The Blue Souq gets its name from the tiles, not the merchandise. Completed in 1978 across roughly 80,000 square metres, its twin barrel-vaulted buildings carry more than 600 shops under a skyline of 20 windtowers, all sheathed in the blue tilework that gave it its nickname — and the building is famous enough locally to appear on the UAE’s five-dirham note. It sits right on Khalid Lagoon, at its best seen across the water at sunset.
Best explored on foot, Al Qasimia rewards a wander among the markets and old lanes, as part of our main Sharjah guide.
Updated: July 2026 — by Monica Bonalto
Getting your bearings in Al Qasimia
The district sits at the heart of old Sharjah, close to the Blue Souq, the Heart of Sharjah heritage quarter and the corniche.
Where to eat in Al Qasimia
Traditional eateries and no-frills local favourites are the draw, with the souks close at hand for a bite between browsing.
Things to do in Al Qasimia
The Heart of Sharjah heritage quarter and the emirate’s cluster of museums are all within easy reach of the souq, and much of it is low-cost — see free things to do across the UAE.
A base among the old lanes
Central hotels put the souks, heritage area and corniche within walking distance.
Central and walkable, best in the evening
Central and walkable in parts, with taxis covering the wider area; under an hour from Dubai. The cooler months and the evenings are best for the souks and heritage lanes.
Around Al Qasimia
Al Qasimia works best as a central, well-connected base: you’re minutes from Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Qasba for family evenings out, and its own parks, mosques and budget dining make it an everyday, local corner of the city rather than a tourist strip.
The wider emirate, just beyond the souks
Head back to the main Sharjah guide to explore more of the emirate.
Top things to do around Al Qasimia
- The Blue Souq — right at hand for browsing and a bite between shops.
- Heart of Sharjah heritage quarter — the old-city restoration district sitting just next door.
- The corniche — Khalid Lagoon’s waterside walk, an easy add-on to a Qasimia stop.
Is Al Qasimia worth visiting on its own?
It’s better treated as part of a wider old-Sharjah stop — the district itself is mostly residential, but it sits right beside the Blue Souq, Heart of Sharjah and the corniche, so it works well folded into a visit to those.