A Short Tale on Two Cities – Dubai and Sharjah

Posted by TravelKorner on December 4, 2015 in Destination - Middle East, English | Leave a comment

“The city today seems to be in a hurry with a new skyscraper opening almost every month,” boasts Mohamed our guide for the afternoon tour. Today Dubai has over 200 skyscrapers, several designed by world class architects. A waterfront with high end resorts chains like the ‘The One & Only’ and Atlantis; man-made islands like the Palm and World; and shopping malls offering the latest fashion from Europe and Arabia.

The choice of two shore excursions offered on Mein Schiff 2 by TUI Cruises of exploring the past of Sharjah or envisioning future of Dubai shows the stark contrast of these two cities.

The morning tour of Dubai’s neighbouring Emirate of Sharjah was to several souqs and cultural museums, including the  Museum of Islamic Civilization. Islamic the treasures of the past began being displayed in 2008 and the collection now includes more than 5,000 artifacts from calligraphy, carvings, ceramics, coins, glass, manuscripts, metalwork, to scientific instruments.

The focus was on the Heritage Area providing glimipses into the past and attested to Sharjah city being widely considered as the Emirate’s cultural capital. The city first developed the area by restorating homes and museums that were significant to Emirati customs.

Souq Al Arsah, the oldest in Sharjah, dates back to over half century when it was a well known station for ships coming from Persia and India. A trade centre where a diversity of goods were purchased or traded from regional Arabic tribes. The souq was also central place where agreements and information was exchanged between those who worked as pearl divers. The souq reopened in 1995 with small and large shops with a variety of brass, silver, handicrafts, as well as jewellery, local garments, medical herbs.

Although a relatively new souq the Central shopping centre, opened in 1979, is one of the most visited in Sharjah. Also known by many names including the Blue Souq, the Twin Souq or the Old Gold Souq, it houses over 600 shops on two floors in two separate long halls connected by an enclosed walkway above the busy Corniche Street. The east hall features antiques, gifts, and electronics, while the west hall and walkways features jewelry shops bursting with gold bracelets, rings, necklaces and more fashion items.