# Sharjah Aquarium > Sharjah Aquarium is a two-floor government aquarium on the Al Khan lagoon with 21 tanks of Gulf and Sea of Oman marine life — reef sharks, rays, moray eels and seahorses. Tickets are AED 25 (AED 15 for ages 2–12) and include the Maritime Museum next door. Open Saturday–Thursday 8:00–20:00, Friday 16:00–20:00. Allow about 90 minutes. Web page: https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/sharjah-aquarium - City: [Sharjah](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah), United Arab Emirates - YesGo score: 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h 30 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Ticket (incl. Maritime Museum): Adults 13+ AED 25, children 2–12 AED 15 - Free entry: Under-2s; seniors 60+ and people of determination, each with one companion - Opening hours: Saturday–Thursday 8:00–20:00, Friday 16:00–20:00 - Ramadan: Sat–Thu 9:00–14:00 and 21:00–23:00, Fri 21:00–23:00; no evening session in the last 10 nights - Closed: 29th–30th Ramadan, first day of Eid Al Fitr, 9th Dhul Hijjah, first day of Eid Al Adha - Sunday: Open per the aquarium page; an older FAQ on the same site says closed - Shark feeding: Sat, Mon, Wed 13:00–13:30 - Where to buy: At the desk or the Sharjah Museums Authority e-shop; no booking needed for individuals - Ferry from Dubai: Al Ghubaiba – Sharjah Aquarium, ≈ 35 min, AED 15; few sailings a day - Address: Al Mina Street, Al Khan, next to Sharjah Maritime Museum - Coordinates: 25.33038, 55.35830 - Facts checked: 03.11.2026 ## Key facts - **AED 25** — adult ticket covering both the aquarium and the Maritime Museum; AED 15 for children (source: Sharjah Museums Authority) - **Fri 16:00–20:00** — the short day; other days 8:00–20:00 (source: Sharjah Museums Authority) - **21 tanks** — on two floors covering 6,500 m² (source: Sharjah Museums Authority; Visit Sharjah gives 20 tanks) - **6 June 2008** — opening day (source: Sharjah Museums Authority) - **1.8 million litres** — of water across all tanks (source: Sharjah Museums Authority) - **≈ 100–150 species** — SMA says around 100 species; Visit Sharjah says more than 150 species of fish (source: Sharjah Museums Authority; Visit Sharjah (Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority)) - **60+** — seniors get in free with one companion (source: Sharjah Museums Authority) - **Sea turtles** — sick and injured turtles are treated here in a rehabilitation programme (source: Sharjah Museums Authority) - **Touch pool** — lets visitors handle marine life (source: Sharjah Museums Authority) - **Sat, Mon, Wed** — shark feeding at 13:00–13:30 (source: Sharjah Museums Authority) - **2009** — the Maritime Museum moved next door to Al Khan (first opened in 2003 in the Heritage Area) (source: Sharjah Museums Authority) ## Sharjah Aquarium tickets and prices Adults (13+) pay **AED 25** and children aged 2–12 pay **AED 15**; under-2s are free. There is no aquarium-only price: it is a joint ticket that also gets you into the **Sharjah Maritime Museum** next door. No family ticket is listed. Seniors aged 60+ and people of determination go free, each with one companion, as do ICOM card holders. Everyone gets in free on International Museum Day (18 May) and UAE National Day (2–3 December). Individual visitors don't need to book — the Sharjah Museums Authority only asks groups and schools to reserve. Buy at the desk on arrival or on the SMA e-shop. Keep a few dirhams in cash as a back-up in case a card is declined. ## Sharjah Aquarium timings **Saturday to Thursday 8:00–20:00, Friday 16:00–20:00.** Friday is the trap: the doors open only in the late afternoon, so if you're coming from Dubai on a weekend, Saturday is the better day. During Ramadan the aquarium splits the day: 9:00–14:00 and 21:00–23:00 from Saturday to Thursday, and 21:00–23:00 on Friday, with no evening session in the last ten nights. It closes on the 29th and 30th of Ramadan, the first day of Eid Al Fitr, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah and the first day of Eid Al Adha. One caveat: an older FAQ on the SMA site lists Sunday as a closing day. The aquarium's own page, in English and Arabic, says Saturday–Thursday, and it runs children's workshops on Sundays — but if Sunday is your only day, ring ahead. ## How to get to Sharjah Aquarium 1. From the old centre (Heart of Sharjah and [Al Hisn Fort](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/sharjah-fort)): taxi, about 10–15 minutes — it's 4 km as the crow flies. Street taxis and ride-hailing apps both work in Sharjah. 2. From [Al Qasba](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/al-qasba): 2 km, a short taxi hop. 3. By local bus: Mowasalat routes 3 and 7 serve the Aquarium Marine Station next door (unofficial). 4. From Dubai by bus: RTA routes E303 (Union), E306 (Al Ghubaiba), E307 (Deira City Centre) or E307A (Abu Hail) to Al Jubail bus station — AED 12 on a nol card — then a taxi of about 3 km. 5. From Dubai by water: the RTA ferry from Al Ghubaiba Marine Station docks right at the aquarium in about 35 minutes. Check sailing times before you go. ## Taking the Dubai–Sharjah ferry The ferry is the most enjoyable way in. RTA's route FR5 links **Al Ghubaiba Marine Station** in Bur Dubai — a short walk from Al Ghubaiba metro on the Green Line — with **Sharjah Aquarium Marine Station**, right outside the aquarium. The crossing takes about 35 minutes. Gulf News and RTA list fares of AED 15 (Silver) and AED 25 (Gold), with under-5s free. There are only a handful of sailings a day and published timetables differ, so check RTA's marine transport site on the day. A good plan: ferry in, bus or taxi back. ## What to see - **The main Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman tank** — fish feeding Saturday to Thursday at 10:00. - **Shark feeding** — Saturday, Monday and Wednesday, 13:00–13:30. - **The touch pool** — kids can handle marine life under supervision. - **Reef sharks, rays, moray eels, seahorses and clownfish** in tanks that recreate rocky shores, reefs, lagoons and mangroves. - **The walk-through tunnel** — short, with fish overhead (described by independent guides, not on the official page). - **Sharjah Maritime Museum** next door — wooden dhows, real Arabian pearls and pearl-diving gear, on the same ticket. ## Is Sharjah Aquarium worth it? Yes, if you want a cheap, unhurried look at the sea life of the UAE coast — especially with children. For AED 25 you get two floors of tanks, the turtle rehabilitation work, a touch pool and a whole museum about pearling and dhows. Allow about an hour for the aquarium and half an hour for the museum. It is not a rival to the giant tank of Dubai Aquarium in Dubai Mall: tanks are smaller and there's no mall-sized viewing panel. If you've seen big aquariums before and only have one free day in Sharjah, put the [Museum of Islamic Civilization](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/museum-of-islamic-civilization) and the [Rain Room](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/rain-room) first. ## Aquarium vs Maritime Museum | | Aquarium | Maritime Museum | | --- | --- | --- | | Inside | 21 tanks, turtles, touch pool | Dhows, pearls, fishing gear | | Ticket | Joint: AED 25 / children AED 15 | Same ticket | | Hours | Sat–Thu 8:00–20:00, Fri 16:00–20:00 | Sat–Thu 8:00–20:00, Fri 16:00–20:00 | | Opened | 2008 | 2003; in Al Khan since 2009 | | Best for | Kids and sea-life fans | Gulf history buffs | They're next door to each other on one ticket — do both. Short on time? Give the aquarium most of it and walk the museum quickly. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] It's not Friday before 16:00 or the end of Ramadan - [ ] Card or some dirhams for the ticket - [ ] ID showing date of birth for free 60+ entry - [ ] Arriving at 13:00 on Sat, Mon or Wed for shark feeding - [ ] Time left for the Maritime Museum - [ ] Ferry times checked, if coming from Dubai by water > **Sharjah's rules for visitors** Sharjah is a dry emirate: the sale and drinking of alcohol are banned, so don't bring any in from Dubai. Its public decency rules rule out clothes that bare the stomach or back, skirts above the knee and anything tight or see-through; swimwear is for beaches and pools only. ## Sharjah by the water Sharjah's lagoons, island and waterfronts rated by YesGo. - [Al Majaz Waterfront](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/al-majaz-waterfront) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Al Qasba](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/al-qasba) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free; boats from AED 20 - [Al Noor Island](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/al-noor-island) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · AED 35; AED 50 with Butterfly House - [Sharjah Aquarium](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/sharjah-aquarium) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · AED 25, kids 2–12 AED 15 ## Sharjah's lagoons in a day Aquarium in the morning, Al Qasba canal at lunch, the Al Majaz fountain, Al Noor Island and the Blue Souk later on. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Sharjah Aquarium](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/sharjah-aquarium) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · AED 25, kids 2–12 AED 15 2. [Al Qasba](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/al-qasba) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free; boats from AED 20 3. [Al Majaz Waterfront](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/al-majaz-waterfront) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free 4. [Al Noor Island](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/al-noor-island) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · AED 35; AED 50 with Butterfly House 5. [Blue Souk (Central Souq)](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/blue-souk) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry ## Not to be confused with This is not Dubai Aquarium in Dubai Mall or The Lost Chambers at Atlantis, both in Dubai. It isn't a water park either — the nearest beach, Al Khan, is about 500 m up the road. ## Tips - Time your visit for 13:00 on a Saturday, Monday or Wednesday to catch the shark feeding. - Do the aquarium first and the Maritime Museum second — one ticket, and children tire before the tanks run out. - Arrive from Dubai by ferry and leave by bus or taxi — there are only a few sailings. - In the evening, move on to Al Qasba and the [Al Majaz Waterfront](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/al-majaz-waterfront) fountain. - Dress modestly and leave alcohol behind: Sharjah's rules are stricter than Dubai's. ## Questions ### How much is the Sharjah Aquarium ticket? AED 25 for adults and AED 15 for children aged 2–12; under-2s are free. The ticket also covers the Sharjah Maritime Museum next door. ### What are Sharjah Aquarium timings? Saturday to Thursday 8:00–20:00 and Friday 16:00–20:00. In Ramadan it opens 9:00–14:00 and 21:00–23:00. ### Is Sharjah Aquarium open on Friday? Only in the afternoon and evening, from 16:00 to 20:00. ### Is Sharjah Aquarium open on Sunday? The official aquarium page lists Saturday–Thursday as open, but an older FAQ on the same site says Sunday is a closing day — call ahead if Sunday is your only option. ### How do I get to Sharjah Aquarium from Dubai? Take the RTA ferry from Al Ghubaiba (about 35 minutes, AED 15) or an E303/E306/E307 bus to Al Jubail (AED 12 on nol) and a short taxi ride. ### Is Sharjah Aquarium worth visiting? Yes for families and anyone wanting a cheap look at UAE sea life plus the Maritime Museum. Skip it if you've seen large aquariums and are short on time. ### How long do you need at Sharjah Aquarium? About an hour for the aquarium and 30 minutes for the Maritime Museum. ### Is Sharjah Aquarium free for seniors? Yes — visitors aged 60+ get in free with one companion. ### Sharjah Aquarium vs Dubai Aquarium: which is better? Dubai's is far bigger and pricier, with a giant tank inside Dubai Mall. Sharjah's is smaller, quieter, focused on local species and costs AED 25 including a museum. ## How we checked Fares, hours, Ramadan timings, closing days, free-entry groups and exhibits come from the aquarium's official Sharjah Museums Authority page; the English and Arabic versions match. The SMA FAQ still shows an older schedule (Friday from 14:00, closed Sunday), while the aquarium page and its Sunday children's workshops point to Sunday opening — we follow the aquarium page and mark Sunday as verifying. SMA and Visit Sharjah differ on tanks (21 vs 20) and species (about 100 vs 150+), so we show both. The tunnel isn't on the official page; independent guides describe it — unofficial. Ferry fares and crossing time come from Gulf News and RTA; route FR5 is on RTA's route list but timetables differ, so it is marked verifying. The AED 12 bus fare is from Gulf News; other sources give AED 10. We found no reports of recent closures. The Wikidata point is about 5 km off, so the location follows OpenStreetMap. ## Sources - Sharjah Museums Authority: Sharjah Aquarium page (English and Arabic) and Sharjah Maritime Museum page — hours, fares, closures, exhibits - Sharjah Museums Authority: FAQs — booking, joint tickets, photography - Visit Sharjah (Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority): Sharjah Aquarium - RTA: Dubai Ferry routes — FR5 Sharjah Aquarium Marine Station – Al Ghubaiba Marine Station - Gulf News, 2025: commuting between Dubai and Sharjah by bus and ferry - Gulf News, 2024: alcohol rules emirate by emirate; Gulf News: Sharjah decency rules - OpenStreetMap — building location; Wikidata Q137798871 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.