What to do in Sharjah - Latest News

Planning a trip to the UAE? The country has expanded its visa on arrival (VoA) programme to include six more countries. If you meet the requirements, you can now get your visa upon arrival at any UAE airport. Travellers can choose a 14-day visa (AED 100) or a 60-day single-entry visa (AED 250). Passport holders from the following countries are now eligible for the programme: Indonesia Kenya Philippines South Africa Thailand Vietnam Found your country on the list? There's one more requirement to get the VoA in the UAE. You'll also need a valid residence permit from either the EU,...

A UAE holiday, family visit, or business trip may now require less planning. Starting June 25, some Philippine passport holders can now get a UAE visa on arrival (VoA). Wondering if you're eligible? You'll need a valid visa, residence permit, or Green Card issued by one of the following countries: United States European Union member states Australia Japan Singapore South Korea Canada New Zealand At the airport, simply present the required documents. You can then get one of the following visa-on-arrival options: 14-day visa on arrival: AED 100. You can extend it once for another 14 days for AED 250...

Paid parking hours are changing in Sharjah from July 1. Sharjah Municipality has announced that paid parking across the emirate will now operate daily from 8 AM to 12 AM (midnight). The new schedule applies to: Sharjah City Kalba Khorfakkan Al Dhaid Parking in yellow zones remains free on Fridays and official public holidays, and blue sign zones remain paid seven days a week. More News for Sharjah Drivers Sharjah has opened 10 Smart Parking Yards, adding 2,421 parking spaces. Parking your vehicle near your house? Car parking shades are now banned outside private property limits.

If you're a fan of cute collectibles, Dunkin' UAE's latest summer deal comes with a bonus. The brand has unveiled its Ube line-up, featuring three purple drinks for hot summer days. Even better, every Ube drink comes with a free teddy bear to take home. You can pick between: Iced Ube Ube Coconut Water Ube Einspanner View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dunkin' UAE (@dunkin_uae) The collectibles come in several colours. You might get a white, brown, or beige teddy bear with your order. The offer is available both in-store and through delivery, so all you need...

Love capturing aerial photos, unique angles, or city views from above? Before you start flying your drone in Sharjah, there's a new law you should know about. Under the new regulations, drone owners in the emirate need approval before flying and must follow the rules on where and how their devices can be operated. The new law applies to drones used for: Content creation Recreation Commercial activities Photography Anyone who wants to fly a drone in the UAE can apply for a recreational or commercial drone licence through the General Civil Aviation Authority's platform. The service is currently available to...

If dates are a summer staple in your home, there's a four-day event in the UAE dedicated to them this July: Al Dhaid Dates Festival. The annual event returns to Expo Al Dhaid from July 23 to 26. Hundreds of palm farmers, date producers, and agricultural experts from around the UAE are expected to take part. Competitions will focus on some of the country's best-known date varieties, including Khneizi, Khalas, and Shishi. This will be the 10th edition of the festival, and the programme includes several special competitions: Locally grown lemons Red figs Women's Home-Grown Date Harvest Children's Ratb Al...

A new direct route between the UAE and Syria is about to take off this summer. Air Arabia has announced daily flights between Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) and Aleppo International Airport (ALP) starting July 4. Aleppo becomes Air Arabia's second destination in the country. Until now, the airline operated only flights to the Syrian capital: 21 weekly flights between Sharjah (SHJ) and Damascus (DAM) 3 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Damascus (DAM) If Europe is next on your travel list, Air Arabia also flies from Sharjah to Munich, Prague, London Gatwick, Rome, and Warsaw.

If you can never walk past a mango stall without stopping, clear your schedule for the last weekend of June 2026. Khorfakkan Mango Festival is back for its fifth edition. Dozens of local varieties, family activities, and plenty of fun will fill three days dedicated to one of the UAE's favourite summer fruits. The biggest attraction is, of course, the mangoes. Farmers from Sharjah's Eastern Region will bring dozens of locally grown fruits, including premium varieties. It's a chance to discover just how many different types of mangoes are cultivated in the country. The second day of the festival (June...

Another year, another strong result for the UAE. The country has once again ranked among the world's five most competitive economies. The IMD World Competitiveness Ranking assessed 70 economies using more than 260 indicators covering economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure. The UAE ranked fifth overall in the 2026. Other economies in the global top 5: Singapore Hong Kong Switzerland Taiwan Here are some numbers showing the strength of UAE's economy: Real GDP growth: 6.2% Inflation: 1.28% Unemployment: 1.75%, among the lowest globally Trade and income surplus: 14.27% of GDP Foreign investment: 7.9% of GDP This performance helped...

From screen time to online safety, social media remains a top concern for parents worldwide. The UAE has introduced new age-based restrictions, including a social media ban for children under 15. Here's what is changing. Under the new regulations, children under 15 will not be allowed to create personal social media accounts or use the full features of social media platforms. The restrictions cover: posting content commenting sharing content joining public groups Parents' permission won't make an exception for their child. Users aged 15 and 16 can still use social media, but their accounts will have extra safety measures: Age-appropriate...