Heart of Sharjah Heritage District

Regarded as the cultural capital of the Arab world by UNESCO, Sharjah takes immense pride in its authentic heritage. The Heart of Sharjah is a visionary 15-year historical preservation project seeking to restore the historic coastal fabric of the city as it existed in the 1950s. Built primarily of fossilized coral stone, gypsum, and sea shells harvested from the Arabian Gulf, the district features narrow shaded alleyways (sikkas) that wind past traditional merchant mansions and historic defense structures like the Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn). At the center lies Souk Al Arsah, where Bedouins and coastal merchants once bartered charcoal for rice and textiles; today, its air is scented with burning frankincense and rich Arabian coffee. Art galleries, heritage museums, and calligraphy studios inhabit restored family homes, offering visitors an atmospheric window into the authentic community life of pre-oil Arabia.