Dubai and Sharjah are quite different.
Sharjah is more conservative than Dubai, hence the influx of foreigners to Dubai.
However, in this article, I want us to look at some highlights about Sharjah and discuss the differences between these two emirates.
So, let’s get right into it.
P.S Continue reading till the end to find out 10 differences between Dubai and Sharjah.
History of Sharjah
Sharjah is the 3rd most populous emirate in the UAE. It contributes about 8% to the country’s GDP and has a population of about 2,000,000. Dubai on the other hand has a population of over 3,000,000 people.
It’s mainly a cultural city and because of this, alcohol is strictly regulated. Another interesting fact is that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Sharjah as a healthy city. What does this mean? According to Wikipedia, a healthy city is a municipality that continually improves on a physical and a social level until environmental and pathological conditions are reached establishing an acceptable morbidity rate for the population.
Another interesting fact: Sharjah was recognized as the cultural capital of the Arab world in 1998 by UNESCO.
Enough about the history and current affairs, let’s turn back to some fun stuff.
Activities One Can Do in Sharjah
Just like the other emirates, Sharjah has a lot of activities that could be in your to do list. Let’s look at some of them:
Something interesting you can do even before getting to Sharjah is take the Sharjah Tourism Travel Quiz where you Discover your inner travel personality! The link is at the end of the article.
Things You Should Avoid in Sharjah
Sharjah is more on the conservative side when you compare it with Dubai. Here are a few things to avoid doing in Sharjah:
- Do not dress inapproprietaly
- Avoid too much public display of affection
- Drinking alcohol in public is prohibited
Dubai vs Sharjah
10 things to compare Dubai and Sharjah
| Dubai | Sharjah |
| Dubai has the Dubai International Airport (DXB), the worlds busiest airport. | Sharjah uses the Sharjah International Airport and the main carrier there is Air Arabia. Related: Air Arabia Review From Kenya to Sharjah |
| Dubai’s population is close to 3.2 million, most of which are expats from Pakistan, Bangladesh, U.K and more. Related: Is Dubai a City or a Country? | Sharjah is not too far behind with theirs at 2 million people. |
| Dubai is very liberal compared to Sharjah. | Sharjah is very conservative. It also has more Muslims than Dubai. |
| Dubai is not known for universities, however, they do have some great schools. | Sharjah has one of the best cultural universities |
| Housing in Dubai is quite expensive. The average rent for a 3 bedroom apartment on the outskirts of Dubai is AED 11,000 per month | Rent in Sharjah is about 60% cheaper than in Dubai. It’s crazy, I know. A 3 bedroom apartment will average at AED 5,000 per month |
| The cost of living in Dubai is pretty high. The glitz and glam do not come cheap. | The cost of living in Sharjah is about 25% lower than that of Dubai. |
| Interestingly, taxis are a bit “cheaper” in Dubai than Sharjah. Taxi fares start at AED 6 | Taxi fares start at AED 11 making it more expensive to use Taxis in Sharjah |
| The average monthly salary of people in Dubai is double that of Sharjah. | It’s not a surprise that salaries in Sharjah are lower compared to Dubai. |
| Dubai has a more vibrant nightlife and things to do. Downtown Dubai is the place to be at night. You can also check out the Marina for a fun night out. | If you are looking to party and get a little bit crazy, Sharjah won’t be it. Not saying you won’t find any, but it will be a hassle and you won’t enjoy it as much as you’ll enjoy Dubai night clubs. |
| When it comes to setting up a business as a foreigner, Dubai has way more freezones compared to Sharjah. A freezone is an economic zone set out by a government to foster foreign trade and investment. One can easily get a UAE/Dubai Freelance Visa and register their business under one of the freezones. | Sharjah has fewer freezones when compared to Dubai. It is however, not difficult to set up your business in Sharjah. |
Conclusion
Dubai and Sharjah are very different as you have seen.
For most people, Dubai would be the most ideal place to be in. Especially for tourists. However, Sharjah is a destination that should be added to your itinerary if you are looking for some culture and heritage.
