Welcome to Sharjah!
Sharjah is part of the United Arab Emirates.
The United Arab Emirates is a country in the Middle East.
You might have heard of big cities like Dubai or Abu Dhabi, which are other cities in the United Arab Emirates close to Sharjah.
If this is your first time visiting the United Arab Emirates, here is some information you might need:
How do I get to Sharjah?
To get to Sharjah, you must fly to the United Arab Emirates.
There are two airports you could fly to.
Sharjah Airport is in Sharjah - its airport code is SHJ. There are lots of flights from the Middle East and Asia that go directly to Sharjah.
Dubai Airport is near Sharjah - its airport code is DBX. Most major airlines fly to Dubai, so it will be easiest for most people to fly there.
It is very easy to get from Dubai Airport to Sharjah by taxi, metro, or bus once you arrive - Sharjah is only a 15 minute drive from Dubai Airport.
Do I need a visa?
People from some countries need a tourist visa to travel to the United Arab Emirates.
A visa is when you get permission from a country to travel there. Usually, you can apply to get this online.
Some people can get a visa stamp when they land at the airport in Dubai or Sharjah - this is called a “visa on arrival”. People who can get a visa on arrival do not need to apply for anything ahead of time.
Other people might need to get a tourist visa ahead of time. There will be an application to fill out. All of the big airlines that fly to the United Arab Emirates can help you with this.
If you need to get a visa before travelling or not depends on what country you are from.
You can check if you need to get a visa or not by picking your country from the list here.
What days should I book my flights for?
There are different events happening, so some people will come at different times.
Date | What event is happening? | Who comes? |
Sunday, September 14 | Self-Advocacy Summit and Families Summit | Only self-advocates (and their supporters) can come to the Self-Advocacy Summit. Only people who are family members can come to the Families Summit. |
Monday, September 15 - | World Congress | Everyone can come to the World Congress! |
Thursday, September 18th | Inclusion International General Assembly | Voting members of Inclusion International will be invited to come to the General Assembly. |
If you are a self-advocate or a family member, you can arrive in Sharjah on September 13th. Then you can come to the Self-Advocacy Summit or Family Summit on September 14th.
If you are not a self-advocate or family member, your first day will be on September 15th when the World Congress starts. You can arrive on September 14th.
The World Congress will end on September 17th, and people can go home on September 18th.
If you are a voting member of Inclusion International (full members only), you will be asked to stay one extra day to attend the General Assembly on September 18th.
Where should I stay in Sharjah?
Everyone coming to the World Congress will book their own place to stay.
Sharjah has many nice hotels with rooms ready for people coming to the World Congress.
Our co-host, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) has recommended some hotels in different price ranges.
You can book to stay at one of these suggested hotels, but you don't have to - you can stay anywhere you want.
If you choose to stay at one of the recommended hotels on the list below:
- There will be a free shuttle between all of these hotels (except the Novotel) and the Conference Center each day of the World Congress to help you get around the city easily.
- All of the hotels on this list will have staff from SCHS at the hotel available to help if you need anything.
| Hotel | Where is it? | Cost per Night | How to Book |
| Pullman Sharjah | Al Taawun District 15 minutes from Dubai Airport, 25 minutes from Sharjah Airport 10 minutes from the Conference Center (free shuttle provided) | 400 - 600 AED per night ($110 - 170 USD per night) | Click here to book online through the Pullman website |
| Novotel Sharjah Expo Centre | Al Taawun District 15 minutes from Dubai Airport, 25 minutes from Sharjah Airport 5 minutes from the Conference Center | 400 - 600 AED per night ($110 - 170 USD per night) | |
The Act Hotel | Khalid Lagoon and Al Majaz Waterfront 25 minutes from Dubai Airport, 20 minutes from Sharjah Airport 15 minutes from the Conference Center (free shuttle provided) | 300 - 600 AED per night ($80 - 170 USD per night) | Click here to book online through the Act Hotel website. |
| The Hotel Holiday International - Sharjah | Khalid Lagoon and Al Majaz Waterfront 25 minutes from Dubai Airport, 20 minutes from Sharjah Airport 15 minutes from the Conference Center (free shuttle provided) | 300 - 600 AED per night ($80 - 170 USD per night) | Click here to book online through the Holiday International Website. |
| The Hotel 72 | Khalid Lagoon and Al Majaz Waterfront 25 minutes from Dubai Airport, 20 minutes from Sharjah Airport 15 minutes from the Conference Center (free shuttle provided) | 300 - 600 AED per night ($80 - 170 USD per night) | Click here to book online through the Hotel 72 website. |
| Copthorne Hotel Sharjah | Khalid Lagoon and Al Majaz Waterfront 25 minutes from Dubai Airport, 20 minutes from Sharjah Airport 15 minutes from the Conference Center (free shuttle provided) | 300 - 600 AED per night ($80 - 170 USD per night) | Click here to book online through the Millennium Hotels* website. *Millennium Hotels is the parent company for the Copthorne. |
| Corniche Hotel Sharjah | Khalid Lagoon and Al Majaz Waterfront 25 minutes from Dubai Airport, 20 minutes from Sharjah Airport 15 minutes from the Conference Center (free shuttle provided) | 300 - 600 AED per night ($80 - 170 USD per night) | Click here to book online through the Corniche Hotels website. |
What should I pack for the trip?
The way that people dress changes in different parts of the world.
In Sharjah, people usually dress modestly. This means not showing as much skin.
This means it is a good idea to bring clothes covering your shoulders and knees.
You should bring clothes that are not tight, revealing, or see-through.
It is okay to wear swimwear at the beach or a hotel pool, but if you are in other public places like a restaurant or a mall, you should cover up.
Women do not need to cover their hair.
Bring clothes for warm weather - the temperature in Sharjah is usually from 30°C to 40°C (86°F to 104°F) in September! Hotels, restaurants, taxis, and the conference centre will have air conditioning.
What kind of food and drink can I get in Sharjah?
In Sharjah, there are many restaurants that serve different types of food.
If you want to try the local food of the United Arab Emirates, you can look for a restaurant with Emirati cuisine to try this.
Sharjah also has restaurants that are international chains you might know from your country.
There are lots of options. Everyone will be able to find something they like!
You can check the Sharjah Tourism website to see more about restaurants in Sharjah.
Sharjah is a “dry” city - this means places do not sell any alcohol.
Restaurants in Sharjah sell other drinks like sodas and fresh juices. Try the lemon and mint juice!
If you want to drink alcohol, you take a taxi to Dubai where alcohol is sold.
What things are there to do in Sharjah when I am not at the World Congress?
There is lots to do in Sharjah!
Sharjah was named the Cultural Capital for the Arab World by UNESCO because it has so many cultural activities.
In Sharjah, you can:
Visit historical areas, like the Heart of Sharjah old town
Visit one of the 20 museums and art galleries to learn about the United Arab Emirates and its culture
Swim or do water sports at one of Sharjah’s beaches
Camp, hike, or do other activities at one of Sharjah’s nature reserves
Visit the desert to see camels or go for a ride on the sand dunes
You could do some tourist activities in the evening on conference days, or you could stay a few extra days after the World Congress to see Sharjah.
Our host, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), will also have a cultural event that everyone at the World Congress can attend to learn from about the United Arab Emirates.
You can learn more about things to do in Sharjah on the Sharjah Tourism Website.
Contact us
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