Sharjah Souqs

A souq (or souk), is like a market place housing a variety of shops often selling the same thing. For example in Dubai, there's the famous Gold Souq and the neighbouring Spice Souq.

Sometime during the Eid holidays last week, we visited some of the souqs in Sharjah. Sharjah, neighbouring Dubai, is 1 of the 7 emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. It's a dry state meaning no alcohol whatsoever may enter the region and it also has a decency law - so no traipsing around town in your bikini here!

...Central Park in Sharjah...

We walked through a lovely park to get to the Central Souq. The park was full of people basking in the mid-winter afternoon sun. Walking on the grass under the trees felt really good.

...looking out from a window in the Central Souq...

...Outside of the Central Souq, Sharjah...

The architecture like many other buildings in Dubai and the UAE, is amazing. The Central Souq is huge - it is the largest in Sharjah and comprises of 2 buildings joint by undercover pedestrian bridges (also housing more shops). Here, you will find sections selling carpets, antiques, art, clothes, souvenirs and of course, gold!

...Gold shops inside the Central Souq, Sharjah...

...View of Sharjah city over the Khaled lagoon outside the Central Souq...

...The Central Souq lit up at night...

We took a short walk near the Central Souq by the Khaled lagoon and stumbled across the Fish Souq. I'd never seen a fish market open at night let alone bustling with people! The fish were so fresh they were still alive.

...Fish Souq, Sharjah...

Next to the Fish Souq, is a Fruit and Vegetable Souq and next to that is a Meat Souq. We walked through the Fruit and Veg Souq but gave the Meat Souq a miss! On the way back to the car, we saw a sign for the Animal Souq which I wanted to see.

We walked down a whole street of shops selling hay, cages, aquariums and the like before we got to the actual animal souq. You can actually smell it before you get to it, and inside are more birds and chickens than you can imagine. Not exactly the place I wanted to be in the height of bird flu, but I had to take a quick look.

There was quite a wide variety of animals such as peacocks, deer, dogs, cats, lizards, squirrels, roosters, rabbits, guinea pigs and other exotic birds and fish. As I'd expected, it's a little sad to see these creatures couped up in tiny cages but I guess it's all part of the experience.