Al Ghuwair

Al Ghuwair is one of the many localities that are part of the Al Gharb district in Sharjah. It is best known as a busy market area near the Rolla Area and is best suited for those who prefer a busy, city-centric lifestyle. The area is mostly occupied by experiates, particularly singletons and small families.

Al Ghuwair is characterised by low-rise and mid-rise residential buildings with shops on the ground floor and many markets nearby.

The area has shops available for rent along with a few residential apartments, but there are no villas in the area. Al Ghuwair attracts shoppers and visitors as it lies close to many tourist attractions. People living in Al Ghuwair can easily find every facility nearby.

• It is a busy market-place in Sharjah
• Home to one of the oldest markets in the emirate, Al Ghuwair Market
• Apartment-only community
• Rental prices are comparatively lower than other areas of Sharjah
• Commercial properties are available for rental purposes
• Its location offers access to both Ajman and Dubai

Al Ghuwair is a buzzing district in Sharjah even though it is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city. Another popular area, Rolla Area is often considered part of Al Ghuwair as it is right next door.

It is a central and densely populated area with a lot of shops in the neighbourhood. Al Ghuwair is known for its clothing souks and range of affordable shopping outlets. Residents can access malls, hospitals, schools and other basic facilities with ease.

Properties in Al Ghuwair are a mix of low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise residential apartment buildings. Most buildings have shops on the ground floor which mainly consist of salons, baqalas (small grocery stores) and cafeterias.

The district is a popular shopping place with plenty of shops offering apparel, electronics, gadgets and kitchenware goods. The area does have an influx of commercial properties compared to residential units.

For residential purposes, studios and 1-bedroom apartments are available for rent. Apartments in Al Ghuwair are one of the most affordable ones in Sharjah.

The rental trend for flats ranges between AED 15k to AED 25k.

Studios for rent have a coverage area of almost 500 sq. ft. These flats are ideal for singletons and mid-earners as the rates range between AED 9k to AED 12k. These units come with a small open kitchen, one bathroom and one bedroom. The studio apartments are laced with tile flooring and are also centrally air-conditioned.

1-bedroom apartments for rent are more spacious when compared to studio apartments. They are built on a surface area ranging between 600 sq. ft. to 800 sq. ft. offering rents starting from AED 17k to AED 33k. These flats have a spacious one bedroom with double-glazed glass windows, a living room which has a balcony and sliding door. Some 1-bedroom units have one or two bathrooms. The kitchens are closed and have fitted cabinets.

The 2-bedroom flats in Al Ghuwair come in approximately 1,200 sq. ft. of surface area, with the rents ranging between AED 19k to AED 40k.

Al Ghuwair is an ideal place for people looking for commercial properties for rent. There are many shops, offices and commercial buildings available for rental purposes. Shops have coverage areas ranging from 386 sq. ft. to 1,000 sq. ft. The rental trend of these shops lies between AED 30k to AED 150k per year. Rental rates depend on the coverage area and location.

Few residential buildings are available for sale. A residential building which covers approximately 30,000 sq. ft. of space is comprised of 11 shops and 21 residential apartments. Such residential building cost around AED 17M to purchase. Buildings which occupy almost 18,185 sq. ft. offer 11 shops and 30 residential apartments. Their sale price is approximately AED 47M.

Some residential buildings are also available for sale in Al Ghuwair Market or Souq Al Ghuwair, as it is known. Their coverage area varies from 18,185 sq. ft. to 30,030 sq. ft. and sale prices range from AED 17M to AED 47M.

Al Ghuwair is an area which is mostly crowded because of Souq Al Ghuwair. There is plenty of parking space in Al Ghuwair, but it always appears insufficient because of the huge influx of vehicles in the area.

Al Ghuwair enjoys its prime location in Sharjah. It is surrounded by many important areas of the city and features an impressive public transport network.

Al Rolla Bus Stop lies in the community where bus E306 and E307 stop. Apart from Al Rolla Bus Stop, three other bus stops are close including Sharjah Al Jubail Bus Stop and Old Gold Souq Bus Stop. Both are at a 7-minute drive from the area. Buses operating from the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi also stop at Al Rolla Bus Stop. Travelling through taxi or private car is always a faster option.

People living in Al Ghuwair get easy access to a number of schools, hospitals and supermarkets. They can also choose from options dotted in other nearby areas.

There is an array of supermarkets in Al Ghuwair. Residents do not have to go to other areas for their grocery needs. Apart from a number of baqalas in the buildings, there are some big supermarkets in Al Ghuwair namely, Gharb Al Madina Supermarket, Giant Supermarket, Fathima Supermarket and Al Safeer Supermarket.

Al Safeer is a big supermarket chain that operates throughout the UAE. It mainly stocks food and household products including meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, beverages and spices.

It is a densely populated area with people belonging to different faiths. Fortunately, there are several temples, churches and mosques near Al Ghuwair.

Al Yarmook is not more than 10 minutes away from the area where one can spot many churches including Church of the Living God, Apostolic Church, Emirates Christian Church and St. Michael’s Catholic Church. These all and more are within a 10-minute drive.

There are no temples in Sharjah, but luckily Dubai is close to Al Ghuwair making it easy for Hindu believers to visit one of the temples established in Dubai. Shiridi Sai Baba Mandir, Shiva Temple and Shree Krishna Haveli are a 30-minute drive away. The Sikh gurudwaras are also located in the same Bur Dubai area, half an hour away.

Al Ghuwair is abundantly filled with mosques. Hamza Ibn Abdul Muttalib Mosque is on the premises near Rolla Mall. There is another mosque in Al Ghuwair on Al Mussa Al Ashari Street. Other nearby mosques include Othman Ibn Affan Mosque at a distance of 3 minutes and Khan Saheb Mosque in Al Nabba.

It is a busy commercial area and mostly has shops and stores. Therefore, residents can find a number of educational options and schools near Al Ghuwair. Options for younger children consist of Baby Garden Nursery, Al Aman Nursery and Baby Land Nursery.

Emirates Private School is located at a drive of 4 minutes. It follows the British curriculum and offers classes from KG1 to Grade 10.

A couple of other schools covering the distance of approximately 5 minutes include Al Qasimia Primary School and Khalid Bin Mohammed School.

Higher education institutes nearby include Emirates Institute for Banking & Financial Studies and Lincoln University of Business and Management. Both of these options are under 10 minutes away, depending on traffic conditions.

There are many hospitals in Al Ghuwair for residents to seek medical assistance. Al Zahra Hospital, one of the top-rated hospitals in Sharjah, is a private hospital in Al Ghuwair. It is one of the biggest tertiary care hospitals in the UAE. It is known to maintain international standards in healthcare.

Al Saha Al Shifa Daycare Hospital is a renowned surgical hospital from Saudi Arabia. It is operated by Yasmin Group and offers cutting edge medical techniques and services to all its patients.

Thumbay Daycare Hospital Rolla is another big hospital in the emirate that lies in the community near Al Arouba Street. It has several complexes throughout the UAE. It is a well-reputed healthcare centre affiliated with Gulf Medical University.

NMC Medical Centre Rolla is ranked among the leading medical providers in the UAE. It is a multi-speciality centre equipped with modern healthcare facilities. This complex of NMC in Al Ghuwair received the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award for the year 2008-2009.

Other medical clinics in Al Ghuwair include Premier Medical Center, Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Centre and Abrahams Medical Centre.

Life Pharmacy, Thumbay Pharmacy and Bourj Al Rolla Pharmacy can be reached on foot from the residential towers.

Al Ghuwair has many well-known residential areas of Sharjah as its neighbours. Towards its west is Al Marija, a popular waterfront community. On the east, it has Al Musalla and Al Manakh. The famous Sharjah Clock Tower which is the landmark of the city is just across Arabian Gulf Street.

One benefit of living in Al Ghuwair is the buzzing and vibrant atmosphere of the place. Residents have quick access to a number of restaurants and shopping complexes.

For people who like to bargain, the best place to shop is Al Ghuwair. There are a variety of shops and small malls in Al Ghuwair from where one can bargain as the prices are not fixed.

It is an old market area and has been there for the last three decades. Souq Al Ghuwair or Al Ghuwair Market is known as a shopping destination for all. From apparel to electronics, cosmetics and kitchenware, one can spot anything in narrow lanes of this market. It is the best shopping destination for those who like to shop from a traditional bazaar in the UAE.

Rolla Mall is a small complex based on five floors, it is a community mall in Al Ghuwair. It has different salons and electronic shops inside, as well as other retail stores.

Oasis Mall is a massive mall, located at a distance of 10 minutes. It was built in 2009 and boasts 97 retail stores spanning across 57,000 sq. ft. It also has a food court, cafes and ample parking spaces for visitors.

One can find a variety of food options including many cafeterias and restaurants in Al Ghuwair. Many Pakistani and Indian restaurants that operate in the area are budget-friendly. Restaurants like Delhi Nihari Restaurant, Jaipur Restaurant and Muhammad Faisal Restaurant & Sweets are popular Asian restaurants in Al Ghuwair.

There are many small cafeterias in the area such as Al Aqdar Cafeteria, Iqbal Cafeteria, Al Neena Cafeteria, and Salima Cafeteria. These cafeterias serve tea and other snacks. King’s Palace Restaurant, Al Majlis Restaurant, Madeena Al Falah, and Al Hur Restaurant are also other restaurants in the district.

The nightlife of Sharjah is less vibrant than Dubai’s as there are no bars in the city. One has to travel to Ajman to find Pirates Sports Bar & Shisha Lounge, Badr Lounge and The Sports Bar at a 17-minute drive. These options are located in the hotels along Ajman Corniche.

Many beaches near Al Ghuwair can be reached within a few minutes. Al Khan Beach is 10 minutes away from the area. It is a 600-metre sandy stretch with bathroom, changing room and shower facilities. Visitors can rent sun loungers and umbrellas or they can enjoy kayaking, kite surfing, parasailing, banana boating and flyboarding.

Al Mamzar Beach, Sharjah is approximately at a 25-minute drive. This beach has swaying palm trees, three pools and a dedicated picnic and barbeque area. It is based on 106 hectares of land with sun-loungers, jet skis, roller skating and cycling options.

Beach resorts such as Radisson Blu Resort, Marbella Resort and Coral Beach Resort are a few minutes away from Al Ghuwair. Located on Sharjah’s beautiful coastline these resorts offer deluxe, luxurious amenities.

The nearest landmark is Souq Al Ghuwair itself which has been operational for decades. Sharjah Clock Tower is another landmark that is across Arabian Gulf Street.

Residents of Al Ghuwair can head out to Al Rolla Square Park. The entrance ticket is AED 2. The park is beautified with fountains and shady avenues. It was renovated and reopened on the 43rd National Day of the UAE in 2014. This park spans over to 36,664 square metres where 60% of the space is dedicated to green areas.

Two gyms are dotted near Al Ghuwair namely Al Arab Fitness, which is 5 minutes away. Energy Body Building Gym is on the premises with a fitness area for both ladies and gents.

A number of ladies salons can be found in the area including UAE Beauty Salon, Taj Alhenaa Beauty Salon, Al Burj Ladies Saloon and Al Abeer Ladies Salon.

Al Ghuwair is a congested area mostly because the shops and baqalas crowd the streets. One thing to consider is that finding parking in the area might be problematic at times and residents with more than one vehicle might find it difficult.

• Sharjah International Airport is 18 minutes away
• Ajman can be reached in roughly 20 minutes
• The emirate of Dubai is at a 25-minute drive
• Dubai International Airport is 30 minutes away