Sharjah offers a treasure trove of stylish shops, modern malls , souqs, markets, boutiques and bazaars. The city has many separate shopping areas with busy malls , large showrooms and smaller department stores and centres, plus furniture and craft warehouses dotted around town. The variety of products available is impressive.
Shopping here is tax free, so retail prices tend to be reasonable for both brand name goods and handicrafts sold in the souqs. Prices are fixed in the malls and the department stores but bargaining is a time-honoured tradition in the souqs. Usually all major credit cards, travellers ‘ cheques and US Dollars are accepted. Smaller shops may only deal in cash.
The shopping areas summarised below give you the opportunity to discover different parts of Sharjah. The city is developing rapidly and the shopping opportunities continue to grow with new outlets and centres steadily opening up due to the expansion of the road network. Drive around certain districts and you will not recognise them from one month to the next.
Dubai/Sharjah Highway (Al Ittihad Road) to Al Khan Lagoon and Al Nahda: a fast expanding , busy and dynamic neighbourhood with Al Taawun Mall, Ansar Mall, Safeer Mall and Sahara Centre. Sharjah Expo Centre hosts over 20 interesting exhibitions each year.
Souqs
Traditionally souqs were as much a meeting place as a trading centre: a mix of shaded alleys overflowing with individual stalls interspersed with tea and coffee houses where men would gather to discuss the day’s events. A visit to the souq is one of the quickest ways to immerse oneself in the city’s cultural heritage.
Generally souqs are divided into areas selling similar items and many are known for what they sell. In Sharjah the souqs have been preserved and renovated carefully so they retain their traditional charm while incorporating the comforts of modern life, such as air-conditioning, to enhance their attraction throughout the year.
Malls
The growth of shopping malls within the last few years has been tremendous. Large, fully airconditioned , modern and enticing, Sharjah’s malls offer safe, convenient and excellent shopping with an incredible array of international brands combined with entertainment and numerous food outlets. New stores and attractions open all the time keeping customers on their toes and spoilt for choice. Malls generally have ample parking for the convenience of customers and taxis are readily available at the main entrances. Sharjah has a shopping festival during the Holy Month of Ramadan, as well as Spring Promotions in March every year.
Dining
Sharjah has numerous restaurants offering tastes from around the world at prices to suit all budgets. Restaurants are dotted throughout the city whilst cafes tend to be concentrated around Al Buheirah Corniche, alongside the Khaled Lagoon and Al Qasba or in the shopping centres. As well as eating places serving Middle Eastern, Far Eastern, Indian, Seafood, Continental and International fare, there is a selection of local and international coffee shops and cafes as well as many well-known fast food chains. Most of the hotel restaurants and coffee shops offer Arabic and international cuisine with theme nights and buffets.
Al Qasba
For dining and leisure, Al Qasba is a unique waterfront destination in Sharjah City. With the Eye of the Emirate observation wheel in the background, the lively banks of Al Qasba offer a range of charming restaurants and cafes serving cuisine from around the world. Open to families, business visitors and tourists alike, it combines culture with entertainment and continuously strives to develop leisure activities that highlight Arabic and Islamic heritage. Most outlets are open daily for lunch and dinner and have outside terraces to enjoy during the cooler weather.
For regular updates and more information on the outlets and leisure attractions, contact 5560777 and visit www.qaq.ae
Arabian Gulf Cuisine
In the past, the cuisine of the Arabian Gulf countries was dominated by the simple bedou and pearl diver’s food with limited ingredients and was high in protein and carbohydrates. Breakfast consisted of bread and pancakes, with locally caught fish for lunch and dinner, served on a bed of rice. Rice was imported from the east and delivered by dhow. On special occasions a camel or goat would be killed and roasted for a feast. All year round, highly nutritious dates, either fresh or dried, would be eaten with most meals. However, as time went by a wide variety of imported foods and cooking methods were brought into the region, along with aromatic spices of the East.
Traditional Gulf food consists of lamb, chicken and mutton (adult sheep) cooked whole or prepared as kebabs and served on rice with a vegetable and tomato sauce. Popular dishes are machbous ( a meat and rice speciality seasoned with spices,tomatoes, onions and dried lemon), khouzi ( a roasted lamb stuffed with nuts and spices), biryani (a delectable Indian-style spiced rice and meat dish) and shourba addis ( lentil soup). Rice and meat dishes are flavoured with baharat ( a mixture of coriander, cardamom, cumin, ginger, turmeric and saffron). Other unique foods such as bilaleet ( a cold dish of vermicelli noodles, served with a hot flat omelette) tend to be sweetened with sugar from local dates. There is a strong emphasis on lamb, yogurt, mint, zaatar (thyme), sesame, curry powder, saffron, turmeric, garlic, cinnamon and rice, and in coastal areas, fish. Gulf cuisine often uses hot sauces and every variety of pepper as well as cucumbers, eggplant or aubergines, onions and fruit.
The meal is traditionally served on platters, placed on mats on the floor, in the centre of the circle of guests. Within reach of all the diners, food is taken from the communal plate by the right hand only. It is impolite to refuse what is offered and the more food placed on the plate signifies the greater the honour. Today traditional dining has moved from the desert to stylish villas and restaurants. However Arabic hospitality and traditions endure to ensure that visitors always feast in plenty and comfort.
Whilst it is not easy to find a restaurant that serves true Gulf meals, Asian, Middle Eastern and other Arabic cuisine dominate the menu.
Meals on the Go
Look for the tall barbecue grill with the conical shaped layered meat stack and try a shawarma - a sandwich that transcends all tastes and budgets. It costs a couple of Dirhams and is made of finely marinated cut slices of meat (lamb or chicken) served with salad and tahini (sesame) sauce, rolled up in warm Arabic bread. Also try falafel, a round fried delicacy with a refreshing fruit juice, tea or coffee.
For Dhs 20-25 you can buy a ready to eat small roast chicken with humus, bread and salad sufficient to feed two hungry people. You will see the chicken roasting on the spits outside the roadside cafes.
Welcome to Al Qasba Experience
Step into a delightful world of culture and entertainment. Created along a picturesque waterfront promenade set off by the magnificent “Eye of the Emirates”, Qanat Al Qasba offers you a rich variety of unique, traditional experiences. Apart from an exciting event calendar, bustling restaurants, quaint cafes and relaxing rides on the Abra(gondola , a styled boat) bring this beautiful place to life, offering visitors a new experience, every day of the year.
Bert’s
Paris on the Qanat … fresh baked bread, the finest ingredients, and a relaxed ambiance will have you wondering whether you didn’t somehow wander onto the Seine! Are you wondering , just what is a ’sandwich equilibre’ ? It ’s a Bert specialty, marrying great taste to good health in a perfect equilibrium. Stunning salads offer a feast for the eye, while farm yoghurt and fromage blanc are sweet offerings to end your meal. And for something a bit more sucre , a fruit tart or a slice of chocolate cake is your best choice! Enjoy..
Caribou Coffee
There is coffee… and then there is Caribou. Rich and flavorful, never dull or burnt, a cuppa from Caribou starts with only the best Arabica beans, followed by harvesting, roasting and blending techniques that differ from bean to bean, region to region, always offering the best choices for the most aromatic cup of coffee, in a warm & sensual setting.
Omar’s
Real Egyptian cuisine in an opulent setting. Rich woods and colourful upholsteries, with Tabla & Oud playing in the background whisk you away to someplace extraordinary. Relax and sample a variety of traditional dishes such as Molokhia with rabbit & rice, Koshari, chicken livers and lamb chops. Don’t miss the Tajens, offering pigeon, veal, or shrimp among the selections. Be sure to save some room for Arabic deserts after your meal!
Shababeek
With warm purple-themed Middle Eastern design and decor, the food at this unique and contemporary Lebanese restaurant is bound to leave your taste buds tingling. Serving delicious traditional dishes and delicacies, Shababeek also features a live cooking station - ‘The Saj Bar’ - where diners can watch the fascinating process of making this special Arabic bread. Shababeek has a private family seating area which makes it the perfect place to create special family experiences & memories.
Gerard
For delectable French pastries, look no further than Gerard’s. Made from the finest ingredients, these pastries are a delectable way to relax, unwind, and give yourself a treat . Enjoy a scrumptious selection of coffees & beverages in a charming, relaxed cafe & reward your day with a sweet treat.
Nando’s
Spicy never had it so good! This Portugese casual cafe offers marinated, basted, flame roasted chicken with flavors ranging from lemon and herb to extra-hot Peri-Peri, for the truly adventurous! If you would like to sample this unique cuisine but don’t want to scorch your taste buds, available are fresh breads, healthy side dishes, chips and generous beverages which offer a welcome counterpoint to the spicy chicken. A good kids menu will have your littlest ones playing & eating happily. |
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