Al Nabba

Al Nabba is one of Sharjah’s many small creekside communities. It is home to the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization. This is a well-established community with a varied selection of supermarkets, restaurants, malls and hospitals. You won’t have to leave the area as most basic amenities are right within the community. Moreover, Al Nabba is mostly home to mid-rise apartment towers and the residential buildings here are a mix of old and new.

• A mix of old and new apartment buildings
• The northern border aligns with Khalid Lake 
• Close to several supermarkets, department stores and restaurants
• Home to some of the most affordable apartments in Sharjah

Al Nabba is a well-established residential community in Sharjah with several accommodation options in terms of rental apartments. Here, residents find it easier to connect to other areas of the emirate via Al Sharq Street.

Properties in Al Nabba are mostly rental apartments. Starting from the studios, such unit comes with typically a 300 sq. ft. of floor space. The 1 BHK flats in the area are built on the floor space ranging from 500 sq. ft. to 1,100 sq. ft. while the 2-bedroom flats have comparatively larger built, occupying 1,500 sq. ft. to 2,400 sq. ft. of floor space.

The apartments come with a guest bathroom and ensuite bedrooms. Some units also feature a balcony. You will find both, finished and semi-furnished units in the area. The buildings offer limited parking spaces and tight security measures for its residents.

The range of accommodation is not just limited to flats, but a few hotels and motels are also part of Al Nabba. These hotels in the area include:

• Al Sharq Hotel Suites
• Rayan Hotel Corniche
• Al Hamra Hotel Sharjah

Al Hamra Hotel Sharjah is a 4-star hotel in Al Nabba, located along Sharjah’s waterfront walkway. The hotel features suites with modern furniture, a business centre and restaurants. It comes with facilities like 24-hour room service, fitness centre, outdoor pool and sauna. Al Hamra Hotel also offers free shuttle service to the nearby malls and beaches.

Al Sharq Hotel Suites and Rayan Hotel Corniche are both 3-star hotels that don’t offer as many amenities as a 4 or 5-star hotel, but they offer serviced suites. Al Sharq Hotel is located on Al Andalus Square, whereas, Rayan Hotel Corniche is on Al Arouba street, right behind Al Manama supermarket.

Some buildings in Al Nabba are older and may not offer residents covered parking spaces. This means that residents in Al Nabba will have to park on the streets. Some parking spots are pain, which is often shared with visitors and those who work in the retail spaces in the area. Thus, the options for finding parking spaces in Al Nabba are limited.

Those wondering about what to expect in terms of public transportation in Al Nabba, the closest bus stop is Al Rolla Bus Stop on Al Arouba Street, where you can take an RTA bus to Dubai as well as other emirates. The Rolla bus stop is a 10-minute walk from the central Al Nabba.

There are around four supermarkets in Al Nabba and multiple smaller grocery stores. The most popular one is Lulu Centre which is more of a department store with a hypermarket. Those who prefer doing groceries from Nesto hypermarkets in Sharjah will also find an outlet within the area.

Another popular supermarket in the area is Pakistan Supermarket. It stocks a wide range of consumer goods from Pakistan such as spices, snacks and ready-to-eat meals. Here, you’ll also find some favoured snacks of Pakistan such as golaganda and bunkebab and a few other popular street foods from Pakistan. Sonali Supermarket and Al Madina Supermarket are the other supermarkets in Al Nabba.

Although there aren’t any churches in Al Nabba, specifically. Just 4.5 kilometres south, there’s the community of Al Yarmook, which has over ten churches for different denominations of Christianity. There are churches both for a large and small congregation in this area so it’s likely that you’ll be able to attend Sunday Mass on a regular basis. A few options include St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Grace Evangelical Church Sharjah and the Russian Orthodox Church.

There are no temples in Al Nabba. To visit a temple, you can drive to Dubai in the community of Al Souq Al Kabeer, where there many different temples such as Shiva Temple, Shree Krishna Haveli and ShrinathJi Temple. The Sikh Gurudwara and the Sindhi Gurdarbar are also located in the Al Souq Al Kabeer area.

There’s only one major mosque in Al Nabba, called Abu Dhar Alghafari Mosque. This mosque can accommodate a small crowd of worshippers during Friday prayers. Mosques nearby include Abdulla bin Omer Bin Alkhatab Mosque, Al Maghfirah Mosque, Bin Darwish Mosque and Alkuwaiti Mosque.

There are several schools near Al Nabba. However, the closest school is the Al Amaal English High School. This school follows the Pakistani standard of education and is accredited by the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Islamabad (FBISE). Moreover, aside from English, students are also required to take Arabic and Urdu classes.

Another school that is close to the community is Pace International School. This is a Montessori school which means the focus is on early childhood education. Children aged 3 to 6 years are the primary students of this school.

University City Sharjah is located 20 minutes away from Al Nabba. It is home to reputed education options such as the American University of Sharjah, University of Sharjah and Skyline University College.

The walk-in medical clinics near Al Nabba include Noor Clinic and True Care Clinic located just off Arabian Gulf Street. Another walk-in clinic is Dr Sanjay Medical Centre, located opposite Lulu Center, just off Al Sharq Road. Here you can consult a general physician on basic health care matters.

For those who may have come across a medical emergency, they should head to the Thumbay Hospital Day Care, Sharjah Rolla which is just 6 minutes away on Al Arouba Street. Not only is this hospital the closest in the vicinity but is also the most reputable for providing superior health care services. There is also a Thumbay Pharmacy next to the hospital.

Another pharmacies in the area include Shams Pharmacy.

Al Nabba is surrounded by some major streets, including Al Sharq Street, Al Arouba Street, Arabian Gulf Street and Corniche Street.

Located to the east of Al Nabba, is Al Mujarrah which is home to Al Mujarrah Park. Towards the south is the community of Al Manakh, home to the Indian Association –  Sharjah. To the west, you’ll find the community of Al Shuwaihean. All these areas are considered to be well-established residential areas in Sharjah.

City Centre Nasseriya is a mall near Al Nabba, just 6 minutes away. This mall is a one-stop destination where you can dine and shop. You will find eateries, an exchange centre and retail stores in the mall. My City Centre Nasseriya has a few flagships stores including Carrefour market.

If you are looking for traditional shopping destinations then the outdoor souks in Rolla will be your best bet. In this market, you will find many different stores with a variety of products. It is best for bargain shopping as you can also haggle with the vendors. While not technically a mall, Mubarak Centre is located right opposite Al Nabba, it has a few retail stores and dining outlets.

There are some popular restaurants in Al Nabba. For instance, Wardat Chinese Beijing is one of the most popular restaurants in Al Nabba. For slightly upscale dining, there’s the Asian Palace located on the 1st Floor of Mubarak Centre, just opposite Al Nabba. This is a restaurant that offers Pakistani/Indian food and is popular amongst the Indian and Pakistani community. Another popular Pakistani restaurant in the community is Karachi Darbar Restaurant.

Other restaurants in Al Nabba include Omar Al Khayam Restaurant, it is popular for its Middle Eastern dishes, Nayaab Handi which is a popular Pakistani restaurant in Al Nabba and Coastal Delicacies Restaurant which serves the Indian thali.

There are no beaches in Al Nabba per se. However, within a 12-minute drive one can reach the popular Al Khan Beach. It is one of the best beaches in Sharjah. Visitors can rent sun loungers, picnic on the sand, try out many different water sports at the water centre or swim in the dedicated area at Al Khan Beach.

Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is a popular tourist destination and a famous heritage point of the emirate, located right within the area. The historical museum features artefacts of Islamic civilization that highlights the culture and history of Muslims.

Al Majaz Waterfront Park lies south of Al Qasba. You can visit one of their many waterfront dining destinations and restaurants. There are boat rides where you are given a tour of Sharjah on a traditional boat called an ‘Abra’ or its modern electric version. You can also catch a show of the Sharjah Musical Fountain At Al Majaz Waterfront or rent a Smart Bike and zip around the area.

Al Qasba is another popular landmark, just 11 minutes west of Al Nabba. It is a complete recreational destination with several cafes, restaurants, boat tours and a children’s play area.

Al Mujarrah Park is what divides the communities of Al Nabba and Al Mujarrah. It is a medium-sized park which also overlooks the creek. There is a small kid’s play area and is visited by many residents and families living in the area. You can also visit the Corniche promenade – a paved long stretch alongside Sharjah Corniche, where you can relax on the benches and enjoy the view of the sea.

For fitness enthusiasts, the closest gym is Al Rolla Fitness which is 3 minutes away. Al Rolla Fitness is a small gym but has all the equipment one would need to get a complete workout. There is also a branch of Al Nabaa Gym, in the Al Naba’ah community, 4 minutes from the area.

Ladies can visit Al Lulu Beauty Centre, Lahdaht Jamal Beauty Centre and Zehour Miami Ladies Saloon in under 10 minutes. Options for gents include Al Riyaz Hairdressers and AL Bariq Hairdressing Saloon, roughly 7 minutes away.

One can visit the nearby Al Qasba community to take part in the events and social activities. Maraya Arts Centre hosts many cultural and art-related events and is one of the main attractions in Al Qasba.

All in all, Al Nabba is an excellent area to live in. However, some of the buildings are old, which can pose an issue due to the limited parking spaces inside the premises. However, you can find parking right outside your homes on the street. But often, you may have to travel several blocks away from your home to find parking, which can be a bit of a challenge for residents.

• One of the few waterfront communities
• My City Centre Nasseriya is 6 minutes away
• Al Qasba and Al Majaz Waterfront are 12 minutes away
• 18 minutes away from Sharjah International Airport
• It takes a 20-minute drive to reach University City Sharjah