Where to see traditional boats in Sharjah?

There’s a unique romance to traditional boats, vessels that whisper tales of ancient trade routes, pearl diving adventures, and coastal livelihoods that shaped the very fabric of the Arabian Gulf. In Sharjah, an emirate deeply connected to its maritime past, we are fortunate to find several places where these beautiful traditional boats, primarily dhows, are lovingly preserved and displayed, offering a tangible link to a rich seafaring heritage.

Sharjah Maritime Museum: A Deep Dive into Maritime History

The Sharjah Maritime Museum is, without a doubt, the premier destination for anyone wishing to delve into the emirate’s profound connection with the sea and witness an impressive collection of traditional boats. It offers a comprehensive and engaging journey through Sharjah’s maritime history, from ancient fishing techniques to the perils of pearl diving.

• Diverse Dhow Collection: Inside the museum, you’ll discover a remarkable array of traditional wooden dhows, each meticulously preserved and displayed. These include various types of dhows, such as the boom, sambuk, and jalboot, each with unique designs and purposes, from long-distance trading to pearl diving and fishing. The scale and craftsmanship of these vessels are truly impressive, showcasing the ingenuity of early Emirati seafarers.
• Interactive Exhibits and Dioramas: Beyond the boats themselves, the museum features captivating interactive exhibits, detailed dioramas, and historical artifacts that bring the maritime past to life. You can learn about the dangerous life of pearl divers, the tools they used, and the types of pearls found in the Gulf. There are also displays on traditional fishing methods, navigational tools, and the intricate art of dhow building, which was a highly skilled craft passed down through generations.
• Virtual Reality Experiences: Some exhibits even incorporate modern technology, such as virtual reality, to provide an immersive experience of what life at sea was like on these traditional boats. This blend of historical artifacts and contemporary presentation makes the learning experience dynamic and memorable.
• Location and Accessibility: The Sharjah Maritime Museum is conveniently located near Al Khan Lagoon, making it easily accessible for visitors. Its setting by the water adds to the authentic maritime atmosphere. For accurate visiting hours and any special exhibitions, we always recommend checking the Sharjah Museums Authority website. It’s an essential stop for anyone interested in traditional boats and the seafaring heritage of the UAE.

Sharjah Creek and Corniche Areas: Living Heritage

While not a museum, the Sharjah Creek and its surrounding corniche areas offer a more dynamic and “living” experience of traditional boats, particularly early in the mornings or late in the afternoons. This is where you can still see traditional working dhows, albeit fewer in number than in decades past, alongside modern vessels.

• Working Dhows: Along the banks of the Sharjah Creek, particularly closer to the old port areas, you can sometimes spot traditional wooden dhows that are still in use for small-scale trade or fishing. These are not museum pieces but active vessels, offering a glimpse into the continuity of maritime traditions. The sight of these dhows, perhaps laden with goods or being unloaded, provides a fascinating contrast to the modern urban landscape.
• Fishermen and Markets: Early mornings often bring local fishermen to the creek areas, especially near Souq Al Jubail, unloading their catches from smaller traditional fishing boats. This vibrant activity, with the boats moored nearby, offers excellent opportunities to witness traditional boats in their working context and to capture authentic cultural scenes.
• Scenic Views and Photography: Walking along the Sharjah Corniche or the promenades around the creek provides ample opportunities to photograph these boats against the backdrop of the city or the water. The golden hour, around sunrise or sunset, often casts a beautiful light on the wooden vessels, enhancing their timeless appeal.
• Cultural Atmosphere: The sounds, sights, and smells of the creek, combined with the presence of traditional boats, create a distinct cultural atmosphere that harks back to Sharjah’s trading past. It’s a place where history feels very much alive and interwoven with contemporary life.

While you won’t find a dedicated display of ancient dhows here like in a museum, the creek offers a chance to see operational traditional boats and feel the pulse of Sharjah’s enduring maritime legacy.

Al Majaz Waterfront (Select Displays): A Glimpse of the Past

While primarily a modern entertainment and leisure destination, Al Majaz Waterfront occasionally features smaller traditional boats as decorative elements or during special cultural events, offering a less formal but still enjoyable encounter with these vessels.

• Ornamental Dhows: You might find a traditional dhow or two moored as an ornamental feature along the promenade or in dedicated sections of the waterfront. These are typically smaller boats, beautifully maintained, and provide a pleasant visual link to Sharjah’s maritime heritage amidst the contemporary setting. They serve as photo opportunities and reminders of the area’s historical connection to the lagoon.
• Cultural Events: During cultural festivals or specific events held at Al Majaz Waterfront, it is not uncommon for organizers to bring in traditional boats for display or even for short, scenic rides. These events aim to highlight Emirati heritage and often feature various aspects of traditional life, including seafaring. Checking the Sharjah Events portal or Visit Sharjah website for upcoming events is always a good idea.
• Proximity to Maritime Museum: The Al Majaz Waterfront’s proximity to the Sharjah Maritime Museum means that you can easily combine a visit to the museum for an in-depth understanding of traditional boats with a leisurely stroll along the waterfront to see any decorative dhows or enjoy the general maritime ambiance.

While not a primary location for comprehensive traditional boat viewing, Al Majaz Waterfront can still offer a pleasant visual encounter with these historic vessels, especially when combined with its other attractions.

Heart of Sharjah (The Creek Side): Historical Proximity

The side of the Heart of Sharjah district that faces the creek, particularly around the areas leading to Souq Al Arsa and Souq Al Shinasiyah, also offers glimpses of traditional boats. This area historically served as a bustling trading hub where dhows would unload their goods.

• Historical Context: Walking through this part of the Heart of Sharjah, you can envision the scene decades ago, with numerous dhows lining the creek, bringing in goods from distant lands. While the sheer volume of dhows is no longer present, the architecture of the traditional souqs directly facing the water underscores their historical dependence on maritime trade.
• Occasional Moorings: Occasionally, you might find a traditional wooden boat moored along this stretch of the creek, either for aesthetic purposes or for a special event. These boats serve as tangible reminders of the area’s rich trading past and its direct link to Sharjah’s maritime heritage.
• Museum Integration: The proximity of this area to the Sharjah Maritime Museum (though not immediately adjacent) and the various heritage sites creates a cohesive narrative of Sharjah’s history, where the importance of traditional boats is evident.

To fully appreciate the traditional boats in Sharjah, we strongly recommend prioritizing a visit to the Sharjah Maritime Museum for its unparalleled collection and educational exhibits. Following this with a walk along the Sharjah Creek can provide a complementary experience of seeing these vessels in a more active, real-world context, however limited.

This guide has been carefully compiled by the www.few.ae team. Sharjah, with its deep-rooted maritime heritage, provides fascinating opportunities to witness traditional boats, which are not just relics of the past but living symbols of the emirate’s enduring connection to the sea. We find that these vessels, whether displayed in museums or actively plying the waterways, beautifully illustrate the ingenuity and seafaring spirit of the Emirati people.

Sharjah Maritime Museum: A Treasure Trove of Seafaring History

For an in-depth understanding and a close-up view of traditional boats, the Sharjah Maritime Museum is unequivocally the best place to start. This museum is entirely dedicated to the emirate’s rich marine history and heritage, showcasing a remarkable collection of traditional vessels and related artifacts.

• Diverse Dhow Collection: The museum houses an impressive array of traditional wooden dhows, which were historically vital for fishing, pearl diving, and long-distance trade. You’ll find different types of dhows, each with unique characteristics and purposes, such as the boom, jalbot, and sambuq. These boats are often displayed in a way that allows you to appreciate their craftsmanship, the materials used (like teak wood), and the ingenious design that allowed them to navigate the challenging waters of the Arabian Gulf and beyond.
• Life-Sized Exhibits: What truly sets the Sharjah Maritime Museum apart is its display of life-sized traditional wooden dhows. You can walk around these magnificent vessels, observing their broad hulls, sun-aged decks, and intricate rigging. This close proximity offers a tangible sense of the scale and construction of these historical boats, helping you imagine the arduous journeys and daily lives of the sailors who depended on them.
• Contextual Displays: Beyond the boats themselves, the museum provides rich contextual information through interactive exhibits, historical photographs, and tools used for fishing and pearl diving. You’ll learn about the traditional methods of boat building, the songs sung by pearl divers, and the ancient trade routes that connected Sharjah to distant lands like India and Zanzibar. This holistic approach helps visitors appreciate the profound role these boats played in the emirate’s economic and cultural development for over 6,000 years.
• Historical Significance: The museum emphasizes the sea’s crucial role in the growth of Sharjah’s coastal cities. You’ll discover exhibits showcasing ancient pearls, including one believed to be seven thousand years old, found at a local archaeological site, underscoring the deep history of pearl diving.

The Sharjah Maritime Museum is located in the Al Khan district. We advise checking the Sharjah Museums Authority website for the most current opening hours and any special exhibitions, as these can sometimes vary. This museum provides a comprehensive and immersive experience of Sharjah’s maritime legacy.

Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Qasba: Traditional Boats on the Water

While the museum offers static displays, for a chance to see and even experience traditional boats actively plying the waters, we recommend heading to Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Qasba. These popular leisure destinations offer opportunities to ride traditional abra boats.

• Abra Boat Tours: At both Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Qasba, you can embark on leisurely tours aboard traditional abra boats. These are smaller, often motorized, wooden boats designed for passenger transport across the Khalid Lagoon and Sharjah Canal. These rides offer a charming and authentic way to see the city’s landmarks from the water, providing panoramic views of the illuminated skyline, bridges, and corniche areas.
• Panoramic City Views: As you glide across the calm waters on an abra, you’ll pass iconic sights like the Al Noor Mosque, the Sharjah Musical Fountain, and the various attractions along the waterfronts. This experience combines cultural immersion with sightseeing, allowing you to appreciate the blending of Sharjah’s traditional and modern facets. The boats themselves, though modernized for safety and comfort, retain the classic wooden design of traditional Emirati vessels.
• Evening Ambiance: Evening tours are particularly magical, as the city lights shimmer on the water and the musical fountain performs. The gentle rocking of the abra and the open-air setting create a truly enjoyable and memorable experience. These tours typically operate daily, with extended hours in the cooler months.
• Convenient Boarding Points: You can usually find the Sharjah Boat Tours piers and kiosks at both the Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Qasba promenades, making them easily accessible from various parts of the city. While these boat rides usually have a small fee, they offer a unique opportunity to interact with traditional boats in a live setting.

Riding an abra at Al Majaz Waterfront or Al Qasba provides a dynamic contrast to the museum’s exhibits, allowing you to feel the timeless charm of these traditional vessels firsthand.

Sharjah Creek (Khor Khalid): Working Dhows and Historical Views

For a more authentic, less tourist-centric view of traditional boats, particularly working dhows, a visit to the Sharjah Creek (Khor Khalid), especially near the traditional souqs like Souq Al Jubail and the Heart of Sharjah area, can be very insightful.

• Working Dhows: Along the banks of Sharjah Creek, particularly near the loading and unloading areas, you can often spot larger traditional dhows. These are often used for regional trade, carrying goods to and from neighboring countries. While they might not be pristine museum pieces, their raw, functional appearance tells a powerful story of continuous maritime tradition.
• Vibrant Port Activity: The creek area is a hub of activity. You can observe the loading and unloading of goods, the comings and goings of these traditional vessels, and the local fishermen tending to their smaller boats. This offers a gritty, authentic glimpse into Sharjah’s active maritime trade and fishing industries, which have been vital to its economy for centuries.
• Connecting to the Past: Standing by the creek, with the traditional dhows in view and the old souqs just steps away, provides a tangible connection to Sharjah’s historical role as a bustling trading port. The sights, sounds, and even smells of the working creek transport you back to a time when these wooden ships were the lifeblood of the emirate.
• Photo Opportunities: This area offers excellent opportunities for candid photography, capturing the dhows against the backdrop of the city, or the laborers at work. However, we always advise being respectful and mindful of people’s privacy when taking photos in working environments.

While not a formal attraction, the Sharjah Creek offers a living tableau of traditional boats and maritime culture that is both engaging and deeply authentic. Access to the creek banks is generally free and open to the public.

By exploring these various locations, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of Sharjah’s enduring maritime legacy, from the beautifully preserved historical vessels in its museums to the active traditional boats that continue to ply its waters today. This guide has been carefully compiled by the www.few.ae team. Kaynaklar