Al Layyah Suburb, Sharjah

Al Layyah Suburb (also known as Al Layyeh Suburb) is a waterfront community in Sharjah, home to several government offices and the famous Port Khalid. It is located on the south-western edge of the emirate, close to Al Khaledia Suburb and Al Majaz. Besides residential and government buildings, the area boasts luxury beach resorts making it a popular tourist spot in Sharjah.

• A coastal community in Sharjah
• The main site of Port Khalid and Al Layyah Power Plant
• Features some of the best hotels in Sharjah
• In proximity to Al Ittihad and Al Wahda Street, E11
• Home to Sharjah Museums Authority

Al Layyah Suburb Sharjah, simply called Al Layyah, is located on the shoreline allowing easy access to a range of communal facilities. Surrounded by popular communities, the neighbourhood is lively, ideal for those who admire a bustling suburb. On the residential side, there are apartments and villas. Other highlights of the area include a well-connected road network and proximity to notable entertainment points.

Properties for rent in Al Layyah Suburb include villas and apartments in different configurations and layouts. Most of these are waterfront projects offering views of the shoreline. Currently, finding a vacant residential space might be tricky since most of the area is occupied. The community also includes offices and other commercial units.

Home to some of the top hotels in the city, Al Layyeh Suburb has grown into a popular tourist spot. The area occupies a prime waterfront location, ideal for any staycation. Some notable options in the vicinity include:

• Sahara Beach Resort & Spa
• Sharjah Premiere Hotel & Resort

Sahara Beach Resort & Spa is one of the best hotels in Sharjah with a wide range of rooms and luxury suites. Moreover, the hotel features an outdoor pool which is listed among the best pools in Sharjah. It also has a ladies-only indoor pool for guests looking to treat themselves with a refreshing dip and beat the heat. Other key points of interest include a spa centre, a restaurant and a café.

Sharjah Premiere Hotel & Resort is another hotel in Al Layyah Suburb offering 86 well-appointed rooms, including seven executive suites and two business suites. The hotel also has an all-day dining facility, conference and event rooms, a gym and a pool among others.

The waterfront community is home to several government offices including:

• Sharjah Museums Authority
• Department of Town Planning and Survey Sharjah
• Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority
• Department of Seaports and Customs Sharjah
• Sharjah Court

Sharjah Museums Authority is an autonomous government authority that oversees museums in Sharjah. These include Sharjah Art Museum, Bait Al Naboodah, Sharjah Archaeology Museum and several other historic buildings. Al Layyah is also home to Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority (SEWA), a government utility service responsible for electricity, water, and gas supply to residential areas. Other offices in the neighbourhood are Sharjah Government Media Bureau and Sharjah Finance Department.

Port Khalid is a pioneer seaport in Al Layyah Suburb Sharjah, with 23 berths on the western side of the community. There are three berths dedicated to container cargo while the rest handle general cargo, roll-on and roll-off, bulk cargo and project cargoes. This customer-friendly seaport offers excellent road connectivity to industrial areas and commercial hubs of the emirate. Other features of the port include mobile-harbour cranes, ship-to-shore quay cranes and rubber-tyre gantry cranes.

There are ample parking spaces in Al Layyah Suburb for residents and visitors alike. Most residential properties come with a car parking garage, while guests can avail the street parking facility.

The popular means of public transportation in Sharjah include bus and cab services. Residents of the community can reach the nearest bus station within an 8 to 10-minute drive, while ride-hailing apps such as Careem and Uber are also widely available.

If you have private conveyance, then getting around the city is quite convenient. Al Meena Street, which runs through the community, connects to Al Wahda Street within 5 minutes. It also extends into Al Arouba Street, connecting commuters to neighbouring areas such as Al Jubail and Al Qasimia.

Supermarkets are dotted around the area to facilitate community members. Muhajir Al Jadeeda Grocery and Kottakunnu Grocery are a few supermarkets in Al Layyah Suburb suitable for regular grocery shopping. Some other supermarkets nearby include Spinneys, Azar Supermarket and Montana Supermarket.

There are many mosques in Al Layyah Suburb where Muslims can offer their daily and congregational prayers. These include Martyr Sultan Saleem Al Suwaidi Mosque, Othman Ibn Mathoun Mosque and Abu Hurairah Mosque. Moreover, the iconic Al Noor Mosque with a capacity to accommodate 2,200 worshippers is at a 6 km short drive away, accessible in 8 minutes.

Most of the churches in Sharjah are concentrated in the Al Yarmook area, around 13 minutes away from Al Layyah. Grace Evangelical Church, St. Martin’s Anglican Church and St. Michael’s Catholic Church are a few churches near Al Layyah Suburb.

There are some reputable institutes in the neighbourhood where pre-school children can get enrolled. Little Feet Nursery, Bluebells Nursery and Al Reyada Nursery are just a few to mention. All these nurseries near Al Layyah Suburb are accessible in around 5 to 10 minutes by car.

As for other schools in Al Layyah Suburb, residents can consider the American School of Creative Science. It is located on Al Meena Street close to the residential side of the community. The notable institute has another branch in Dubai, both offering the US curriculum. Al Khan Model School for Basic Education and Sheikh Meera Bint Mohammed Al Suwaidi School are also in the vicinity.

Parents can find some of the top schools in Sharjah such as Victoria International School of Sharjah and Delta English School Muwaileh located at a short distance from Al Layyah.

Burjeel Speciality Hospital is one of the best hospitals in Sharjah, offering medical services for cardiology, dermatology, internal medicine, neurology and other diseases. It is a 10-minute drive from the community. Other hospitals near Al Layyah Suburb are Medcare Hospital Sharjah and Oriana Hospital Sharjah.

Al Layyah Suburb is surrounded by popular residential communities of the city including:

• Al Khan
• Al Majaz
• Al Qasba
• Al Khaledia Suburb

Towards the south lies Al Khaledia Suburb and Al Qasba, while Al Khan and Al Majaz are located to the southeast of the area. Al Arouba Street on the southern side of the community connects to Al Qasimia, Abu Shagara and Al Jubail, which are all around a 5 to 8-minute drive away. Residents can also visit the oldest commercial district of Dubai, Deira, in 14 minutes via Al Khan Street.

City Centre Sharjah is a popular shopping destination nearby. It is home to over 143 retail stores of famous fashion brands, F&B outlets and entertainment facilities. Some of the popular stores in the mall are Debenhams, Aldo, Splash, H&M, Zara and Sephora. More importantly, Sharjah City Centre is counted among the best malls in Sharjah, conveniently located 10 minutes away from Al Layyah. Some other popular shopping malls near Al Layyeh Suburb Sharjah include Mega Mall Sharjah and Rolla Mall.

There are many local eateries and small cafeterias in Al Layyah Suburb offering a variety of dishes. These include Al Resalah Restaurant, Al Zawraq Cafeteria, Obaid Al Shaer Cafeteria and Al Aydi Al Mahira Cafeteria. Those looking for upscale dining options can find some of the best restaurants in Sharjah, a short drive away such as Al Fanar Restaurant, Bait Al Mandi, Nayab Handi and Madfoon Al Khaimah.

If you are planning to unwind at a beach near Al Layyah Suburb, pay a visit to Al Khan Beach. Getting to one of the best beaches in the city will take around 10 minutes where you can enjoy many watersports activities such as kayaking, surfing, boat riding and flyboarding.

A few notable landmarks near the community are:

• Al Montazah Parks
• Sharjah Aquarium
• Sharjah Art Museum

Al Montazah Parks is one of the popular leisure spots of the emirate featuring a water park and an amusement park. The water park – Pearls Kingdom Water Park has a range of water slides, splash zones, pools and other rides for visitors of all ages. The other section of the park – Island of Legends Amusement Park is home to many rides along with the famous Eye of Emirate, one of the major attractions of Sharjah offering a bird’s eye view of the city. Residents of the neighbourhood can get to Al Montazah Parks in 6 minutes by car.

Sharjah Aquarium is another notable landmark spread across two floors with an area of 6500 m². Those fond of marine species can spend time exploring over 150 species in many aquariums, including reef sharks, seahorses, clownfish and eels. Besides marine life, visitors can explore the habitats of sea creatures in the aquarium, such as lagoons, coral reefs and mangroves. Those coming from Al Layyah can reach the aquarium in around 5 minutes by car.

Other leisure spots near the community are Sharjah Art Museum and Al Qasba Canal.

Al Majaz Park is one of the beautiful parks in Sharjah with many recreational facilities including a kids play area, fountains, a splash park and a mini-golf course. It takes around 8 minutes to reach Al Majaz Park if you drive. Other parks near Al Layyah Suburb are Al Khalidiya Park and Al Safya Park.

If you are looking for indoor workout options, you will have to drive to neighbouring communities. Al Aqeeq Ladies Sports Centre is accessible within an 8-minute drive. It is one of the affordable gyms in Sharjah, offering group and individual classes for yoga, cardio, kickboxing, karate, belly dancing, Zumba and swimming.

Ladies can enjoy beauty care treatments from some of the best salons in Sharjah. These include Anisaty Ladies Salon, Reem Al Salon and Tips & Toes. All these salons and spas are located 10 to 12 minutes away. Saray Beauty Centre in Al Layyah Suburb can be another option if you are not in the mood to drive. It offers massages, spa treatments, hair care and threading.

The popular leisure spot, Al Majaz Waterfront, lies in proximity. Residents of Al Layyah Suburb can get there in 9 minutes to participate in some of the annual events in Sharjah such as Sharjah Food Festival and Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival.

Al Layyah Combined-Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) in Al Layyah Suburb is a 1.026GW natural gas-fired power plant implanted by Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority (SEWA). It is an expansion of the Layyah Power Plant to increase power generation and energy production. There are three phases of the gas-fired power plant and it is expected to be operational in Q4 2021.

Al Layyah Suburb is a coastal area in Sharjah located close to the emirate of Dubai. However, those planning to move may want to consider that limited residential options are available at the moment.

• Sharjah International Airport is 21-minutes away
• An 18-minute drive to the emirate of Ajman
• Sharjah Aquarium is located a 5-minute drive
• It will take a 19-minute drive to Al Mamzar Dubai