THE BEST ROAD TRIPS IN THE UAE
SHARJAH AKA CULTURE US UP THE TRIP: THE PICK OF SHARJAH’S MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL SPOTS THE ITINERARY 11.30AM – Leave Dubai Noon – Arrive in Sharjah’s Heritage and Arts Centre and take a stroll along the Corniche 12.30PM – Gallery hop. Lunch under the blue and gold dome of the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation 3PM – Head to Al Qasba 3.15PM – Visit Shelter at Maraya Art Centre 4.30PM – Time for a quick abra ride 5PM – Set off 5.30PM – arrive in Dubai THE JOURNEY Ah, the National Paints roundabout, a legend in local traffic news. Luckily, come the weekend the sticky jams are rare so just follow the signs into Sharjah. The Heritage and Arts Centre is signposted. THE CAR Anything luxe will stick out in Sharjah like a sore thumb, so keep with the budget theme and hire a basic model. The cheapest we could find was a little Chevrolet Spark for Dhs29 per day with discountcardubai. com. Or if you want to buy, have a look on dubizzle.com, we found a white Saab convertible for only Dhs10,000.
buildings in narrow strip of streets on the edge of Sharjah Creek. There are many reasons to head here, from the Sharjah Archaeology Museum (which offers a great selection of interactive activities for kids) to the Heritage Museum. Our picks, however, have to be the Sharjah Art Museum, home to an eclectic and impressive selection of contemporary art (it’s here that much of the Sharjah Biennale is based) and the largest library collection in the UAE, the nearby Calligraphy Museum and the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation. The latter began life more than two decades ago as an indoor market, the Souq al-Majarrah. Now comprising of four huge galleries – including one dedicated to Islamic Faith and another to Science and Innovation – it has become a world-quality museum showcasing the art and culture of the region. There are, however, other contenders to the heritage area’s cultural crown. Al Qasba, on the edge of Khalid Lagoon, is a family-friendly arts and culture centre that’s home to everything from abra rides to a musical fountain (you didn’t think the Dubai Fountain was the only one, surely?). It’s also
home to the Maraya Art Centre, into which Shelter, the Dubai-based multifunctional arts and events space, has recently extended its scope. Currently featuring Bauhaus an exhibition of textile design by Beatrice Gayer that is heavily influenced by the early 20th century German art and crafts movement of the same name. The gallery is also home to Experiment – A Contemporary Art Project throughout June. A multimedia showcase of young Emirati artists, it’s a rare opportunity to see indigenous contemporary art both in and of the UAE. THE DETAILS Sharjah Art Museum, Corniche Road, Sharjah, Sat to Thurs 8am to 8pm, Fri 4pm to 8pm, free. Tel: (06) 5688222. www.sharjahmuseums.ae. Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilsation, Corniche Road, Sharjah, Sat to Thurs 8am to 8pm, Fri 4pm to 8pm, Dhs10, families Dhs10 and free for children. Tel: (06) 5655455. www.islamicmuseum.ae Shelter, 1st Floor, Maraya Art Centre, Al Qasba, Sharjah, free. Tel: (06) 5560777. www.shelter.ae
THE MUSIC Get in the Middle Eastern mood with the awesome Now That’s What I Call Arabia (Dhs70, amazon.com). THE FOOD Keep it cheap and pack a picnic to enjoy under the blue and gold dome of the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation. THE CULTURE Sharjah is an absolute treat for culture vultures, the only one of the UAE states with a dedicated Heritage and Arts area set, rather picturesquely, in a series of ‘traditional’
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