Central Souk (Blue Souk)
With a wealth of tourist places in Sharjah covering all types of interests and activities, you can pack your itinerary with extraordinary experiences.
When you’re thinking about what to do in Sharjah, the Central Souk should be among your first stops. With a well-known blue tile-trimmed facade - the Central Souk is an iconic landmark on the Sharjah map and is one of the city’s most photographed buildings. This souk is also symbolic of the history of UAE, featuring prominently on the five-dirham note.
With over 600 shops across two levels, you’ll find everything from modern watches and clothing to authentically local trinkets and souvenirs. For decor connoisseurs in particular, the souk is one of the must-do Sharjah tourist places. The upper level has shops featuring arts, crafts and regional specialties like handwoven textiles and intricate carpets and kilims. On the lagoon-side, you’ll find a glittering row of shops dedicated to authentic Bedouin jewelry, precious stones, gold and diamonds. Some craftsmen here can recreate a design based on just a sketch.
Shop windows form a tapestry of colors, inspiring awe for children and adults alike. The Central Souk is an authentic one-stop Middle Eastern shopping experience for every one, and is highly recommended if you travel to Sharjah with family. If you’re thinking of fun things to do with kids, consider buying a handmade toy here. Open till 10 PM daily, the souk is also one of the top places to visit in Sharjah at night.
The souk is centrally located, with the Sharjah corniche just a short walk away and a host of Sharjah museums nearby. Combine your visit to the Central Souk with a trip to the Sharjah Art Foundation or the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization.
Copyright © 2025. Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). All Rights Reserved.
Last modified December 2019
Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority is committed to respecting and handling your Personal Information with care. In this Privacy Policy, we would like to inform you about the way in which we store certain types of data and how we use this data in accordance with data protection legislation. This Privacy Policy applies to both the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority websites (“Sites”) and our MOBILE APP AND/OR OTHER DATA-COLLECTING DIGITAL SERVICES.
What is Personal Information or Personal Data?
This is information that identifies, or can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate, an individual “Personal Information” or “Personal Data”.
What Personal Information do we collect?
Examples of Personal information collected through our Site or Platform may include your name, e-mail address, company name, job title, contact details and company address.
How and When do we collect Personal Information?
You are free to explore our Site without providing any Personal Information about yourself. We collect information from you when you sign up for a Platform or when you elect to view/download our thought leadership content, respond to a survey, or fill out a form on our Site. When you provide Personal Information to us, we ask if you want to receive future marketing information and communication from us. You can absolutely choose to opt out of this communication. In the event you have previously enrolled in receiving communications, you can choose to opt out by emailing a request to privacy@sharjahtourism.ae or by clicking on the unsubscribe link in any email communication.
How do we use your Personal Information?
Information Collected through our Site: We may use the Personal Information we collect from you via our Site in the following ways:
Information Collected through our Platform: We use the Personal Information collected through our Platform from you for the following purposes:
We will only use your Personal Information for the purposes for which we collected it, unless we reasonably consider that we need to use it for another reason and that reason is compatible with the original purpose. If you wish to get an explanation as to how the processing for the new purpose is compatible with the original purpose, please contact us using the contact details at the end of this Privacy Notice.
If we need to use your Personal Information for an unrelated purpose, we will notify you and we will explain the legal basis which allows us to do so.
Data retention
We only store your Personal Information for as long as it is necessary to fulfill the above-mentioned purposes or until you object to the data processing. Thereafter, the data will be deleted or blocked if the deletion conflicts with statutory provisions or legitimate interests. A legitimate interest exists regarding the assertion, exercise or defense of legal claims.
To determine the appropriate retention period for Personal Information, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the Personal Information, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure of your Personal Information, the purposes for which we process your Personal Information and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal requirements.
Security of your Personal Information
We use a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your Personal Information from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. We secure the Personal Information you provide on computer servers in a controlled, secure environment, protected from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. All Personal Information is protected using appropriate physical, technical and organizational measures.
We have put in place procedures to deal with any suspected Personal Information breach and will notify you and any applicable regulator of a breach where we are legally required to do so. Click here if you wish to know more about our CRM’s data protection procedures.
Legal Basis for use of Personal Information
Site:
When we collect information about you through our Site, the legal basis on which we process your Personal Information is our legitimate interests, namely, to provide you with research and thought leadership information and the related marketing of our offerings.
Lead Generation campaigns
When we collect information about you through our Lead Generation campaigns, the legal basis on which we process your Personal Information is the performance of a contractual agreement.
Do we use ‘cookies’?
Yes. Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computer’s hard drive through your Web browser (if you allow) that enables the site’s or service provider’s systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information. They are also used to help us understand your preferences based on previous or current site activity, which enables us to provide you with improved services. We also use cookies to help us compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and
We use cookies to:
You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through your browser settings. Each browser is a little different, so look at your browser’s Help menu to learn the correct way to modify your cookies.
If you disable cookies, some features will be disabled. It won’t affect the user experience.
Website:
When you visit our Website, we will ask your permission to enable cookies.
Who we Share your Information With
Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authoritydoes not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your Personal Information. This does not include website hosting partners and other parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or serving our users, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential and treat it in accordance with the law. Where any such parties process your Personal Information on our behalf, they are only permitted to do so in accordance with our instructions. We may also release information when its release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others’ rights, property or safety.
However, non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.
Google
We along with third-party vendors, such as Google use first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookies) and third-party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) or other third-party identifiers together to compile data regarding user interactions with ad impressions and other ad service functions as they relate to our Site.
Opting out:
Users can set preferences for how Google advertises to you using the Google Ad Settings page. Alternatively, you can opt out by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page or permanently using the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser add-on.
Rights for EEA Residents
If you are a resident of the EEA, the new European Union law, called the General Data Protection Regulation or “GDPR” gives certain rights to individuals in relation to their Personal Data. Accordingly, we have implemented additional transparency to help users take advantage of those rights. As available and except as limited under applicable law, the rights afforded to individuals are:
As an affected person, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. The supervisory authority that files the complaint will notify you of the status and outcome of your complaint, including the possibility of a judicial remedy.
Please email us at privacy@sharjahtourism.ae for assistance with any of the above items.
How does our site handle do not track signals?
We honor do not track signals and do not track, plant cookies, or use advertising when a Do Not Track (DNT) browser mechanism is in place.
Does our site allow third-party behavioral tracking?
It’s also important to note that we do not allow third-party behavioral tracking.
Fair Information Practices
The Fair Information Practices Principles form the backbone of privacy law in the United States and the concepts they include have played a significant role in the development of data protection laws around the globe. Understanding the Fair Information Practice Principles and how they should be implemented is critical to comply with the various privacy laws that protect Personal Information.
In order to be in line with Fair Information Practices we will take the following responsive action, should a data breach occur:
CAN SPAM Act
The CAN-SPAM Act is a law that sets the rules for commercial email, establishes requirements for commercial messages, gives recipients the right to have emails stopped from being sent to them, and spells out tough penalties for violations.
We collect your email address in order to:
Send information, respond to inquiries, and/or other requests or questions.
To be in accordance with CANSPAM we agree to the following:
If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, you can click here.
Follow the instructions at the bottom of each email. And we will promptly remove you from ALL correspondence.
Transfers of Your Personal Data to Other Countries
Our operations are supported by a network of computers, cloud-based servers, and other infrastructure and information technology, including, but not limited to, third-party service providers. We and our third-party service providers store and process your Personal Data in the UAE and elsewhere in the world. We will protect your information as described in this Privacy Policy if your Personal Data is transferred to other countries by using appropriate safeguards. By using our Site and/or Platform, you consent to your Personal Data being transferred to other countries, including countries that have different data protection rules than your country. We do not represent that our Sites and our MOBILE APP AND/OR OTHER DATA-COLLECTING DIGITAL SERVICESare appropriate or available in any particular jurisdiction.
If you would like more information regarding the specific mechanism used by us when transferring your Personal Data outside of the EEA, please email us at privacy@sharjahtourism.ae.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may occasionally make changes to this Privacy Policy.
When we make material changes to this Privacy Policy, we’ll provide you with notice as appropriate under the circumstances, e.g., by displaying a prominent notice within the Site, Platform or by sending you an email. We may notify you in advance.
Please, therefore, make sure you read any such notice carefully.
Contacting Us
If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy you may contact us by e-mailing us at privacy@sharjahtourism.ae.
This website is a Website of Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Department Authority whose registered office is at PO Box 26661, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates ("SCTDA").
This Website contains texts, data, graphics, photographs, illustrations, artwork, names, logos, trademarks, service marks and information connected with SCTDA (”Information”).
SCTDA attempts to ensure Information is accurate, however Information is provided "AS IS" and on an "AS AVAILABLE" basis and may not be accurate or up to date. Information on this Website may or may not have been prepared by SCTDA but is made available without responsibility on the part of SCTDA.
SCTDA does not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of the Website or any of the Information.
No responsibility is accepted by or on behalf of SCTDA for any errors, omissions, or inaccurate Information on the Website.
No action should be taken or omitted to be taken in reliance upon Information on this Website. We accept no liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. Certain files of Information are available for download from the Website. These files of Information are subject to these terms.
1-Introduction1.1 This Disclaimer applies to the entire contents of the Website. Please read these terms carefully before using the Website. By accessing any part of the Website, you shall be deemed to have accepted this Disclaimer in full. If you do not accept this Disclaimer in full, you must leave the Website immediately.
1.2 SCTDA may revise this Disclaimer at any time by updating this posting. You should check the Website from time to time to review the then current Disclaimer, because it is binding on you. Certain provisions of this Disclaimer may be superseded by expressly designated Disclaimers or terms located on particular pages at the Website.
1.3 Information on the Website is not offered as advice on any particular matter and must not be treated as a substitute for specific advice. In particular Information on the Website does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice and must not be used as a basis for making decisions in these respects and is in no way intended, directly or indirectly, as an attempt to market or sell any type of product or service. Advice from a suitably qualified professional should always be sought in relation to any particular matter or circumstances.
1.4 Any unauthorized use of any Materials contained on this Website may violate copyright laws, trademark laws, the laws of privacy and publicity, and communications regulations and statutes.
2-License2.1 You are permitted to print and download extracts from the Website for your own use on the following basis:
no documents or related graphics and/or Sonics on the Website are modified in any way; and
no graphics on the Website are used separately from the corresponding text; and
the SCTDA’s copyrights and trade mark notices and this permission notice appear in all copies
This permission to recopy does not extend to incorporation of the material or any part of it in any work or publication, whether in hard copy or electronic or any other form. In particular (but without limitation) no part of the SCTDA Website may be distributed or copied for any commercial purpose. No part of the SCTDA Website may be reproduced on or transmitted to or stored in any other Website or other form of electronic retrieval system.
2.2 Unless otherwise stated, the copyright and other intellectual property rights in all material on the Website (including without limitation photographs, Sonics and graphical images) are owned by the SCTDA or its licensors. For the purposes of this Disclaimer, any use of extracts from the Website other than in accordance with clause 2.1 for any purpose is prohibited. If you breach any of the terms in this Disclaimer, your permission to use the Website automatically terminates and you must immediately destroy any downloaded or printed extracts from the website.
2.3 Subject to clause 2.1, no part of the Website may be reproduced or stored in any other website or included in any public or private electronic retrieval system or service without the SCTDA’s prior written permission.
2.4 Any rights not expressly granted in these terms are reserved.
3-Service Access3.1 While SCTDA endeavors to ensure that the Website is normally available 24 hours a day, SCTDA shall not be liable if for any reason the Website is unavailable at any time or for any period.
3.2 Access to the Website may be suspended temporarily and without notice in the case of system failure, maintenance or repair or for reasons beyond SCTDA’s control.
4-Third Party Contents Disclaimer And Links To And From Other Websites4.1 SCTDA is not responsible for any third party website or website content (including, without limitation, any advertising appearing therein) which can be accessed through this Website. SCTDA includes links to other websites for information purposes only and makes no representation whatsoever about any such link, website or content. SCTDA has not reviewed all of these third party websites and does not control and is not responsible for these websites or their content or availability. SCTDA therefore does not endorse or make any representations about them, or any material found there, or any results that may be obtained from using them. If you decide to access any of the third party websites linked to the Website, you do so entirely at your own risk.
4.2 You may not frame, link or deep-link this Website to any other website without the SCTDA’s prior written consent. Should you wish to frame or to set up a link / deep-link to SCTDA’s Website please contact IT Department +971 (6) 5566777
4.3 SCTDA expressly reserves the right to revoke the right granted in clause 4.2. For breach of these terms and to take any action it deems appropriate. You shall fully indemnify SCTDA for any loss or damage suffered by SCTDA or any of its affiliates.
5-Disclaimer5.1 While SCTDA endeavors to ensure that the information on the Website is correct, SCTDA does not warrant the accuracy and completeness of the material on the Website. SCTDA may make changes to the material on the Website, at any time without notice. The material on the Website may be out of date and SCTDA makes no commitment to update such material.
5.2 The material on the Website is provided “as is”, without any conditions, warranties or other terms of any kind. Accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted by law, SCTDA provides you with the Website on the basis that SCTDA excludes all representations, warranties, conditions and other terms (including, without limitation, the conditions implied by law of satisfactory quality, fitness for purpose and the use of reasonable care and skill which, might have effect in relation to the Website.
6-LIABILITY6.1 All warranties, including but not limited to the warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security and accuracy are excluded from these terms to the extent that they may be excluded as a matter of law. Further, SCTDA does not warrant that the Website will be uninterrupted or error free or that any defects will be corrected.
6.2 To the extent permitted by applicable law, SCTDA expressly disclaims all liability howsoever arising whether in contract, tort or deceit, or otherwise (including, but not limited to, liability for any negligent act or omissions) to any person in respect of any claims or losses of any nature, arising directly or indirectly from: (i) anything done or the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this Website; and (ii) the use of any data or materials on this Website or unauthorized access to this Website or otherwise.
6.3 SCTDA will not be responsible for any of SCTDA’s breach of these Terms caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control.
7-Computer VirusesWhilst SCTDA use reasonable endeavors to protect this Website from computer viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses (the “Viruses”), SCTDA do not warrant that the Website is free from such Viruses and bears no liability for any damage that may result from the transmission of any Viruses via this Website or via any files which are available to download from the Website.
