Sharjah Aquarium
Al Meena Street, Al Khan Old area, adjacent to Sharjah Maritime Museum, Sharjah, ARE
Overlooking the lagoon in Sharjah’s Al Khan district, Sharjah Museum brings visitors face-to-face with marine life native to the Persian Gulf and other oceans. Set over two levels of an impressive modern building, the aquarium houses more than 100 species—from exotic fish to stingrays—making it a fun and educational destination for all.
Aquarium visitors can view 20 large tanks and walk through an underwater tunnel to see many creatures close-up. Designed to replicate natural habitats, including coral gardens and mangroves, the tanks host everything from reef sharks, turtles, and moray eels to eagle rays, clownfish, seahorses, and jellyfish. Comprehensive information panels provide details on many species and explain the importance of preserving their habitats by curbing overfishing and pollution.
Tickets can be purchased at the door and include entry to the adjacent Sharjah Maritime Museum, which spotlights Sharjah’s maritime history. If you plan to visit the aquarium, you can travel here independently or catch one of Sharjah’s hop-on, hop-off buses that stop outside. Some hop-on, hop-off tickets also include aquarium entry. Alternatively, several Sharjah city tours include an aquarium visit.
Sharjah Aquarium is ideal for marine and nature enthusiasts, plus families of all ages
The aquarium is wheelchair- and stroller-friendly
Plan for an hour at the aquarium and around 45 minutes at the Sharjah Maritime Museum
On-site aquarium facilities include free WiFi, restrooms, parking, and a café and gift shop
Sharjah Aquarium stands on the lagoon front of Sharjah’s Al Khan quarter and is easily accessible by cab, self-drive car, or Sharjah’s hop-on hop-off buses. Alternatively, catch a Dubai-Sharjah ferry if you’re traveling here from Dubai. These boats regularly leave Dubai’s Al Ghubaiba Marine Station and take 35 minutes to reach Sharjah, where they dock just outside the aquarium.
The aquarium is open 8am–8pm on Saturday through Thursday and 4pm-8pm on Fridays. It’s worth double-checking the timings before visiting, however, as the aquarium closes on some national holidays. It’s usually at its busiest on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, so come to explore in peace during the week.
As admission to Sharjah Aquarium includes entry to the Sharjah Maritime Museum, it makes sense to explore both in one trip. The museum charts Sharjah’s close relationship with the sea through displays of the emirate’s coastal heritage and centuries-old pearl-diving and fishing trades. Highlights include traditional wooden dhow fishing boats, displays of fine ocean pearls, and artifacts like “suckling” shells—fig shells used as infant-feeding devices thousands of years ago.
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