Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about our services.
- What is there to see at the museum?
- Our permanent collection follows Emirati making across four galleries: sadu weaving and textiles, the pearl diving trade and its tools, Arabic calligraphy and manuscripts, and coffee and hospitality objects. There is also a rotating contemporary gallery where a living artisan works in residence each season.
- What are your opening hours and ticket prices?
- We are open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and until 9:00 PM on Thursdays. We are closed on Mondays. Tickets are AED 25 for adults, AED 10 for students and over-60s, and free for children under twelve. Sharjah residents enter free on Sundays.
- Do you offer guided tours?
- Yes, a 45-minute guided visit runs at 11:00 AM in English and 4:00 PM in Arabic every open day, with a maximum of fifteen people. Ask me to reserve you a place and tell me which language you prefer — the morning tour usually fills by mid-week.
- Can I book a visit for a school or a group?
- We welcome groups of ten or more, and school visits are best on weekday mornings when the galleries are quiet. Tell me your group size, preferred dates, the age range of the students and a contact number, and our education team will confirm within one working day.
- Where are you and how do I get there?
- We are in the Heart of Sharjah district, a few minutes' walk from Al Hisn Fort along the restored lanes. There is public parking on Corniche Street and behind the Souq Al Arsah, both about five minutes on foot from our courtyard entrance.
- Is the museum accessible?
- Yes. There is step-free access from the courtyard, a lift to the first-floor galleries, and an accessible toilet on the ground floor. We keep two wheelchairs available to borrow at reception, and large-print gallery guides in English and Arabic.
- Can I take photographs?
- Personal photography without flash is welcome throughout the museum. Flash and tripods are not permitted in the textile gallery, where light exposure damages the dyes. Commercial shoots and filming need written permission arranged in advance with our team.
- Is there a café or a shop?
- Our courtyard café serves Arabic coffee, dates and a short lunch menu until 4:00 PM. The shop sells work made by the artisans in our residency programme — weaving, ceramics and calligraphy — and every purchase supports the workshop directly.
- Will I get a reminder about my booked visit?
- Yes. You receive a confirmation as soon as your visit is booked and a reminder the day before on the channel you used to book. If your plans change, just reply to that message and I will move or cancel your slot.