Al Mareija

Al Mareija is a waterfront community in Shajrah, best known as home to Heart of Sharjah- the largest heritage project in the UAE and the Gulf region. One corner of the district is dedicated to cultural and traditional centres such as Sharjah Centre for the Art of Arabic Calligraphy, Heart of Sharjah and Sharjah Heritage Museum. Located close to Corniche Street and Al Arouba Street, the area offers the serene view of Khalid Lake flowing parallel to it, adding beauty to residential properties.

• An affordable waterfront community
• Features mid-rise and high-rise buildings
• Home to Heart of Sharjah
• A calm area with numerous facilities
• Easy access to Corniche Street and Al Arouba Street

Al Mareija has an ideal blend of mid-rise and high-rise buildings with all the basic amenities for residents. Al Mareija is preferred by families and singletons as it lies close to schools, supermarkets and healthcare centres. It is easier to commute from here to other areas of Sharjah.

As mentioned earlier, the properties in Al Mareija are only available for rent. One can find most apartments in Abou Jameza Building 2. The property configuration ranges from studios to 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units. The apartments are popular among singletons, couples and small families. The rents are affordable as compared to other residential areas in Sharjah. Plus, being a waterfront community is an added advantage.

Since Al Mareija is a well-planned community, parking is not a hassle. Residential buildings have reserved parking spaces for a single-vehicle. Visitors can also find parking spaces in designated areas.

Al Jubail bus station is present in the neighbouring Al Jubail area. It is a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute drive away from Al Mareija. It is preferential if residents have their own vehicles to get around.

Finding grocery isn’t a hassle because there are numerous supermarkets in Al Mareija. Abdullah Asad Ali Supermarket and Al Madeena Supermarket lie towards Hisn Avenue. Al Hijra Supermarket, Al Madina Supermarket and Dar Nouf Supermarket are dotted near Al Arouba Street towards the west of the community.

There are plenty of supermarkets in the neighbouring community of Al Jubail where residents of Al Mareija can go for grocery shopping. The list includes Nesto Supermarket, Fathima Supermarket, Al Kabayel Discount Centre, Al Ameera Supermarket and Al Astool Supermarket.

Al Mareija welcomes residents belonging to different faiths and religions. There is an array of churches near Al Mareija, more precisely in Al Yarmook. A few options include Christian Fellowship Church, Apostolic Church**, Russian Orthodox Church**, Saint Michael’s Roman Catholic Church and Grace Evangelical Church.

As there are no temples in Sharjah, Hindu residents must travel to Dubai to visit one. Fortunately, Sharjah and Dubai are close emirates. The gurudwaras and temples in Bur Dubai are reachable within 25 minutes.

Sharjah is home to beautiful mosques and there are six mosques in Al Mareija. One can find Bani Shaibah Mosque, Al Zahra Mosque, Obaid Bin Eisa Mosque, Sharjah Central Mosque and Al Shoyoukh Mosque in the area. The large King Faisal Mosque is located close to Al Mareija. It was built in the 1980s and is still popular today. It is a well-maintained mosque with large prayer halls for both genders and ample parking space.

There are no schools in the neighbourhood, but there are a few in the nearby areas. Emirate Private School is exactly 2 km away. Al Qasmiya Primary School for preschoolers is 8 minutes away. Al Ma’arifa International Private School near Al Mareija offers both the American and British curriculum. It is at a 13-minute drive from Al Mareija.

University options include Emirates Institute for Banking & Financial Studies and Lincoln University of Business and Management, which is one of top universities in Sharjah. Both these options are under 15 minutes away. The reputed options part of University City Sharjah are approximately 25 minutes away.

Residents can reach NMC Medical Centre, one of the largest tertiary care hospitals in the city to seek medical assistance. It is equipped with modern healthcare facilities and has received the Sharjah Economic Excellence Award. This hospital near Al Mareija can be reached with a 5-minute walk or 2-minute drive. Another reputable tertiary care hospital is Thumbay Hospital which is at a similar distance.

Other nearby hospitals and clinics include Al Ahalia Medical Centre, Al Zahra Hospital and Burjeel Hospital Sharjah. All of these are reputable medical options in the city.

Geographically, Al Mareija is on the south-eastern side of Khalid Lake. It is next-door neighbours to Al Shuwaihean, Al Ghuwair and Al Jubail. The popular, Rolla Area is also near the area. The district is surrounded by well-known souks and residential areas.

People who settle down in this district have plenty of malls to choose from for their shopping fix. Sharjah Shopping Centre is one of the malls in Al Mareija which is less than 4 minutes away. Sharjah Shopping Centre is located in the busy Rolla Area. It features over 30 retail outlets in the mall including popular jewellery brands such as Damas and Atlas Jewellery. KM Trading which has been UAE’s popular garment store for decades is also nestled in Sharjah Shopping Centre and operates on two floors.

My City Centre Nasseriya is 6 minutes away with Carrefour supermarket inside it making it convenient for people to stock up their grocery as well. There are numerous retail stores including a small food court.

There are a few cafeterias and restaurants in Al Mareija. One can enjoy Chinese, Arabic and Asian cuisine as numerous restaurants are lined up on the premises.

Popular Indian restaurants include Shivam Restaurant, Kabab Bombay Restaurant, Sumaya Restaurant and Uttam Restaurant. Most restaurants are easy-on-pocket and serve vegetarian dishes.

Najmat Lahore Restaurant is a popular choice for Pakistani delicacies like biryani. Chinese Kitchen Restaurant serves savoury Chinese cuisines while Fen Café is an ideal choice for coffee and other beverages.

Saffron Restaurant has Asian, Chinese and BBQ dishes on their menu. Their open kitchen view provides quality assurance and it boasts a private family room and a majlis-style seating area. It is dotted towards Arouba Street in Al Mareija.

All popular beach spots of Sharjah are nearby Al Mareija, not to mention residents get to enjoy the serene view of Khalid Lake from their apartments.

Just at an 8-minute drive away is Sharjah Beach, it is currently being developed and has a limited amount of amenities compared to other beaches.

Al Khan Beach is another popular beach in Sharjah, it is 10 minutes away from Al Mareija. It is known for its watersports activities and active environment.

Al Mamzar Beach Park is almost 21 minutes away. This beach has a sandy stretch of 106 hectares with multiple pools. It is one of the top destinations for families and features facilities such as showers, changing rooms, fast-food kiosks and playgrounds.

To unwind after a tiring week, people can head out to Al Majaz Waterfront which is a landmark of the city. It is 5 km away from the area and boasts many attractions and recreational activities. Visitors can embark on a cruise ride along Khalid Lagoon or watch the iconic Sharjah Musical Fountain. Al Majaz Waterfront also has a long jogging trail with palm trees along the track. For AED 50, one can also enjoy sofa boat for 15 minutes. There are unlimited entertainment options for children including competitions, games, and other activities. Alwan Centre is specially dedicated for art and craft, yoga and music play for kids.

Heart of Sharjah is the first of its kind and possibly the largest heritage project to date. Under this project, Sharjah’s traditional areas will be restored to their former glory and revamped to appear more appealing to tourists. It was planned for over 15 years and is scheduled to be completed by 2025.

There are two parks in the area. Al Ittihad Park is on the west while Rolla Square Park is on the east of Al Mareija. Al Ittihad Park has a fountain and kids play area. People mostly go there for enjoying evening walks. Rolla Square Park is a family-favourite destination. The park has a fountain in the centre and was named after the Banyan tree which is locally known as Rolla Area. This park is listed among Sharjah’s historical sites.

Arab Fitness and Golden Gym are well-equipped gyms in the vicinity. Other nearby gyms include Khaled Al Ameri Fitness Centre and Al Rolla Fitness Gym, both are a 2 to 4-minute drive away.

Ladies living in Al Mareija can find Al Mansour Ladies Salon near Al Mareija Street while men visit Smart Gents Salon which is near Souq Al Rolla.

The Heart of Sharjah hosts many events all throughout the year. These keep changing so it is best to check beforehand. A few of the events include family-friendly activities and workshops. It even hosts markets featuring a local selection of unique products and different food and snacks.

Al Mareija is next to Khalid Lake also known as Khalid Lagoon. Residents of Al Mareija get to enjoy a nice view of the fountain and all the festive events near the lake. You can also visit the Al Majaz area, which is a few minutes away to enjoy the Sharjah Light Festival in February, which is held every year.

Al Mareija has all the basic facilities that people look for before settling down in the area. Moreover, the average rents are lower than those expected for a waterfront community. Perhaps the only con is that there are no apartments for sale.

• Dubai is at a 10-minute drive away
• Sharjah International Airport is 20 minutes away
• Neighbouring emirate of Ajman is at a distance of 30 minutes