What's on in Sharjah
United Arab Emirates · 8 events coming up
Next up in Sharjah
- Thu26Nov
- Tue8Dec
- Mon11Jan 2027
- Wed27Jan 2027
- Sat30Jan 2027
- Wed3Feb 2027
Business events in Sharjah
Sharjah, next door to Dubai, has a focused business events calendar shaped by the emirate's strengths in publishing, education, manufacturing and small business. Its best-known gathering is the Sharjah International Book Fair season, which brings the Sharjah Publishers Conference and the Sharjah International Library Conference, and the city also hosts trade shows for furniture and interiors, surface finishes, steel fabrication, metalworking, mobility and construction, plus an entrepreneurship festival backed by the emirate's startup community. Almost all exhibitions take place at Expo Centre Sharjah, on the Al Khan lagoon close to the Dubai border, while innovation and research events use the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park. The season runs from autumn to spring. Sharjah International Airport has many direct flights, and Dubai International Airport is also nearby, but road traffic between Dubai and Sharjah is heavy at commuting hours, so allow extra time. Hotels in Sharjah are usually cheaper than in Dubai, which makes it a practical base for shows in both cities.
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Frequently asked questions about events in Sharjah
- What is the main exhibition venue in Sharjah?
- Expo Centre Sharjah hosts almost all of the emirate's trade exhibitions and the Sharjah International Book Fair, with its professional programme for publishers and librarians. It sits near the Al Khan lagoon, close to the Dubai border. Research and innovation events also use the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park.
- Which industries are strongest at Sharjah's business events?
- Publishing and libraries lead, through the book fair season and its professional conferences. Manufacturing and construction follow, with shows for furniture, surfaces and finishes, steel and metalworking, and mobility. Education and entrepreneurship are also strong, reflecting the emirate's universities and its active startup support.
- Is it practical to stay in Sharjah for events in Dubai?
- It can be. Sharjah hotels are generally cheaper, and Dubai World Trade Centre is a short drive away outside peak hours. At morning and evening rush hours, though, traffic on the roads between the two cities can add an hour or more each way. For Expo City Dubai, a hotel in southern Dubai is usually the better choice.
- Do I need a visa to attend a conference in the UAE?
- Citizens of GCC countries need no visa, and visitors from many other countries, including the UK, the US and most of Europe, receive a free visit visa on arrival. Others need a visit visa arranged before travel, usually through an airline, a hotel, a UAE company or the event organizer. Rules and eligible nationalities change, so check the official ICP or GDRFA Dubai websites before you book.
Guides to Sharjah
Business events in Sharjah: what is worth attending in 2026–27
Sharjah's 2026–27 business events: SteelFab, ACRES and the other Expo Centre Sharjah shows, getting there from Dubai, and how they compare.
Finance and fintech events in the UAE in 2026–27: which to attend
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Technology events in the UAE: how to choose the right one in 2026–27
The UAE's 2026–27 technology events by audience, cost and format: GITEX Global, the AI and data centre events, GISEC and how to choose.