Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf
Traveler rating
4.0/5
Based on 67 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf worth booking?
Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf is a 4.5-hour experience in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from $41 per person. It scores 59 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4/5 rating across 67 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 59 / 100
- Rating
- 4/5 (67)
- Duration
- 4.5 hours
- From
- $41 per person
Discover the city that's dubbed the 'Pearl of the Gulf' on this tour from Dubai to Sharjah, the third-largest city in the United Arab Emirates. Noteworthy sights and attractions are just waiting to be explored in this ne
What you get
- Photo stop at King Faisal Mosque & Al Noor Mosque
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transport by air-conditioned coach or minivan (depending on group size)
- Professional tour Guide in selected language
- Visit Souk Al Arsa & Souk Al Markazi
- Sharjah Heritage Museum Entrance
About this experience
Discover the city that's dubbed the 'Pearl of the Gulf' on this tour from Dubai to Sharjah, the third-largest city in the United Arab Emirates. Noteworthy sights and attractions are just waiting to be explored in this nearby city, including Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn Sharjah) and impressive Faisal Mosque. Visit the Sharjah Heritage Museum for a look at Arab history, religion and culture, and pick up some Middle Eastern souvenirs at Souq Al Arsah and Souq Al Markazi, the largest markets in the emirate.
What's included
Included
- Photo stop at King Faisal Mosque & Al Noor Mosque
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transport by air-conditioned coach or minivan (depending on group size)
- Professional tour Guide in selected language
- Visit Souk Al Arsa & Souk Al Markazi
- Sharjah Heritage Museum Entrance
- Islamic Civilization Museum Entrance.
Not included
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified
What you'll see and do
Sharjah
Your 4.5-hour tour starts with a pickup from your central Dubai hotel and a drive to Sharjah, one of Dubai’s neighboring emirates. Situated on the shores of the Arabian Gulf, Sharjah is the UAE’s third-biggest city and centers around a restored Old Town that boasts lovely heritage areas, souks and museums.
120 minutes here
Al-Noor Mosque
On route, hear about Sharjah’s history from your guide and stop first at the picturesque Buhairah Corniche with a photo-stop at the magnificent Al Noor Mosque before proceeding to the largest mosque in Sharjah, King Faisal Mosque for some pictures.
30 minutes here
King Faisal Mosque
Next, continue to the King Faisal Mosque, the largest of the emirate’s 300 mosques. Admire the splendid building and learn how it was built to accommodate 15,000 worshippers.
10 minutes here
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
Next visit the Islamic Civilization Museum, celebrating Islamic contribution to the World Heritage.
20 minutes here
Souk Al Arsah
Then drive to Sharjah’s ‘Old Town’ for a stroll through the restored traditional Souk Al Arsa market.
20 minutes here
Sharjah Heritage Museum
Visit Sharjah Heritage Museum for a glimpse of a traditional family home and typical Arabian Gulf architecture.
20 minutes here
Souk Al-Markazi
The last stop before returning is at Souk Al Markazi– a treasure trove of carpets, jewellery and handicrafts. Your tour then concludes with a drop-off at your Dubai hotel.
60 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
Sharjah Day Tour Highlights
Private Sharjah City tour: Private Dubai City tour with German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or French speaking guide Pickup included
Sharjah Tour–Pearl of the Gulf
Sharjah Tour : Language - English Only, Tour pick up between 07:00 am and 07:30 am Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, pt, en, it, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Odyssey DMC
Know before you go
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum 2 adults required.Pickup will be in a Suitable vehicle on sharing basis from different hotels.
- Children below 5 years old must be seated in a child seat while traveling in any kind of vehicle in UAE. If you have a child below 5 years joining the tour, please mention in the remarks.
- Dress code: lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year, but sweaters or jackets may be needed for the winter months, especially in the evenings. Good quality sunglasses are advised. Hats are advisable when in direct sunlight.
- Guests visiting the UAE during the Summer months (June – September) are advised that peak daytime temperatures sometimes reach 42 – 45 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels can also exceed 90 percent during this period. We recommend all our guests to take adequate precaution.
- If you want to book this tour on private basis,please search the activity, product code : 2168PDXB01 - Private Tour: Sharjah City Highlights from Dubai
- The local tour operator reserves the right to cancel any part of the scheduled programs because of government decisions, public holidays, weather conditions, or other similar circumstances.
- The duration of the actual tour takes 4.5 - 5 hour but the driving time from Dubai hotel and return may take another 60 – 90 minutes depending on traffic conditions and time of day.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 67 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
67 verified traveler reviews for Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Nice to know about...
Nice to know about Sharjah which is different than Dubai city. Can visit the place in half day. Our tour guide Sumaira was very good explaining the culture and traditions of the city.
Response from the operator: Dear MIRZA_H, Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful review of the Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour – The Pearl of the Gulf with us. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed discovering the unique charm of Sharjah, a city rich in culture and heritage, distinct from its neighbor Dubai. We're especially pleased to know that your experience was made even more memorable with the guidance of Sumaira. Her passion for sharing the traditions and stories of Sharjah truly reflects the spirit of Orient Tours, and we’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to her. We hope your half-day journey through Sharjah offered not just a glimpse into the city's soul, but also lasting memories. We look forward to welcoming you again for more enriching experiences across the UAE. Wishing you all the best. Best Regards. Mr. Tuan A. Jamion. Guest Services Executive ORIENT TOURS LLC.
via Viator
Excellent knowledgeable guide
I enjoyed the tour. The guide was very knowledable and ensured we had our questions answered. It was just the right amount of time to see the highlights.
via Viator
Get to know Sharjah upclose.
Sharjah Central Souq was a place to relish. going around the Blue Souq gives your a feel of local shopping. I enjoyed the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization the most, dont miss the top floor star painted ceiling. The guides are fluent in English and in just 3-4 hrs you get to understand Sharjah upclose.
Response from the operator: Dear Zippysh, Thank you for sharing your valuable feedback about your Sharjah City Tour that you recently joined with us. Great to read y our review which will definitely help other readers to book this tour to "The Cultural Capital of the Islamic World" with us. Sharjah is certainly a must-see when in the UAE as it is so different and interesting. Glad our guide had advised you to go to the dome of the Islamic Civilization museum to gather the beautifully painted ceiling! We would love to see you on one of our tours/safaris soon again. Thank you for choosing ORIENT TOURS and taking the time to review us! Best regards, Sarah P. Dubke Manager Guest Services ORIENT TOURS LLC
via Tripadvisor
Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf / Poor
Overall - average rating. I wouldn't go if knew in advance what's the tour going to be like. Please see below a couple of comments: - tour is very much like driving from one spot to another - out of the entire list, you will actually see two places: the old Souq (i.e. market) and very briefly the Museum of Islamic culture, other stops are literally stops - you get out of the van and snap photos with a two line explanation - the Museum of Islamic culture is a heavy historical place - which is somehow left without much attention to it - last hour you are given free time at the mall (i.e. Central Souq) which is completely out of my expectations, I wouldn't get the guided tour to be brought to the shopping mall to wander aroud - all mosques which are in the program are photo stop only with 2-4 minutes explanatory note and plenty of free time, but (!) you are not allowed inside the mosque As a recommendation for tour management: from my point of view - the tour needs a significant re-design or price re-considered. A price of nearly $35 for this tour, compared to the $42 tour to Abu Dhabi (a day long) - this is just day and night. Abu Dhabi was amazing, the guide was very much engaging and easy going, lots of information and places covered. Maybe this is a matter of the guide as well - but it's for the company to consider (not sure the feedback is read).
Response from the operator: Dear mihail439, Greetings from ORIENT TOURS! Thank you for your feedback which will help us in our endeavour to constantly improve our services. We shall forward your feedback to the concerned departments so that they can take the necessary measures to ensure we provide the service that our guests expect from us. However, we would like to clarify a few points that were raised in your review: The tour you had joined was a sharing basis bilingual excursion conducted in 2 languages – German & English. Our tour guide Abdullah, bilingual in German & English, is one of our most experienced tour guides and we are surprised having received this feedback for him. As this was a sharing basis tour, our tour guide had to follow a fixed itinerary and cover all stops as planned. The excursion was conducted as per the description. The two mosques i.e. Al Noor Mosque and King Faisal mosque, we covered in our excursion are photo stops only and it’s indeed not allowed for tourists to enter inside as per rules and regulation of local authorities during our tour. Our tour guide covered the Sharjah Islamic museum and the Sharjah Heritage museum as promised all the while giving explanations about the history of the stops in 2 languages and also covered Souq Al Arsa - a direct contrast to the super modern, glitzy malls in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A piece of history well preserved featuring traditional Arabian architecture and the typical ‘Bedouin’ style atmosphere that allows visitors to haggle for goods like the Arabs used in the old days. The Souq Al Markazi or Central/Blue Souq is a stop in which we provide the guests with free time to explore the Souq or to shop for souvenirs by themselves. We apologize for not being able to meet your expectations. We do hope that if you do visit the U.A.E. in future, we will be able to serve you again. We would recommend choosing a private excursion experience with an exclusive vehicle and tour guide just for you and an itinerary that is flexible to suit your preferences. Thank you for the time to review us! Best regards, Sarah P. Dubke Manager Guest Services ORIENT TOURS LLC
via Tripadvisor
Best tour I've ever had so far ! If...
<p>Best tour I've ever had so far ! If you like to learn about the culture and history of the emiratis, I highly recommend this tour</p>
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 4.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun
- Price range
- $41 to $358
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 23
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Odyssey DMC, who run 12 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 46.1.
See everything Odyssey DMC runsWhy this scores 59
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Dubai.
How much does Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf cost?
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Prices start at $41 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Dubai usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf take?
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Plan for about 4.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Dubai is not rushed.
Is Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 59 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4/5 across 67 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Dubai, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf?
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Around 23 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Dubai can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Dubai and add a light layer if any part of the 4.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Dubai within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Dubai?
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On Outty we rank every Dubai experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Dubai Premium Red Dunes Safari, Camels & 5* BBQ at Al Khayma Camp, Dubai: Red Dunes Safari, Quad, Camel, Dune Bash, BBQ & Shows, Dubai Dune Buggy Safari Tour in Red Dunes Options. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Dubai?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Dubai?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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