Sharjah City Sightseeing Tour - The Pearl of the Gulf

After pickup from your Dubai hotel, drive just 25 minutes north to Sharjah, the third-largest city in the United Arab Emirates, perched on the Persian Gulf.

Visit Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn Sharjah), a renovated fortification originally constructed in 1820 as the royal residence for Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi. A masterpiece of traditional Arab architecture, the fort has withstood many social, political, commercial and military developments and changes in the region. Today it is open to the public as a museum.

A highlight of your tour is Faisal Mosque, the largest of the 300 mosques in the emirate of Sharjah, sprawling over 39,370 square feet (12,000 sq m).

Continue to the Sharjah Heritage Museum, which gives you unique insight into Arab culture. Each gallery focuses on a different aspect of local life, including religious values, marriage celebrations, burial rituals and desert life.

Take time to wander the adjacent market, Souq Al Arsah, one of the oldest souks in the country. Where traders from Persia, India and surrounding Arab nations would once stock up on supplies, now you'll find local vendors selling artisan goods such as pashminas, dallahs (coffee pots), herbs, spices and jewelry to tourists. It's a great place to pick up some authentic wares.

If nothing here quite catches your eye, you'll have another chance to get souvenirs at Souq Al Markazi, a treasure trove of Middle Eastern carpets, jewelry and handicrafts.

You'll be returned to your Dubai hotel to conclude your tour.