Sharjah Airport
Lasting Impressions....
Memorable comments left by travellers:
"Its the most PATHETIC airport I have ever seen in my life. Airports in India are much better." (Ted)
"Airport staff was rude, they treat all passengers as if they are labourers. " (Ted)
"Never Ever Transit this Pathetic Airport unless you are game for Torture!!!!!!!!" (Ted)
"Immigration wanted me to give an Iris recognition sample for their database – a somewhat unsavoury surprise. At first I declined and headed back to the terminal, but I got bored and changed my mind." (jbfield)
FEATURED REVIEWS
by surejb, 11/15/2009
Flew thru this place twice, both entailing stays of more than 8 hours. The budget airline Air Arabia has its hub here...
The place is run by a staff who are the most arrogant and racist workforce in the Middle-East. Arabs are renowned for their hospitality esp. in Bahrain Oman Al Ain Ras Al Khaimah etc...but the HR guys must have recruited the most racist people to staff the airport.
I actually saw a staff use his feet to awaken (can say kick) an Afghani worker who was napping on the floor. The airport is mainly used by labourers from the Sub-continet, Far-East North Africans etc. So they dont cater to the western diaspora of UAE, which means they can run the place like a prison.
Everything from check in to boarding is deplorable and appalling. Passengers are treated like animals
The place stinks.
The common use toilets are worse than ones in train stations in Lahore.
The only relief is the pay and use lounge which is atleast staffed by humans and the toilets showers and bathrooms are clean.
Not much food choices, but atleast better than having to spend time in the common area. The common area doesn't have many amenities for spending the night.
you'll have to stretch out on the unclean floor if you really want to doze. Never travel thru this airport if it involves for more than an hour of transit
by Alexander
All UAE nationals (arabs) working at the airport are extremely rude and absolutely unhelpful. The worst part is passport control, eye scan and customs. Arabic girls (barely 20 y/o) on passport control instead of doing their work properly just sitting there and loudly chatting with each other sending whoever's face they do not like for eye scan, so after waiting in line at passport control I had to go back and line up for eye scan. Again UAE nationals on eye scan were very rude cracking some not funny at all and quite offensive jokes. And then the same with customs. Only Indians and Filipinos working there are friendly and helpful but unfortunately they aren't working at Passport Control, Eye Scan and Customs. So if someone wants to be a kinda humiliated - Welcome to Sharjah International Airport.
Airport Guide
Here is some information that we've picked out of from your reviews. Be sure to read the review pages for the most up-to-date experiences:
- be prepared to participate in "Iris recognition" program
- no comfortable chairs, except for a few broken massage chairs
- rude staff
- AC may not be working
- smells bad
- sleeping in the prayer room is not permitted
Discount Travel Links
- Hostels and Budget Accommodation in Sharjah - I've booked my own accommodation on this site. If you are too old for hostels and too cheap for hotels, like me, you'll find some good properties. They offer dorms, private rooms, B&Bs, Apartments.
