After Dubai hotel pickup, make the short drive to neighboring Sharjah, the UAE’s oldest city.
Learn about Sharjah’s 5,000-year-old origins, and visit the Al-Noor Mosque (Mosque of Lights) on the Al Buhaira Corniche. Admire the exterior of this modern masterpiece, built to echo Ottoman design, and reminiscent of Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, and then head inside.
Be greeted by an Emirati cultural ambassador, and refuel with Arabic coffee and dates as you hear tales of the mosque and enjoy a question-and-answer session on Islamic beliefs and religious traditions.
Next, head into old Sharjah and visit Souk Al Arsah, probably the UAE’s oldest marketplace. Stroll the alleyways and peruse the shops selling everything from pearl chests to jewelry, incense and more.
Visit Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn), a rock fort originally built in 1823, and then continue to the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, set in a beautifully converted souk.
View the precious artifacts showcasing Islamic art and civilization through the ages, and then make a brief stop at Souk Al Jubail, a state-of-the- art, waterfront food market. Admire the Islamic-inspired architecture and browse the stands before returning to Dubai, where your tour ends with a hotel drop-off.
