Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization

About this place

Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization occupies a former souq building and presents manuscripts, scientific instruments, coins, ceramics and art from across the Islamic world. The displays place the Emirates within broader histories of faith, scholarship, technology and trade. A visitor can use the collections to connect individual objects with larger changes in Emirati life: oasis farming, pearling, dhow trade, household work, education, government and the transition after oil. Read dates and provenances closely and compare reconstructions with original artefacts, photographs and oral testimony. This makes the museum useful historical evidence rather than a display of attractive antiques. Exhibitions and opening arrangements can change, so check the official venue information before planning a journey.