Sharjah is known as a cultural capital, and its museums are the easiest way to see why. The Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) lists 16 museums and heritage sites on its website. Here is what the main venues offer, how tickets work and how to choose between them. Hours and ticket types are as listed by SMA on 2 October 2026; check current ticket rates on each museum’s SMA page.
Before you visit: several SMA museum pages (including the Sharjah Heritage Museum, Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah Discovery Centre and Al Mahatta Museum) carried “closed until further notice” or “temporarily closed” wording when we checked. We could not confirm whether this reflects current status. Call the museum (numbers are on each SMA page) or check the SMA website before you travel.
The 16 SMA museums and sites
SMA’s museum list currently includes: Al Mahatta Museum, Al Qasimia School (Museum of Education in Sharjah), Bait Al Naboodah, Bait Sheikh Saeed Bin Hamad Al Qasimi, Hisn Khorfakkan, Resistance Monument, Sharjah Aquarium, Sharjah Archaeology Museum, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, Sharjah Discovery Centre, Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn), Sharjah Heritage Museum, Sharjah Maritime Museum, Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization and Sharjah Science Museum.
Standard hours and tickets
For the venues we checked, SMA lists these general terms:
- Hours: Saturday to Thursday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm; Friday, 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Ramadan hours are shorter and differ by museum, and some venues close on Fridays in Ramadan.
- Single-museum tickets: SMA lists separate adult and child (aged 2–12) rates, with no charge for children under 2, on the Islamic Civilization, Archaeology, Calligraphy, Maritime, Science and Bait Al Naboodah pages, and at Al Qasimia School. Check the current rate on each museum’s page.
- No-charge entry categories (listed): seniors 60+ with one companion, people with disabilities with one companion, and ICOM card holders.
- Special no-charge days differ by museum. Examples listed include International Museum Day on 18 May, and, for the Islamic Civilization Museum, Ramadan and UAE National Day (2–3 December).
- Sharjah Art Museum: entry listed at no charge.
Joint tickets
- Heritage Joint Ticket (Heart of Sharjah): covers five museums: Bait Al Naboodah, Sharjah Heritage Museum, Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn) and Al Qasimia School.
- Sharjah Aquarium and Sharjah Maritime Museum: a joint ticket for the pair.
- Sharjah Science Museum and Sharjah Archaeology Museum: a joint ticket for the pair.
SMA lists adult and child (aged 2–12) rates for each joint ticket; check the current rates on the SMA pages before you go.
Highlights by interest
Islamic art and science: Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
Located at Al Majarrah in the Heart of Sharjah, SMA says it displays more than five thousand artefacts from across the Islamic world, with galleries on faith, science and technology, and arts and crafts. SMA says the museum opened in its current form on 6 June 2008.
Marine life and sea heritage: Sharjah Aquarium and Maritime Museum
The two sit side by side in Al Khan. SMA says the aquarium opened on 6 June 2008, covers 6,500 m² with 21 aquariums and 1.8 million litres of water, and runs a turtle rehabilitation programme. The same page lists a main-tank feeding at 10 am Saturday to Thursday and shark feeding on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 pm to 1:30 pm. Check current schedules. The Maritime Museum covers traditional fishing, pearl diving and trade, with wooden dhows and pearls. Al Khan Beach is a short walk away, according to Visit Sharjah. See our Al Khan area guide.
Ancient history: Sharjah Archaeology Museum
SMA says excavations show humans have lived in Sharjah for more than 125,000 years, and that the museum covers the Stone Age to the rise of Islam. It also opened the Little Archaeologist Hall in May 2022 for children aged 5 to 12.
Family science: Sharjah Science Museum and Sharjah Discovery Centre
SMA describes the Science Museum as having more than 50 interactive exhibits. The Discovery Centre is designed for children aged 3 to 12, with themed areas such as Water World, Build Town and Drive Town. The Discovery Centre page carried a closure notice when we checked.
Local history: Heart of Sharjah
Bait Al Naboodah, SMA says, was built in 1845 as the home of a pearl merchant and features coral walls, teak columns and wind scoops. Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn), built in 1823 according to SMA, was the government headquarters and residence of the ruling family. Al Qasimia School, which opened as a museum on 29 January 2025, tells the history of formal education in Sharjah. The Heart of Sharjah district also has guided tours and souqs; see Heart of Sharjah.
Aviation: Al Mahatta Museum
SMA says Al Mahatta, in Sharjah’s first airport building from 1932, covers the history of flight. Its page carried a closure notice at the time of checking.
Planning tips
- Check status first. Confirm each museum is open on the day.
- Consider a joint ticket for clusters. If you plan to visit two or more museums in the Heart of Sharjah, or the Aquarium and Maritime Museum pair, compare the joint ticket with single tickets, and check that the venues are open.
- Mind the Ramadan schedule. Hours change.
- Pair culture with events. The Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival and the Sharjah International Book Fair add to the cultural calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How many museums does Sharjah have?
SMA lists 16 museums and heritage sites on its website. Other museums in the emirate may be run by different organisations and are not part of that list.
How do museum tickets work?
SMA lists single-museum tickets with separate adult and child rates, plus joint tickets for some clusters. Check current rates on each museum’s SMA page.
Are Sharjah museums open on Fridays?
SMA lists Friday hours from 4 pm to 8 pm outside Ramadan.
General information only. Tickets, hours and closures can change; confirm with the Sharjah Museums Authority. Information checked 2 October 2026.