Day 5 - The heart of the Emirates

Sharjah is called the cultural and religious capital of the Emirates. It is the third largest city in the country after Dubai and Abu Dhabi and is located on the Persian Gulf. It is also the capital of the Emirate Sharjah.

Today we leave the interior and cross the Great Arabian Desert towards the coast. Whole herds of camels are also on their way this morning. Not only wild animals, but also camels on their way to the racetrack. This morning there are the training sessions but this afternoon the real work is coming and they will cross the gigantic racecourse. Camel races are extremely popular in this region.

We arrive in Sharjah through what is called 'University City', the district where all the universities of Sharjah are located. It is a city within a city. The universities are all beautiful buildings in an exceptionally green environment. Wide avenues and huge roundabouts connect the buildings. Plants with colorful flowers, green shrubs, date palms, deciduous trees and lawns create a pleasant atmosphere. It must be attractive to study in this quiet area, just outside the city center. Studying here is certainly not a punishment, but for us it is very expensive. For Emiratineducation is free, but not for foreigners.

We continue towards the center via the notorious 'Quran roundabout', named after the gigantic open Quran that is located in the middle of the roundabout with a number of public buildings such as the town hall, the library and the opera.

Arriving at the center, the first thing you notice is the impressive buildings. Thanks to ambitious renovation works in the 90s driven by the Emir, Sharjah has the most beautiful center of all cities in the Emirates.

We first stop at the Museum of Islamic Civilization that is housed in the former Mujarra Souk. Two birds with one stone. The building itself is already worth a visit. It is peaceful to wander through the decorative corridors with beautiful stained-glass windows and original Arabic lighting. The building has the allure of a palace, with a dazzling golden dome on top of it. The museum covers two floors with the ground floor dedicated to science and in particular the contribution of Muslim scientists to the various disciplines. The top floor is dedicated to Islamic art with, among other things, historical manuscripts.

We continue to a real souk, the Al Masqoof souk, a small restored covered market with beautifully carved walls, small streets and even smaller shops of all kinds: antiques, textiles, jewelery, ...

Our next stop is the Central Souk, also called Blue Souk because of the blue tiles on the outside walls. The souk was designed by a British architectural firm commissioned by the Emir of Sharjah, Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.The design seeks to reproduce the atmosphere of a traditional souk on a large scale and succeeds perfectly. The souk consists of two buildings that are connected by a bridge. There are about 600 stores spread over two floors. Everything can be found here: from traditional gold and jewelery and perfumes to modern electronics. It is loacated next to the lagoon. Water always works.

In front of the souk is the impressive King Faisal Mosque, one of the largest in the United Arab Emirates with room for 3,000 believers. It was a gift from former King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. Sharjah has always had close ties with the conservative kingdom. The crash of oil prices in the 1980s left Sharjah with a heavy debt. The Saudis came to the aid and the influence of the neighbors is still strong. Sharjah is the most conservative Emirate of all. It also follows the strict interpretation of the Shariah, which for example prohibits alcohol. The difference with big brother Dubai can not be greater. That made Sharjah not so touristy. In recent years there has been some easing, so tourists have now also discovered Sharjah. But you still can not drink a glass of alcohol.

We end the day in the desert just outside the city. We are picked up by 4X4’s for a crazy ride through the dunes. A mad drive. We dive from steep dunes, sometimes balancing on only two wheels. We drive up and down the dunes sideways.

On the way we make at stop at a camel coral. They are curious for us ... and our camera.

Our final destination in the dunes is a tented camp where a desert barbecue with animation awaits us. But first we enjoy the sunset over the Arabian desert. With a final effort of the day, we climb on top of a high dune and wait until the sun goes down. At first this happens slowly, but as the sky turns redder and redder, the sun disappears faster and faster. With the sun, the light and warmth of the day also disappear. Our memories of Sharjah will not. Because with beautiful buildings, picture perfect palaces, unique universities, magnificent merchant houses and surprising souks, Sharjah is undoubtedly the heart of the Emirates.