Sharjah Aquarium

Set on the waterfront at Al Khan, Sharjah Aquarium offers an engaging look at the marine life of the UAE’s seas and beyond. Run by the Sharjah Museums Authority, it spreads across two floors with 21 tanks holding around 1.8 million litres of water, home to roughly 100 species, from clownfish and seahorses to moray eels, rays and reef sharks.

The displays move from shallow coastal habitats to deeper reef environments, giving children and adults a clear sense of how varied local waters are. The aquarium also runs a turtle rehabilitation programme for sick and injured sea turtles, a reminder of its conservation role. If your timing works, you can watch scheduled feeding sessions: the main tank is usually fed at 10am from Saturday to Thursday, and shark feeding currently takes place on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays from 1pm to 1.30pm. A touch pool and weekend drop-in workshops for children aged 6 to 12 add a hands-on element.

Two visits in one

Your ticket is a joint admission that also covers the Sharjah Maritime Museum next door, where traditional dhows, pearling tools and fishing heritage tell the story of the emirate’s relationship with the sea. Together they make a well-rounded, family-friendly outing, ideal for a hot afternoon.

Facilities include a café, museum shop, prayer room, baby-changing and wheelchair access.