A Sharjah Day Trip from Al Qusais: A City Near Dubai

Sharjah Art Museum offers a focused starting point for a day trip centered on art and local history. Its collections and exhibitions include regional history, local painters and Arab artists, while its Art Library holds more than 4,000 titles in Arabic, English and other languages.

The museum is in the Arts Area, Al-Shuwaihiyeen, near Al-Corniche post office and Heart of Sharjah. That location gives you two nearby cultural reference points for shaping the day, without requiring a packed itinerary. Sharjah Art Museum first opened on April 17, 1997.

For a broader picture of the city, the Sharjah Museums Authority oversees 16 museums covering subjects from Islamic civilisation, arts and heritage to science, archaeology and marine life. You could keep the day centered on the Art Museum or choose another museum based on the subject you want to explore.

Dubai and Sharjah have intercity bus connections as well as a ferry route, so check the available schedules and choose the option that fits your day. Dubai RTA operates intercity bus services between the emirates, while its timetable information does not provide individual Sharjah-route departure times in the page text.

For a wider look at local transport connections before you leave, read about getting around Dubai from Al Qusais. For your Sharjah leg, verify current departures with Dubai RTA rather than relying on a remembered timetable.

The FR5 ferry runs between Al Ghubaiba Marine Station in Dubai and Sharjah Aquarium Marine Station. The RTA lists weekday and weekend departures.

Its stated one-way fares are AED 15 for Silver and AED 25 for Gold; children under 5 and People of Determination travel free. Arrive at the station 15 minutes before departure, and check current timings because they may change.

Sharjah Art Museum admission is free, and individual visits do not require advance booking according to the Sharjah Museums Authority. VIP groups, school visits, tourist groups and organization visits do require advance booking.

Regular museum hours are Saturday to Thursday, 9:00 AM–8:00 PM, and Friday, 4:00 PM–8:00 PM. During Ramadan, the schedule changes: Saturday to Thursday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM and 9:00 PM–11:00 PM, with the museum closed on Friday.

It also closes on specified religious dates, including the first day of Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha. Check the Sharjah Museums Authority’s official site before planning around these hours.

If Barjeel Art Foundation is part of your plans, check its visitor arrangements before adding it to the itinerary. The guide to what to check before visiting Barjeel Art Foundation can help you plan that stop separately from the museum visit.

Leave your return connection until you have checked the day’s bus or ferry schedule. Dubai Bus operates from 04:00 to 01:00 the following day, but that general operating span does not give the departure time for a particular Sharjah service.

If you drive, public parking rules and fees depend on the emirate and local transport authority. Fees vary by area, parking type and duration, and payment and timing details appear at parking payment booths. Check the applicable local information when you arrive.

Is Sharjah suitable for a day trip from Dubai?

Yes. You can plan a day around Sharjah Art Museum and choose between intercity bus services and the FR5 ferry for travel between Dubai and Sharjah.

Is Sharjah Art Museum free?

Yes. Admission is free, and individual visits do not require advance booking.

Do you need to book a museum visit in advance?

Individual visits do not require advance booking. VIP groups, school visits, tourist groups and organization visits do.

How can you travel between Dubai and Sharjah?

Intercity buses and the FR5 ferry connect Dubai and Sharjah. Check Dubai RTA’s current schedules before setting out, as departure times may vary.