With its art centres and carefully preserved conservatories, Sharjah is well emerging as the cultural capital of UAE. Navneet Mendiratta lists some highlights and must visits spots of the Emirate
As the sun comes down on the desert of Mleiha, a golden brown expanse in central Sharjah, one of the seven emirates of UAE, it is a sight to behold. The winds turn cooler and silence sets in. We take a break from the desert tour traversing the dunes on a buggy to cover the Camel rock, a rock face shaped like a kneeling camel, and short halts to take a closer look at the fossil rocks that hide in them the history dating back to prehistoric times. Our guide pours some water over the rocks to make the magic patterns emerge. The rocks are riddled with tiny snails, corals and other marine creatures deposited some 65 million years ago when the area was flooded by an ancient sea. At a distance, Faya Mountain makes for a great backdrop for the sunset. The mood is serene and sight picture perfect.
In times when the world is opening up to a revised travel pattern, Sharjah is picking up as an offbeat location that is safe to travel and easy to approach. You just need to be fully vaccinated and of course, fit to travel. Easy e-visa facility, coupled with smart gate entry for immigration at the destination (for repeat travellers), make your trip practically seamless and hassle free.
Once famous for hosting Cricket matches, Sharjah has emerged as the culture destination of UAE. Apart from being a prominent economic hub, Sharjah veers towards a deep reflection of the Emirati culture. The vibe of the place is clearly more indigenous, albeit with a modern approach.
The destination offers a lot to a traveler to explore. Well put together and impeccably maintained cultural centres, biodiversity parks and conservation centres reflect the efforts made to preserve the local culture. Within the emirates too, Sharjah is emerging as a popular weekend getaway, with family focused travel attractions. For instance, at Mleiha itself, the activities range from extreme sports and dune bashing to star gazing, in addition to a private retreat at the desert camp.
For the art and culture lovers, there is the Heart of Sharjah. As the name suggests, situated right in the heart of the main city is this UNESCO recognised heritage site with a strong 90s vibe. Old fashioned souks; an area that showcases the Arabic culture complete with coffee/tea serving ceremony and bukhoor or a tradition of embracing vapours of fragrant oud to make the clothes and hair smell good; a visit to an old house belonging to a renowned pearl merchant with links to India, Africa and France -- late Obaid bin Eissa Bin Ali Al Shamsi or Al Naboodah - is a showcase of traditional architecture of Sharjah and offers and insight into the life and times of its people; and a famous luxury hotel that serves as a perfect example of marriage between heritage and modernity - Al Bait Hotel, Heart of Sharjah is the largest historical preservation and restoration project in the region that has been planned over 15 years. Scheduled to be complete by 2025, it is already the most popular tourist spot.
Then, there is the Rain room. An immersive installation by Random International that took the art world by storm in 2012, it is now a permanent feature at Sharjah’s Al Majarrah. Presented by Sharjah Art Foundation, this installation offers a responsive environment that follows the visitors as they navigate the darkened underground space. Sensors prevent the manmade rain from falling on detected human presence, keeping them dry. A big draw among the visitors, Rain Room is one of the most instagramable spaces.
If magical be the buzzword for this space, another location that is a big draw for children and grown-ups alike is the Al Noor island with its Butterfly House. Home to more than 500 butterflies belonging to 20 different exotic species, the Butterfly House is located inside a beautifully designed, nature-inspired structure that retains humidity and allows natural light to enter the butterfly haven. The other attractions on this island include six bespoke art installations at different points that have been seamlessly integrated with exotic flora and fauna brought in from different parts of the world. Swings, tricky rope, maze and trampoline features are some of the others that make this space a hit with the children.
The Kalba Bird of Prey Centre offers an insight into the Bedouin tribes’ tradition of hunting with birds of prey. For long, falconry was a popular sport in the region. Though modernisation has taken a lot of it away, preserving the heritage and pride of the Arab tradition is this centre that houses birds of prey, namely owls, eagles, buzzards, vultures and, of course, falcons, that once ruled the region. The centre uses live demonstrations and display to showcase the behavioural patterns of the birds of prey.
No trip to a destination is complete without a taste of its regional cuisine. Unlike the most common perception, fish and rice is a staple in Emirati households. For the most authentic hospitality experience, we travelled to Fatima’s house in Sharjah suburbs. In a traditional welcome, Fatima and her daughter, Marwa, ushered us into their home after a sprinkle of rose water and fragrant herbs. Inside, the mother daughter duo gave us an insight into the Arabic etiquette of serving the famous coffee and dates. We learnt that coffee is served in tiny cups by the youngest member of the house and it served from the person sitting on the right. The guest must too accept the coffee with the right hand. However, in case of the presence of a respected person or government official, the host starts with the VIP first. A distance of a metre is maintained while pouring and serving the coffee so it doesn’t spill on the guest and the coffee cup is never filled to the brim. Typically, three servings of coffee are allowed per guest and if a guest desires no more, an indication is given by shaking the cup. The coffee served is infused with cardamom and saffron and dates served with the coffee are meant to be had first so the sweetness is induced when the beverage is consumed.
The lunch was grand serving of chicken and lamb meat, deep marinated and cooked overnight in earthen pit, and later fragrant rice and spices are added to make a biryani of it. It is seasoned with pickled chickpeas for flavouring before serving. Steamed or fried fish is a staple in local households and consumed with much love. The seating is typically floor setting allowing the family to hold conversation while feasting on the delicacies. The meal is accompanied by salads, hummus and pita bread, making it an even more lavish spread.
The conversations over the meal lent a greater insight into the modern Arabic culture. A lot of myths were shattered and the family shared stories of their love for the ruling family and the modernisation and change of outlook towards women and education. Prejudice is the biggest bane of misunderstanding of closed cultures. It was heartening to learn the other side of the story and learn more about a whole new culture. This part of the Middle-East, for sure, has a lot to offer.
