How is living in Sharjah different from living in Dubai?

 You have heard several things about the UAE but this article tends to clarify your idea about Sharjah and Dubai. Amongst things, you will learn are the lifestyle, economy, and cultural differences of these provinces.

Article lifted from Quora by Sandeep Mehta

How is living in Sharjah different from living in Dubai?

SHARJAH is one of the Emirate of United Arab Emirates and is a wonderful city.

Like all cities are not same, Sharjah and Dubai are not same and have distinct differences

Dubai is very cosmopolitan and has lots of international business and huge global investment which gives it quite a bigger advantage than in Sharjah.

If you have to ever compare, then you compare Dubai with global city like Singapore or Shanghai, if you compare facilities like metro rail and infrastructure.

For me Sharjah is a satellite city, grown primarily on the growth of Dubai and cannot be directly compared to Dubai.

Well instead of comparing the both, I can highlight the key aspects of differences in living in both cities

1. Rent : is comparable much lower in Sharjah e.g A good 3 bedroom apartment of 2000 square feet area costs 50, 000 AED / Year while it will get you a 1 bedroom apartment in Dubai of 700 Sq feet. If you are family of four, you decide.
2. Clubs , Nightlife , Alcohol and M Parlours: These are non existent as this city is developed as “Family city” rather “business city” over last two decades, sorry no disco dancing here.
3. Art Culture and Museum: Sharjah has over 20 permanent museum, has festival of Arts , has light shows Annually which is so popular, has many literature events where global personalities attend such event , Almost each suburb has large family only parks, There is annual Book fair which is attended by tens of thousand and the city Architecture is so rich and different with architectural marvellous buildings in Sharjah
4. Family Life: Every area of Sharjah has Family only building which is not possible in Dubai, this is advantageous for many a people who believe in Family social activities rather clubs and disco.
5. Crime : Since the law of land has no alcohol served, virtually there is zero crime and it has very effective sharjah police network, as good as any police network of UAE (without off course Lamborghini like Dubai police has)
6. Every facilities of Dubai or ABUDHABI Like big branded Hospitals, Large Mega Shopping Malls, cinema multiplex, Air Arabia (Sharjah’s own airline) International Airport, Taxi services, Limosine services, Bus network and central bus Station, Big green Parks, Postal office, Ports, Marina, Corniche, Boulevard, Skyscrapers and skyline, Waterpark, Theme Park, Giant Wheels, Car Showrooms, Church, Private Temple, Public Library , Street Shopping, Mini Malls, and all the facilities of developed Dubai are available in Sharjah.
7. Transportation: Can’t compares with Dubai but Sharjah city has more cars per 100 people than over 200 global cities and more road per 100 cars than over 200 cities. There is a taxi and a bus network but no metro network yet. Even ABUDHABI has no metro and Doha, Bahrain and Muscat does not have metro yet.
8. Restaurant: Sharjah has over 250 branded restaurants serving food and specialty from all regions of the world Multi Cuisine, Italian, Lebanese, Iranian, Thai, Mexican, Chinese, Syrian, Arabic, Sudanese, Ethiopian, western (Mac, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut) and off course Indian Cuisine , Vegetarian, Vegan, and speciality restaurant like Bombay Chow patty, Paratha King, Bikaner wala, chappan bhog, sarvana bhavan, kulfilicious, lassi Center, juice world, Haji Ali , Mumbai’s Authentic Marathi Center and vada pav joints. Dubai off course has over 1000 restaurants.
9. Freedom : There is lots of freedom to do without fear as long as law of land is respected and criminal activities are not done and you can have all cultural events e.g As Indian, We have witnessed Diwali Gathering inside functional area for over 2000 Family at Jawar Hall every year, Dandiya for 2000 people at Expo Hall every year, Fireworks during 31st night attendance by 10,000 people every year, Holi celebrations with colours every year , Ganesh visarjan in Sharjah creek every year with over 500 boat bookings, Similarly many nationals have their own Christmas and EID party and China new year celebrations.

Fot all the critics about sharjah:

“Yes, no one remembers the Second American Man who stepped on moon” but “ no one forgets first Russian man in space either “

i have lived in both Dubai and Sharjah and love both of them as much. Both cities have achieved marvellous progress in four decades

living in UAE is so good compared to 42 country I have traveled. UAE is presently my home.