Al Majaz Waterfront
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Al Qasba, Sharjah
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Photo: Tashmetova808, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Hours
- Open public promenade; cafés, boats and attractions mostly 16:00 to midnight (unofficial)
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h 30 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Maraya Art Centre
- Free
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Maraya hours
- From 10:00 to 19:00 or 22:00, Friday from 16:00 — sources disagree
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Sharjah Boats
- From AED 20; piers at Al Qasba and Al Majaz Waterfront
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Private abra
- 15 or 30 minutes, up to 10–11 people; confirm the price when booking
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Kids Fun House
- From AED 45
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Eye of the Emirates
- Moved to Al Montazah Parks in 2018 — no longer here
- Café and boat hours
- Roughly 16:00 to midnight; in winter many cafés open earlier
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Payment
- Cards are widely used in the UAE; carry some dirhams as a back-up
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Parking
- Several visitor car parks, some paid (unofficial)
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Alcohol
- None — Sharjah is a dry emirate
Key facts
≈ 1 kmcanal length between Khalid Lagoon and Al Khan Lagoon
2 sourcesi
Gulf NewsOpenStreetMap — canal-side street about 1.1 kmFreeentry to the promenade and the Maraya Art Centre
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Shurooq (Sharjah Investment and Development Authority), Al Qasba page on Discover ShurooqFrom AED 20Sharjah Boats rides
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Shurooq, Al Qasba page on Discover Shurooq2018the Eye of the Emirates wheel moved from Al Qasba to Al Montazah Parks
2 sourcesi
Khaleej TimesGulf News13 yearsthe wheel spent at Al Qasba after opening in 2005
2 sourcesi
Khaleej TimesGulf News1.36 km²area of the Al Qasba district
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English WikipediaShurooqruns the promenade, boats, theatre and art centre
2 sourcesi
Discover Shurooq (Shurooq)Tiqets — boat tour supplierTheatreMasrah Al Qasba stages seasonal plays and concerts
2 sourcesi
ShurooqEnglish WikipediaMosqueAl Qasba Mosque stands on Al Khan Street by the kids' centre
2 sourcesi
OpenStreetMapProperty FinderWhat is Al Qasba?
Al Qasba is a short leisure canal in Sharjah's Al Khan area, running about a kilometre from Khalid Lagoon to Al Khan Lagoon. Both banks are pedestrian promenades lined with cafés and restaurant terraces, with bridges across the water. It's an evening hangout rather than an attraction with a gate: there's no ticket and no entrance.
The district is run by Shurooq, the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, which also operates the Maraya Art Centre, the Masrah Al Qasba theatre, the kids' centre and the boats. Al Qasba has no website of its own — the old address redirects to Shurooq's Discover Shurooq platform, which lists venues, events and prices.
Things to do at Al Qasba
- Walk the canal — up one bank and back down the other via the bridges; 30–40 minutes covers it.
- Cross the footbridge for the long view down the canal, best after dark when the lights come on.
- Maraya Art Centre — a non-profit contemporary art space with changing exhibitions and free entry.
- Take a boat — Shurooq's abras leave from the Al Qasba pier for Khalid Lagoon.
- Catch a show at Masrah Al Qasba — plays and concerts by season, booked on Discover Shurooq.
- Kids Fun House — a children's play centre, from AED 45.
- Eat by the water — Levantine and Arabic restaurants, coffee shops and dessert cafés line both banks.
Al Qasba boat ride: price and how it works
The boats are Sharjah Boats, run by Shurooq, and the official Al Qasba page lists rides from AED 20. There are also private abras for 15 or 30 minutes, where your group of up to 10–11 gets the whole boat. Booking sites quote different prices for these, so check the figure when you book.
You board at the Al Qasba pier or at Al Majaz Waterfront; the route loops round Khalid Lagoon past the towers and Al Noor Island. Boats mainly run in the evening, roughly 16:00 to midnight (unofficial). The best slot is just after sunset, when both waterfronts light up.
Al Qasba timings: when to go
The promenade itself is an open public space. Cafés, boats and attractions mostly run from late afternoon to around midnight; guides give 16:00 to midnight in summer and from 10:00 in winter, but there's no official timetable for the whole district, so treat these as approximate.
Go after sunset — it's cooler, everything is open and the canal is lit. From October to April a daytime visit works too; from May to September the midday heat empties the place and many cafés don't open until the afternoon.
The Maraya Art Centre keeps its own hours: listings say Saturday or Sunday to Thursday from 10:00, Friday from 16:00, with closing given as either 19:00 or 22:00. If the gallery matters to you, go before 19:00.
Is Al Qasba worth visiting?
Yes, as an evening: it's free, walkable and pretty when lit, with plenty of places to eat and an easy boat ride. Combined with a stroll to Al Noor Island and the Al Majaz Waterfront it makes a relaxed night out by the water.
It isn't worth a special trip from Dubai on its own. If you only have half a day in Sharjah, start with the Museum of Islamic Civilization and the old centre, then come here for dinner. And if you're after the Ferris wheel, it's now at Al Montazah Parks.
How to get to Al Qasba
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Al Majaz Waterfront is about 23 min away on foot.
More tips
- From the old centre (Heart of Sharjah and Al Hisn Fort): taxi, about 10 minutes — 4 km as the crow flies. Street taxis and ride-hailing apps both work in Sharjah.
- From Al Jubail bus station, where buses from Dubai arrive: about 3 km, a short taxi ride.
- From Dubai by bus: RTA routes E303 (Union), E306 (Al Ghubaiba), E307 (Deira City Centre) or E307A (Abu Hail) to Al Jubail — AED 12 on a nol card (some sources say AED 10) — then a taxi.
- From Sharjah Aquarium: 2 km — a short taxi or a half-hour walk.
- From Al Noor Island and Al Majaz Waterfront: about 1.5 km, a 20–25-minute walk along Khalid Lagoon.
- From Dubai by taxi: 30–60 minutes depending on traffic at the Sharjah border (unofficial).
Before you go: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
Walk, boat or Maraya?
| Canal walkyou are here | Free | 30–40 min | Evening | Everyone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boat ride | From AED 20 | 15–30 min | Evening | Couples and families |
| Maraya Art Centre | Free | 30–60 min | Day or early evening | Contemporary art fans |
The ideal evening does all three: Maraya first while it's open, then the walk, then a boat after sunset.
Sharjah by the water
Sharjah's lagoons, island and waterfronts rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Al Majaz Waterfront | 40 | 1 h | Free | 25 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Qasbayou are here | 38 | 1 h 30 min | Free | — |
| Al Noor Island | 34 | 1 h 30 min | AED 35; AED 50 with Butterfly House | 30 min walk |
| Sharjah Aquarium | 32 | 1 h 30 min | AED 25, kids 2–12 AED 15 | 31 min walk |
An evening round Khalid Lagoon
Aquarium in the afternoon, Al Qasba at sunset, then walk on to Al Noor Island and the Al Majaz Waterfront fountain. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Sharjah Aquarium1 h 30 min · AED 25, kids 2–12 AED 15
- 31 min walk from the previous stopAl Qasbayou are here1 h 30 min · Free; boats from AED 20
- 30 min walk from the previous stopAl Noor Island1 h 30 min · AED 35; AED 50 with Butterfly House
- 13 min walk from the previous stopAl Majaz Waterfront1 h · Free
4 places · about 6 h 44 min with walks · 74 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your evening
How to do it right
- Arrive around sunset — lights, cooler air and the boats all start in the evening.
- See Maraya first while it's open, then walk and take a boat after dark.
- From the canal, walk on to Al Noor Island — about 20–25 minutes along the lagoon.
- Have dinner here, but don't expect a glass of wine: Sharjah is dry.
- Late at night a taxi back to Dubai is easiest — Dubai buses leave from Al Jubail, 3 km away.
- Ignore older guides that send you here for the Ferris wheel; it now stands at Al Montazah Parks.
Questions
What is there to do at Al Qasba Sharjah?
Walk the canal and its bridges, visit the free Maraya Art Centre, take an abra onto Khalid Lagoon and eat at a waterside café. Kids have the Kids Fun House play centre.
Is Al Qasba free to enter?
Yes. The promenade and Maraya Art Centre are free; boats (from AED 20), the kids' centre (from AED 45) and theatre shows are paid.
Is the Eye of the Emirates still at Al Qasba?
No. The wheel was moved to Al Montazah Parks in 2018.
How much is the Al Qasba boat ride?
From AED 20 according to the official Al Qasba page. Private 15- or 30-minute abras cost more; confirm the price when booking.
What are Al Qasba timings?
The promenade is open public space. Cafés, boats and attractions mostly run from late afternoon to around midnight (unofficial).
How do I get to Al Qasba from Dubai?
Take an RTA E303, E306, E307 or E307A bus to Al Jubail (AED 12 on nol) and a 3 km taxi, or a taxi all the way — 30–60 minutes.
Is Al Qasba worth visiting?
Yes for a relaxed evening walk, boat ride and dinner. It isn't worth a special trip from Dubai on its own.
How long do you need at Al Qasba?
30–40 minutes to walk it; 90 minutes to two hours with a boat ride and dinner.
Is there parking at Al Qasba?
Yes, several visitor car parks; some charge a small fee (unofficial).
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Shurooq (Sharjah Investment and Development Authority): Al Qasba page on Discover Shurooq — venues, boat and kids' centre prices, free Maraya entry
- Tiqets: Sharjah Boat Tour, supplied by Shurooq — piers at Al Majaz and Al Qasba
- Khaleej Times, 7 March 2018; Gulf News, 5 November 2018: Eye of the Emirates moved to Al Montazah Parks
- Gulf News: opening of the Al Qasba canal between Khalid and Al Khan lagoons
- English Wikipedia: Al Qasba Sharjah
- Property Finder, 2024: Al Qasba Sharjah — parking, mosque, Maraya hours
- Gulf News, 2024–2025: Dubai–Sharjah buses; Sharjah alcohol and decency rules
- OpenStreetMap — canal, street and mosque locations; Wikidata Q131008014
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