Sharjah Local Customs

I live in Sharjah which is much 'stricter' than Dubai - no alcohol is allowed here. Before I left England, I was warned about the dress code here for women - that you got spat at if your revealed your shoulders. However, its much more relaxed than you think. I wear skirts that just cover my knees and a t-shirt and it's fine. I don't wear short skirts or a revealing top though some people do in shopping malls here (Russian ladies). I wouldn't advise it because of the stares you'll get from the local men, which is very off-putting.

The emirate of Sharjah has both the advantage and disadvantage of being right next to big, shiny and famous Dubai: in comparison, it is a conservative city – for example there is no alcohol in Sharjah, and the dress-code is far more modest - but the low-cost airline Air Arabia is based here and property prices (to buy or rent) are slightly cheaper than Dubai's, making it a popular place for commuters. Therein lies the problem: on weekends, it takes you only 15-20 min to drive in between Sharjah to Dubai, but during rush-hour this short distance turns into a 3 hours-gridlock-nightmare.

Also, in recent years Sharjah has been focusing on improving their "piece of the pie" in the tourism business, investing millions of Dirhams into developing their infrastructure and cultures sights such as museums and art galleries (see my separate tip on museums).

Sharjah is a *dry emirate* - meaning you cannot buy alcohol anywhere, with two exceptions: the Sharjah Wanderers Club (expatriate’s club) and Sharjah International Airport. The airport sells alcohol at Duty Free and also in a business class lounge after passport control on departure (not on arrival). But none of the 5-star hotels or restaurants in Sharjah serve alcohol, and there are no liquor stores” either.
There have been suggestions that Sharjah's most publicised Islamic rules - the longstanding ban on alcohol and the law requiring modesty in female dress - are the result of pressure from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There are rumours that Saudi once provided substantial financial support.

When visiting Sharjah, please remember that modesty is key here:
A: WOMEN'S DRESS CODE
Unacceptable are:
Clothing that exposes the stomach and back.
Tops that do not cover the arms to at least the elbows.
Shorts or skirts above the knee.
Tight and transparent clothing that describes the body.
T-shirts with rude language or swear words.

B: MEN'S DRESS CODE
Unacceptable are:
Very short pants in public or commercial places like malls and public offices.
Chest nudity.
T-shirts with rude language or swear words.

As a non-resident of the UAE, you have the option of either purchasing alcohol at one of the license-free "hole-in-the-walls" in Ajman or Umm Al Quwain, or visiting one of Dubai's 5-star hotels where alcohol is served.

However, it's good to be aware of the fact that the UAE enforces an absolute zero-tolerance on driving under the influence - especially Sharjah will use the full force of this law. So, either take a taxi, or visit the below website to stay safe and out of trouble!