Sharjah & The Northern Emirates

Cradling the shallow creeks along the Gulf to the north of Dubai, the emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Kaimah, offer a very different perspective on life in the UAE from their oil-rich neighbours to the south. Sharjah has a history dating back more than 5,000 years, and in 1998 the city was named ‘Arab City of Culture’ by UNESCO. The emirate is noted for its cultural heritage and museums – including the spectacular Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization. A walk through the beautifully restored Arts and Heritage areas with their narrow lanes and coral-stone buildings dating back 200 years is highly rewarding. Here you will find the colourful Souq Al Arsah which is probably the oldest covered marketplace in the UAE. The luxurious Chedi Al Bait Hotel is located within the Heart of Sharjah heritage area and has guest rooms spread between beautifully restored traditional houses.

Just up the road, Ajman is the smallest of the UAE’s seven emirates. The emirate’s imposing fort is now an excellent museum and was the residence of the local rulers until 1970. Sleepy Umm Al Quwain is located on a narrow spit overlooking the sea and a wide lagoon. Characterised by its low-rise buildings, ruler’s fort, and the absence of luxury hotels – it still retains the feel of the pre-oil era. Within Umm Al Quwain, the site of Al Dour is considered to be the largest pre-Islamic site in the UAE.

Further north, scenic Ras Al Khaimah (known locally as RAK) was once an important maritime power with territory on both sides of the Gulf. The emirate has several good forts and is flanked by extensive desert dunes and the rugged Hajar mountains to the east, and fine beaches to the west. Craggy Jabal Jais, the highest mountain in the UAE, offers visitors stunning panoramic views over the wild landscape and is home to Jais Flight – the world’s longest zip line. Luxury desert and coastal resorts cater to visitors looking for a non-city-based holiday.