Visit Sharjah – Perfect Halal Holiday Destination

When it comes to top halal holiday destinations, Sharjah ranks high on the list. With its focus on maintaining an Islamic environment, adhering to religious values and celebrating Islamic culture, the emirate sets the scene perfectly for an authentic halal vacation.

Food and drink

As alcohol is not allowed in the emirate of Sharjah, you can relax knowing there will be no alcoholic drinks in the hotel minibar or any restaurants or cafes. Similarly, no hidden traces will be in your desserts or sauces when eating out.

As you’ve probably already guessed, there are no bars or nightclubs in Sharjah, so you can enjoy a serene atmosphere in your hotel without noisy nightlife.

Pork, pork derivatives and other non-halal food items are also prohibited in the emirate, so you can rest assured everything on your hotel buffet is halal without checking labels. Likewise, there are no non-Muslim sections in supermarkets. And in Ramadan, you can enjoy iftar with a different cuisine every day.

Mosques and prayer facilities

Turning now to prayer, with over 3000 mosques, you will never have to worry about missing your daily obligations in Sharjah, as there’s always a place to pray within easy reach. Even parks, beaches and lakes often have small mosques. Places that don’t have a mosque, such as a nature reserve or mall, have prayer rooms complete with ablution areas. Both men and women’s sections are provided. You can also hear the call to prayer in every neighbourhood, mall, etc.

If you are travelling from another emirate, please note that the Friday prayer in Sharjah is still at the original time rather than the revised later time in other emirates that followed the weekend switch in 2022.

Eid prayers take place in the many eid prayer grounds around the emirate, with sections for men and women, and also at specific mosques.

Ladies-only destinations

Now let’s turn now to places and facilities dedicated to ladies. Sharjah Ladies Club is accessible to all ladies and membership isn’t required. Once inside the main building, you can feel free to remove your scarf while in the restaurant, cafe, beach, etc. Men are occasionally on site for maintenance but someone will let you know if this happens.

If you are not a club member, you will need to pay a fee to use the beach, however, I usually just enjoy a morning sitting outside on the terrace looking at the beach!

The Ladies Club has branches across the Emirate of Sharjah even in small towns, so if you are resident in one of these areas, you might want to use their gym, pool, etc.

There are several ladies only parks across the emirate, such as Green Belt Ladies Park near Cultural Square. These are ideal places for exercising outdoors or enjoying a picnic with friends. All have walking tracks, trees, toilets and play areas. The age limit for boys at ladies only destinations is usually around 6 or 7.

If you’re taking your halal holiday in the summer months, you can go to Al Montaza Theme Park on Tuesdays for ladies only day .

You can also still find ladies only sections in some banks and many government offices. In general, in the UAE, salons and spas outside of hotels are either for male and female. Most Sharjah hotels have separate spa and gym facilities.

Islamic Attractions

Let’s move on to activities and attractions. Sharjah offers plenty of options if you’re keen to delve deeper into Islamic culture. At the Holy Quran Museum, you can learn more about the history of the Quran and its sciences. Just a few kilometres away, you can continue learning about Islamic scholars at the Islamic World Garden.

Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization provides an insight into the past and present of Islamic science, art and thought. Across Sharjah’s museums, you will find references to the Quran. For example, at the Natural History Museum, the exhibition on the beginning of the universe includes relevant Quranic verses.

Similarly, the Sharjah Centre for Astronomy and Space Sciences, popularly known as Sharjah Planetarium, includes verses related to space. At the Islamic Botanical Garden, the verses listed refer to plants and sometimes their benefits.

If you’re surprised to see a connection between Islam and science, add these places to your itinerary to learn more. Other places of interest may include the Calligraphy Museum and Sharjah Mosque.

My favourite events of the year are the Islamic Arts Festival and the Sharjah Light Festival.
In February (sometimes early March), selected buildings across the emirate are illuminated with spectacular light shows, some with music. The Arabic architecture of many of the buildings provides the perfect canvas for the artworks.

The shows on religious buildings, such as mosques, have only light and no music, and the artwork incorporates Islamic designs, such as geometric and floral designs, arches, and so on. The mosques that feature every year are Al Noor Mosque on Buhairah Corniche, Sharjah Grand Mosque on the E611 bypass, and the Sheikh Rashid bin Hamed Al Qasimi Mosque in Dibba Al Hisn.

The Islamic Arts Festival, usually in December or January, features the main exhibition in Sharjah Art Museum and smaller exhibitions or solitary art pieces in art spaces or public places around the emirate.

These elements together position Sharjah as a top choice among the best holiday destinations for Muslim families.

My top hotel recommendation for your halal holiday in Sharjah is The Sharjah Sheraton Resort and Spa, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the beach, tasty alcohol-free drinks and food and separate spa facilities. Book your halal vacation at the Sharjah Sheraton Resort and Spa now.

Now you know how fabulous this beautiful emirate is for a halal holiday, are you ready to plan your trip to Sharjah?

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