you can find accommodation within a 5-minute walk from the sea with a private beach for a reasonable price. One of the options is to stay in a “treshka” on the first line, the room will cost 176 AED per day. In 4-star hotels, travelers will receive approximately the same service and range of services, only for 191-275 AED. But for a luxury apartment in a five-star hotel of a large international chain, you will have to pay 700-800 AED per day.
There are no hostels in Sharjah: this is primarily due to the severity of morals in the Emirates. But a budget tourist will also find accommodation here: you can rent a room from local residents for 70-90 AED or stay in a guest house for 120 AED.
Rent a Car
It is worth immediately deciding on the purpose of a trip to Sharjah: if you are planning a relaxing beach holiday with rare visits to attractions, it would be wiser not to spend money on renting a car, but to use a taxi. Those who intend to visit neighboring Dubai, travel around the country and sand dunes should ask the price of the offers of rental companies.
Do not forget and exceed the maximum speed limit: radars are installed almost everywhere, and the fine will be significant – 3000 AED.
As in any major city, dozens of international agencies work in Sharjah: Sixt, Europcar, Avis and Budget. For an economy class car, they will ask for about 80-110 AED. The cost of renting SUVs starts from 210 AED, premium cars – from 410 AED. The roads in the Emirates are of high quality, so driving here is a pleasure. Parking is mostly paid: an hourly parking will cost 5-10 AED, the amount must be paid in the machine and put the check under the glass.
Communication and Wi-Fi
There are two major telecom operators in the UAE: Etisalat and Du. It is most convenient to purchase a SIM card upon arrival, otherwise you will have to look for a shopping center later – there are no service points for mobile operators on the streets of Sharjah. To buy a SIM card, you need to present a passport with an entry stamp. Registration will take approximately 15 minutes, taking into account the filling of documents. A standard travel package will cost 75-90 AED. For this money, the user gets a choice of two options: 30 SMS, half an hour of local and international calls and 500 MB for Internet surfing, or 1 GB of mobile Internet and 5 hours of access to Wi-Fi at special points.
There are a number of prohibitions in the UAE: residents and visitors of the country do not have access to sites whose content is recognized as “indecent” or “offensive”. Internet calls are also blocked.
Free Wi-Fi in cafes and hotels is rare. When booking a hotel, it is worth clarifying whether the rooms provide free access to the network.
