Sharjah is the third-largest of the seven emirates of the UAE. It is ruled by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi. The emirate covers about 2,590 sq km and had a population of roughly 2.1 million in 2025. It is the only emirate with land on both the Arabian Gulf coast and the Gulf of Oman, and it shares a border with every other emirate. Three exclaves lie on the east coast: Khor Fakkan, Kalba and Dibba Al-Hisn.
Sharjah is widely regarded as the cultural capital of the UAE. It was named Capital of Islamic Culture in 2014 and UNESCO World Book Capital in 2019, and it places great weight on education, heritage and the arts.
Sharjah has a diversified, mostly non-oil economy. Its GDP reached AED 145.2 billion in 2023, a rise of 6.5%, and non-oil sectors made up AED 142.5 billion of that total. Wholesale and retail trade (including motor vehicles) was the largest contributor at about 24%, followed by manufacturing at about 16.7%. Construction and real estate are also major sectors, and the emirate is known for industry, trading and logistics. Sharjah also produces natural gas, which supplies local power and water needs.
Agriculture remains part of the picture. The Dhaid area is the best-known oasis region, where a variety of vegetables and fruits are grown.
Education is a priority for the emirate. University City in Sharjah hosts the University of Sharjah, which had over 21,000 students in the 2025 autumn semester, along with other well-known universities, research centres and the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park.
Sharjah International Airport is the third-busiest airport in the UAE and the home base of Air Arabia. In 2025 it handled a record 19.48 million passengers and 116,657 flights, with connections to more than 100 destinations, and an expansion programme is under way.
The emirate has three seaports. Port Khalid and Hamriyah Port are on the Arabian Gulf coast, and Khor Fakkan Port is on the Gulf of Oman. Khor Fakkan is an important container and transshipment port for ships that do not need to enter the Gulf.
Sharjah combines culture and family leisure. The Corniche and Khalid Lagoon area, the Al Qasba canal, modern shopping malls, traditional souks and a large network of museums and cultural centres attract visitors, and the Heart of Sharjah heritage district hosts exhibitions and workshops. The Sharjah International Book Fair is one of the largest book fairs in the world. On the east coast, the quiet towns of Khor Fakkan and Kalba offer beaches, mountains and a break from city life, and the new Khor Fakkan Resort opened in 2026.
In 2025 Sharjah's 102 hotels welcomed about 2.1 million guests and earned roughly AED 780 million in hotel revenue. Russia and India were the biggest source markets.
Sharjah has several free zones, each focused on a different sector:
Some sources also list Sharjah Healthcare City and the USA Regional Trade Center as free zones, so the exact number depends on the source.