Top Souks in Sharjah: Central Souk, Souk Al Arsah & More

While shopping malls in Sharjah have everything you need, from the latest trends to the biggest brands, they don’t compare to the charm of shopping in local markets. Souks in Sharjah bring you a unique shopping experience and with their boisterous bazaars and unique products.

Top Souks in Sharjah

Sharjah souks have been paramount to developing tourism in the emirate. These market places are a vibrant hub where both residents and tourists can experience local food, culture and people. But apart from all that, Sharjah souqs are great for shopping, especially if you’re looking for cheap, quirky items that you can haggle for. Love a good bargain? Visit the best souks in Sharjah to discover some hidden gems.

Souk Al Arsah

Souk Al Arsah is popularly known as the Old Bazaar in Sharjah. This is one of the oldest marketplaces in the UAE, with its history dating 50 years back to the Bedouin days. The souk is air-conditioned and an experience in itself. Besides the shopping, there is tons of history and culture to explore, including a small coffee shop selling traditional Sulaimani and Arabic coffee.

On the inside, the souk has a central courtyard surrounded by shops that sell a myriad of items. You can buy traditional clothes, semi-precious stones, traditional hand-made jewellery, medicinal herbs and some quirky décor items. Haggle your way around this Sharjah souk to find some really cheap bargains. This place is great if you’re looking for affordable wood, brass and silver antiques.

Location: Al Sharq Street, Opposite Old Souk, Shuwaihean
Timings: 09:00 am to 01:00 pm, 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm
Contact: 800-80000

Central Souk Sharjah

The Central Souk, originally named Souq al Markazi and popularly called Blue Souk, has been around for more than three decades. The gorgeous building which dates back to 1976 sports patterned blue tiles that will catch the attention of anyone passing by – even if they have no intention to shop. Like all other souks in Sharjah, the Blue Souk has its unique charm when it comes to shopping.

Fully air-conditioned, the souk, which comprises of two identical buildings, oozes grandeur and balances the ambience of a between a traditional market in a modern setup. You can find almost everything here including cosmetics, clothes, perfumes, household items and electronics. But the place is ideal if you’re looking for gold jewellery. With more than 600 shops housed within and a plethora of products for sale, shopping in Blue Souk is one of the top things to do in Sharjah.

Location: King Faisal Street, Al Buhairah Corniche
Timings: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | Fridays 05:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Contact: +971-6-556-6777

Souk Saqr

Next on our list of souks in Sharjah is the Iranian Souk. The locals call it Souq Saqr. Located not too far from the Central Souq, the Sharjah Iranian Souq is part of the Heart of Sharjah heritage district. This quaint traditional bazaar has wooden doors leading into shops that preserve the aged legacy of the place.

As you walk through the naturally lit bazaar and concrete pavements, you’ll notice the cultural strength of Sharjah binding together into a shopping experience like no other. It’s like walking through a page out of history. This place is great for artists, history buffs and bargain seekers. The shops here sell a variety of products, including spices, antiques, handicrafts, traditional clothing and art.

Location: Heart of Sharjah
Timings: 09:00 am to 09:00 pm | Friday 04:00 pm to 09:00 pm
Contact: +971-6-511-2555

Souq Al Juma

handwoven rugs — Great rugs at great prices, Souk Al Juma is definitely worth a visit

Unlike other souks in Sharjah, Souk al Juma is located on the outskirts of the city. Most people stop by at this intriguing bazaar on their way to Mleiha Archaeological Center. This market is particularly popular among tourists because of its location. Souq Al Juma is also commonly known as the Fujairah Market, Friday Market and the Masafi Market.

But don’t be fooled by the name. This souk in Sharjah is open all week with shops that sell a variety of antiques, souvenirs, earthenware and more. Their most spectacular sellers are the intricately woven carpets from Pakistan, Kashmir and Afghanistan. Besides all that, there are roadside stalls selling fruits, vegetables, roasted corn, fried nuts and a ton of other things. The best part is, you can haggle all you want to land a good bargain.

Location: E8, Al Dhaid Masafi Road
Timings: 08:00 am to 10:00 pm

Souq Al Jubail

Popularly known as the Sharjah Fish Market, Souq Al Jubail brings you the freshest catch from the sea. This bustling market place is swarmed with buyers and vendors who share the love of seafood for different reasons – buyers looking for the best catch and vendors competing for the best deal. This is one place where you can find an exciting variety of seafood in Sharjah at fairly attractive prices.

Visitors should note that the prices for fish and everything else in Souk Al Jubail are fixed. Besides the usual buyers and sellers, there is a section where uniformed men go about their work of cutting and cleaning the fish. There is another section that sells meat and poultry in addition to the fruit and vegetable shops.

Location: Opposite Al Jubail Bus Station, Corniche St
Timings: 06:30 am to 10:30 pm | Fridays 06:00 am to 11:30 am, 01:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Contact: +971-6-597-2444

Old Bazaar Sharjah — Sharjah’s Old Bazaar has an unparalleled quaint charm that lures shoppers to it

Have many of these popular souks in Sharjah have you visited? Tell us all about the things that intrigued you the most about them.

If you love shopping at such conventional markets, you might want to explore the hustle and bustle of the souks in Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, Souk Al Qaryat Al Beri is definitely worth visiting.

That’s all we have for you now on the souks in Sharjah. Stay tuned for more on MyBayut.