Like most of UAE, Sharjah is a safe place to live. There are villa compounds and a choice of apartments ranging from basic to luxury. Sharjah is a large sprawling city with alot of traffic passing through and to/from the industrial areas.
For shopping there is Carrefour at Sharjah City Centre Mall where you can also find a variety of high street shops including H&M. At Mega Mall there is Mango, Bodyshop, Zara, Starbucks and much more. Sahara Center mall is on the border towards Dubai, where you find a Spinneys that sells pork in a separate area.
Sharjah is inhabited by many locals therefore making the dress code more conservative: knee length trousers/skirts for the ladies and covering the shoulders. There are several parks which have family or ladies days only. Green Belt Ladies Park is located beside Cultural roundabout, which is exclusivly for women and children upto 10. Inside there is fitness equipment and many women there exercising or sitting on the grass chatting. Exercising around the outside perimeter is popular with the men or couples (yes, you will see Western females in sleeveless tops jogging there) Men do wear shorts, but the long style down to the knee. You will see plenty of guys around the malls and streets in these (including my husband)!
There is an expat sports club which promotes rugby, football, tennis and GAA Gaelic sport.
Sharjah has 2 golf courses, a 9hole grass course at the Golf and Shooting Club and an 18hole sand course on Emirates Road past Sharjah airport. There is a mixed gym and ladies only gym with fitness classes at the Golf & Shooting club and at the Ladies Club.
No nightclubs in Sharjah, but you only need to travel a short distance to either Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah or Dubai (both between 30-45minutes drive)
The main English speaking schools are Sharjah English School,Victoria English School or the Australian School. A full list of education places shown at: www.bayut.com UAE Directory UAE Schools
There are several hospitals both government and private, service is good there. An abundance of dentists, banks, shops, tailors, supermarkets, 1dirham shops, plenty for everyone and every budget!
You can play music in your car and your home (when we came to Sharjah in 2007 we were told music was banned)
Hope this gives you an insight into Sharjah. Come and experience for yourself rather than listen to 'hearsay'!
