Other Services and Amenities
- Table Tennis Spots
- Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club facilities
- Language Classes
- Eton Institute or Arabic Language Center (Heart of Sharjah)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- House of Wisdom (World-class digital/physical library)
- Community Centers
- Sharjah Ladies Club (Women only) or various Sports Clubs
- Gaming Lounges
- Queues Billiards & Gaming or Last Resort Game Zone
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal in UAE; No casinos available
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Emirates Post, Aramex, or DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- Al Jabin Mobile Phone Repair (Rolla) or Authorized Apple sellers in City Centre Sharjah
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 12,500 AED per m² (e.g., 45 m² = 562,500 AED)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 8,500 AED per m² (e.g., 45 m² = 382,500 AED)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 11,000 AED per m² (e.g., 75 m² = 825,000 AED)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 7,000 AED per m² (e.g., 75 m² = 525,000 AED)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 10,000 AED per m² (e.g., 110 m² = 1,100,000 AED)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 6,500 AED per m² (e.g., 110 m² = 715,000 AED)
- Corporate Tax
- 9% on profits above 375,000 AED (began 2023)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for residents
- Tax System
- No personal income tax for individuals
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0% (Excluding specific oil/banking sectors)
- VAT
- 5% standard rate
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- None for personal tax residency
- Property Tax
- No annual property tax; Municipality fee (5% of rent) apply
- Property Transaction Tax
- 2% to 4% (Transfer fee/Registration fee)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, 0% personal income tax and special 'Remote Work Visa' available
Essentials
- City
- Sharjah, Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Population
- Approximately 1,850,000
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber; average 120-250 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- UAE Dirham (AED); 1 USD ≈ 3.67 AED (Fixed Peg)
- Tap Water
- Safe for washing; filtered or bottled water (e.g., Oasis, Al Ain) preferred for drinking
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (British style) sockets
- SIM Card
- Etisalat or du; Tourist SIMs available at Sharjah International Airport (approx. 125 AED for 10GB)
- Banking for Expats
- Emirates NBD, Mashreq, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB); Digital banks like Liv. or Wio
- Accommodation
- Service apartments and monthly hotel rentals via Property Finder or Bayut
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly cashless; Apple Pay, Google Pay, and cards accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Blueground, and Maraya Art Centre serviced residences
- Budget Accommodation
- Red Castle Hotel (approx. 200 AED/night) or Crystal Plaza Hotel
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Al Majaz Waterfront or Al Qasba for leisure and views
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Muwaileh Commercial (youthful vibe, cafes) or Al Khan (beach access)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Sheraa Hub (Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center) at AUH; Letswork (Network of spaces)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Icons Coffee Couture (Al Majaz) or Paper Fig (Muwaileh)
- Networking Events
- Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (Annual); Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Sharjah Chapter; Sharjah Wanderers Sports Club events
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Careem (most reliable) or Uber; Sayer card for local Sharjah Taxis
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Byky stations at Al Majaz Waterfront and Corniche (approx. 20 AED/30 mins)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Al Khan Beach (Surf school and volleyball) or Al Mamzar Beach Park
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Arabia (Headquartered at Sharjah International Airport)
- Top International Airline
- Emirates (via nearby DXB) or Etihad Airways
- Highway Access
- E11 (Sheikh Zayed Road/Al Ittihad Road) and E311 (Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Al Jubail Bus Station (intercity connections to Dubai, Ajman, and Abu Dhabi)
- Public Transport Passes
- Sayer Card for Sharjah Mowasalat buses; Nol Card for Dubai Metro connection
- Regional Travel
- Sharjah Mowasalat Intercity Bus (15-30 AED to other Emirates)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- University Hospital Sharjah or Zulekha Hospital Sharjah
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Unit or GFX (Al Majaz area)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness First (Zero 6 Mall) or Al Ras Gym
- Laundry Services
- Laundree or local neighborhood 'Pressing' shops (approx. 5 AED per shirt)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Talabat, Noon Food, or Deliveroo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Machboos (Spiced rice with meat) or Luqaimat (Sweet dumplings)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Wild & The Moon (nearby) or Kamat (Vegetarian Indian in Abu Shagara)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Feras Aldiyafa Sweets (for Kunafa) or Chie Restaurant
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Sharjah Central Souq (Blue Souq) or Rolla Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.ae or Noon.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Instashop, Kibsons, or Carrefour UAE app
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Note: Sharjah is a dry Emirate (no alcohol); Nightlife centers around Shisha cafes at Al Majaz
- Local Brewery
- None (Dry Emirate); Specialty Coffee Roasters like Ratio Coffee
- Wine Bars
- None (Closest options are in Dubai, 20 mins away)
- Street Food Stalls
- Rolla Square cafeteria row (Shawarma and Karak tea for 1-5 AED)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Gazebo (Indian) or Sanobar (Lebanese/Seafood)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Sharjah Mosque (Grand Ottoman style) and King Faisal Mosque
- Museums & Art Venues
- Sharjah Art Museum and the Rain Room (Sharjah Art Foundation)
- Historical Sites
- Heart of Sharjah (Heritage area) and Al Hisn Fort
- Religious Sites
- Noor Mosque (available for tours) and St. Michael's Catholic Church
- Annual Events
- Sharjah International Book Fair (November); Sharjah Light Festival (February)
- Cultural Districts
- Heart of Sharjah and University City
- Theater Venues
- Al Majaz Amphitheatre
- Local Markets
- Souq Al Jubail (Fresh market) and Souq Al Arsah
- Music Scene
- Classical performances at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA)
- Street Art
- Murals at Sharjah Art Foundation and Al Bank Street
- Cooking Classes
- Sharjah Ladies Club culinary atelier
- Art Galleries
- Maraya Art Centre and 1971 Design Space
- Historic Buildings
- The Flying Saucer (Renovated brutalist landmark)
- Local Heritage
- Falconry, Camel Racing (Al Dhaid), and pearl diving history
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Wasit Wetland Centre or Mleiha Archaeological Centre (Desert)
- National Parks Nearby
- Sharjah Desert Park and Arabia's Wildlife Center
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Al Ittihad Park Square and the 5km Corniche track
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The Eye of the Emirates Wheel or Khorfakkan Cloud Lounge (Enclave)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Wasit Nature Reserve (over 350 species)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Al Faya Desert or Fossil Rock (requires 4x4)