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Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn) in the Heart of Sharjah

Courtyard of Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn) with old cannons, white walls and a round watchtower
Photo: Alexandermcnabb, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Ticket
Adults 13+ AED 10, children 2–12 AED 5, under-2s free
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Opening hours
Saturday–Thursday 8:00–20:00, Friday 16:00–20:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Heritage joint ticket
AED 20 (children AED 10): the fort, Heritage Museum, Calligraphy Museum, Bait Al Naboodah, Al Qasimia School
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Free entry
Seniors 60+ and people of determination, each with one companion; ICOM card holders
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Ramadan
Saturday–Thursday 9:00–14:00, closed Friday
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Closed
29th–30th Ramadan, first day of Eid Al Fitr, 9th Dhul Hijjah, first day of Eid Al Adha
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Payment
Pay at the desk; carry some dirhams in case a card is declined
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
From Dubai
RTA buses E303, E306, E307 to Al Jubail, then a 15-minute walk
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time needed
About an hour; 2–3 hours with the Heart of Sharjah
Address
Heart of Sharjah, Al Shuwaiheen, behind Souq Al Shanasiya
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Coordinates
25.35860, 55.38640YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

1823built by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi
3 sourcesSharjah Museums AuthorityThe NationalKhaleej Times (English Wikipedia says 1820)
AED 10adult ticket; AED 20 covers five Heart of Sharjah museums
2 sourcesSharjah Museums AuthorityThe National
1970the fort was largely demolished, leaving a single tower
2 sourcesThe NationalEnglish Wikipedia
1996–1997rebuilt with the original doors and windows; the museum opened in 1997
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaSharjah Museums Authority
2015reopened after a further restoration
2 sourcesSharjah Museums AuthorityKhaleej Times
12 galleriesof photographs, weapons and ruling-family rooms
2 sourcesKhaleej TimesGulf News
Al Muhalwasathe prison tower, now telling the story of Sharjah's first justice system
3 sourcesSharjah Museums AuthorityThe NationalKhaleej Times
Al Kubsthe round tower that survived; Al Burj square is named after it
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaThe National
70–80 cmthick walls of coral stone
2 sourcesKhaleej TimesEnglish Wikipedia (rock, coral and adobe)
Seat of powerhome of the Al Qasimi rulers and the emirate's government
2 sourcesSharjah Museums AuthorityEnglish Wikipedia

Sharjah Fort tickets and entry fee

Adults (13+) pay AED 10, children aged 2–12 pay AED 5, and under-2s go free. These are the Sharjah Museums Authority's official prices; the authority runs the fort and most museums around it.

The better deal is the Heritage joint ticket for AED 20 (AED 10 for children). It covers five museums within a few minutes' walk: the fort itself, Sharjah Heritage Museum, Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, the pearl merchant's house Bait Al Naboodah and Al Qasimia School. Visit three of them and it has already paid for itself.

Seniors aged 60+ and people of determination get in free, each with one companion, as do ICOM card holders. Everyone goes free on International Museum Day (18 May), UAE National Day and during Sharjah Heritage Days. There's no need to book — buy at the desk on arrival, and keep a few dirhams in cash in case a card is declined.

Sharjah Fort timings

Saturday to Thursday 8:00–20:00, Friday 16:00–20:00. There's no weekly closing day, but Friday mornings are the trap: if you come over from Dubai at the weekend, Saturday works better, or arrive on Friday for the late afternoon.

In Ramadan the fort opens Saturday to Thursday 9:00–14:00 and stays shut on Fridays. It also 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. The official page shows no temporary closure notices.

What is Al Hisn?

Al Hisn simply means “the fort” in Arabic. Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi built it in 1823, and for well over a century it was the ruling family's home and the seat of government. The museums authority calls it the biggest and most important building in Sharjah at the time; English Wikipedia dates it to 1820.

In 1970 the then ruler ordered it pulled down, and only one tower survived. The current ruler, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, had it rebuilt in 1996–1997, putting the salvaged original doors and windows back in place, and it opened as a museum in 1997.

A second restoration followed. Khaleej Times reported that a team of 10–12 people spent 15 months bringing back the colours, textures and details, using archives in India and the UK. The fort reopened in 2015 in the form you see today.

To be straight with you: this is a careful reconstruction, not an untouched ruin. Don't come for ancient stones — come for a clear, hour-long story of how the emirate was run before oil.

What to see inside

  • The courtyard cannons lined up against the white walls — the classic photo.
  • Al Muhalwasa tower, the many-sided prison tower, with a coral-stone cell and displays on Sharjah's first justice system.
  • Al Kubs, the round tower that survived the 1970 demolition and gave Al Burj (“the tower”) square its name.
  • The armoury: percussion shotguns, muskets, Martini-Henry rifles, khanjar daggers and swords, plus a room on how the sheikhs and their guards defended the fort.
  • The sheikh's quarters and majlis — a raised bed, a coffee corner with dallah pots and the room where guests were received.
  • Al Medbasa, the room where dates were pressed to make dibs, a thick date syrup.
  • Photo galleries of old Sharjah and archaeological finds — the quickest way to picture the town before oil.
  • The ceilings of mangrove poles, palm fronds and woven mats — look up in any room.

How to get to Sharjah Fort

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On foot

More tips

  1. The fort sits right in the old centre, in the Heart of Sharjah quarter between the Corniche and Al Uruba Street. Ask a driver for “Al Hisn, Sharjah Fort” or “Heart of Sharjah”.
  2. From Sharjah Airport (SHJ): about 20 minutes by taxi (unofficial). Taxis run on the meter; carry some dirhams, as not every car has a card reader.
  3. From Dubai by bus: RTA E303 (from Union), E306 (from Al Ghubaiba) or E307 (from Deira City Centre) to Al Jubail bus station in Sharjah. Pay with a nol card only — AED 12 (unofficial).
  4. From Al Jubail it's about 1 km: a 15-minute walk along the Corniche and into the quarter, or a 5-minute taxi in the heat.
  5. From Dubai by taxi: from 30 minutes without traffic, easily double that at evening rush hour (unofficial).
  6. On foot from the fort: the Museum of Islamic Civilization is about 12 minutes north, the Rain Room about 18 minutes, and the Blue Souk about 20 minutes south.

Heart of Sharjah: what's around the fort

The fort is the centrepiece of the Heart of Sharjah, a quarter of coral-stone houses, covered souks and museums that the emirate has been restoring for years. Everything below is within a five-minute walk, so treat the fort as the start of a stroll rather than a stand-alone sight.

Bait Al Naboodah is an 1845 pearl merchant's house with a courtyard, teak columns and carved plaster, opposite Souq Al Arsah — it's on the joint ticket. Sharjah Heritage Museum covers daily life before the oil boom, and Sharjah Art Museum is free, with modern and contemporary Arab art.

Souq Al Arsah is one of the oldest souks in the UAE, a covered lane of antiques, spices and souvenirs — a good place for a coffee between museums. Fort first, then Bait Al Naboodah and the souk: allow two to three hours for the lot.

Sharjah Fort vs Bait Al Naboodah vs Museum of Islamic Civilization

Sharjah Fortyou are hereRulers' fort, 1823, rebuiltAED 10, children AED 5IncludedSat–Thu 8:00–20:00, Fri 16:00–20:00—
Bait Al NaboodahPearl merchant's house, 1845AED 10, children AED 5IncludedSat–Thu 8:00–20:00, Fri 16:00–20:00≈ 4 min
Museum of Islamic CivilizationLarge museum of Islamic art and scienceAED 10, children AED 5Not includedSat–Thu 8:00–20:00, Fri 16:00–20:00≈ 12 min

For Sharjah's own story, start at the fort. To see how merchants lived, go to Bait Al Naboodah. For a big collection, pick the Museum of Islamic Civilization and give it 1.5–2 hours.

Is Sharjah Fort worth visiting?

Yes, if you're in central Sharjah anyway: it's the emirate's key historic building, the ticket costs less than a coffee in Dubai, and in an hour you'll understand how Sharjah was ruled and lived in before oil. Kids enjoy the cannons, towers, prison cell and weapons.

Don't make the trip from Dubai for the fort alone — it's compact and rebuilt. Pair it with the quarter, the Museum of Islamic Civilization and an evening at Al Majaz Waterfront, and the day out is well spent.

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Sharjah's historic sights compared

Every historic place in Sharjah rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Blue Souk (Central Souq)421 hFree23 min walk
Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn)you are here391 hAED 10 · 5-museum ticket AED 20—
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization361 h 30 minAED 10, children 2–12 AED 513 min walk
Mleiha193 hAED 25, kids AED 1554.0 km

Old Sharjah in a day

Rain Room and the Museum of Islamic Civilization in the morning, the fort and its quarter at midday, then the Blue Souk and an evening at Al Majaz Waterfront. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Rain Room30 min · AED 25, under 5 free
  2. 7 min walk from the previous stopSharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization1 h 30 min · AED 10, children 2–12 AED 5
  3. 13 min walk from the previous stopSharjah Fort (Al Hisn)you are here1 h · AED 10 · 5-museum ticket AED 20
  4. 23 min walk from the previous stopBlue Souk (Central Souq)1 h · Free entry
  5. 37 min walk from the previous stopAl Majaz Waterfront1 h · Free

5 places · about 6 h 20 min with walks · 80 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

1 h 30 min · AED 10, children 2–12 AED 5 · 13 min walk

Rain Room

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

30 min · AED 25, under 5 free · 18 min walk

Blue Souk (Central Souq)

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

1 h · Free entry · 23 min walk

How to do it right

  • Get there for 8:00 — the quarter is far nicer to walk before the heat, and the rooms are nearly empty.
  • Buy the AED 20 joint ticket at the fort; it works across five museums in the quarter.
  • Climb up to the towers for a view over the cannon courtyard and old rooftops (The National says visitors can go up).
  • The square in front of the fort is lit at night — a nice fit with the Friday 16:00 opening.
  • Dress modestly: Sharjah has decency rules, and alcohol is banned throughout the emirate.
  • Keep your joint ticket handy — you'll show it again at Bait Al Naboodah and the Heritage Museum.

Questions

How much is the Sharjah Fort ticket?

AED 10 for adults 13+ and AED 5 for children aged 2–12; under-2s are free. The Heritage joint ticket for five museums is AED 20.

What are Sharjah Fort timings?

Saturday to Thursday 8:00–20:00 and Friday 16:00–20:00. In Ramadan it opens Saturday to Thursday 9:00–14:00 and closes on Friday.

Is Sharjah Fort open on Friday?

Yes, but only from 16:00 to 20:00 — and not at all on Fridays during Ramadan.

How do I get to Sharjah Fort from Dubai?

Take RTA bus E303, E306 or E307 to Al Jubail in Sharjah (nol card only), then walk about 15 minutes. A taxi takes 30 minutes or more, depending on traffic.

Where is Sharjah Fort?

In the Heart of Sharjah quarter in the old centre, behind Souq Al Shanasiya and a short walk from the Corniche.

How long do you need at Sharjah Fort?

About an hour for the fort; two to three hours if you add Bait Al Naboodah, the Heritage Museum and Souq Al Arsah.

Is Sharjah Fort original?

It was built in 1823 but largely demolished in 1970. Today's fort is a 1996–1997 rebuild using the original doors and windows, around one surviving tower.

What is the Heart of Sharjah?

The restored historic quarter around the fort — old coral-stone houses, Souq Al Arsah and several museums, all within a few minutes' walk.

Is Sharjah Fort good for kids?

Yes: cannons, towers, a prison cell and an armoury. There's a lift, a baby-changing table and a mothers' room.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Sharjah Museums Authority: “Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn)”, “Bait Al Naboodah”, “Sharjah Art Museum” and “Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization” pages — hours, fares, closures, joint ticket, facilities
  • The National, 30.01.2026 — UAE museums: Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn)
  • Khaleej Times, 05.05.2015 — the restored fort opens as a museum
  • English Wikipedia: Sharjah Fort; Wikidata Q12208338
  • Gulf News — Al Hisn and Souq Al Arsah; Dubai–Sharjah buses
  • OpenStreetMap — straight-line distances from the fort
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 03.11.2026 ·
How we checkedFares, hours, Ramadan timings, closing days, free-entry groups, the joint ticket and facilities come from the fort's official Sharjah Museums Authority page; The National gives the same fares and hours. The build date differs: the authority, The National and Khaleej Times say 1823, English Wikipedia 1820 — we use 1823 and mention 1820. The 1970 demolition is from The National and Wikipedia. The joint ticket's price and list match on the official fort, Bait Al Naboodah and Al Qasimia School pages; the same site's FAQ names Al Eslah School instead of Al Qasimia School, so we follow the museum pages. Bus routes and the AED 12 fare, taxi times from the airport and from Dubai, and card acceptance are unofficial. The official page shows no temporary closure.

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