Sleeping in Airports

Sharjah Airport Guide

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Sharjah Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit.  Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

Its the most PATHETIC airport I have ever seen in my life. Airports in India are much better. – Ted

SHJ Airport Hotels

To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Sharjah International Airport.

What to Expect

The small, outdated terminal at Sharjah Airport (code: SHJ) handles Middle Eastern and Asian traffic. Travellers report crowded areas, dirty bathrooms, poor customer service, and no comfortable seating. Facilities include a variety of local and Western eateries (all are 24 hours!) as well as duty-free and retail shops. Free WiFi helps pass the time. Economy class passengers can pay to enter an airport lounge that has showers. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for location and access information.

Sharjah Airport guide
(Photo courtesy of a Guest Reviewer / 08Oct2018)

Sleeping in Sharjah Airport

Many travellers have spent the night here but they sure aren’t happy about it. Seats have armrests and are made of hard plastic, so most sleepers wind up on the uncarpeted floor. A sleeping bag or travel mat is very useful. Consider paying for a room or staying in the city center. For uninterrupted sleep, an Airport Transit Hotel rents day and overnight rooms. Other hotels are located in walking distance. See our Airport Hotels section below for more info or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips.

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s web site for current information.  For more airport information continue scrolling down to explore more in our Sharjah Airport Guide.

In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.  For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.

airport loungeAirport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

If you are an economy class traveller, you can enter this lounge at Sharjah airport through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and to also find out how you can gain lounge access with just an economy class ticket!

  • First & Business Class Lounge – Location: Airside, 1st Floor, Transit Area. Showers are available. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at Door • Lounge membership programs.
  • The Lounge – Location:  Terminal 1, Airside, Departures.  Showers are available.  Hours: open 24 hours.  Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.

Related Pages: Sharjah Airport Lounges

airport hotelsAirport Hotels

If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Sharjah Airport:

  • Airport Transit Hotel – Located within the airport, this hotel has 13 rooms, some private and some for sharing. The hotel has 24-hour room service, doctor on-call, and laundry service. Each room has a minibar, safety deposit box, hair dryer, and satellite TV. Rates start at AED 110 (1 to 6 hours) • AED 500 for day use (up to 12 hours) and AED 720 for overnight stay, and include breakfast. Day use room without meal is AED 280 (up to 6 hours). Sharing rates start at AED 300 per person per night.  » Check Rates
  • Centro Sharjah – Located adjacent to the airport, within walking distance. No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
  • Sharjah International Airport Hotel – Located opposite the international terminal, within walking distance. No airport shuttle.  » Check Rates

For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels in Sharjah, search deals and read traveller reviews.

wifiAirport WiFi/Internet

Free WiFi is available at the Sharjah Airport.

airport infoMore Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover At The Airport

ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Machines are operated by 8 different banks. Fees may apply, so be sure to check your bank’s fee schedule and your daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: Landside and Airside.

Baby Care Facilities – Nursing rooms can be found throughout the airport.

Banking Services – Emirates NBD has a branch on the 1st floor of the Main Dome. Hours: 8:00AM – 8:00PM.

Business Centre – Offers phone, fax and Internet access. Location: Airside

Children’s Play Area – When you want to ensure your kids burn off all their energy before their flight, take them to the children’s play area. Located Airside, this a supervised playing area, meaning you could go shop or have a bite to eat while your kids play.

Currency Exchange – UAE Exchange, Al Ghurair, Salim Exchange, and Travelex offer exchange services in the airport, with exchange kiosks located throughout the departures and transit areas. Salim Exchange also offers service in the Arrivals area.

Duty Free & Shopping – Dufry duty-free shop is located airside, available to departing and arriving travellers. Retail shops are available throughout the airport.

Food & Drinks – All restaurants are open 24-hours. Some of the food options include: Cafe Med • Chinese House Restaurant • Chocolix • Costa Coffee • Dunkin’ Donuts • Krispy Kreme • London Dairy • McDonald’s • Mumbai Spices • On the Wood • Subway • Urrzza • World News Cafe.

Information Desk  – If you have any questions, there is an information desk to provide assistance!

Luggage Storage & Lockers – Not available.

Luggage Trolleys – Carts are available free of charge.

Medical Services – Urgent and emergency medical care is available landside, 24 hours a day, in the Main Dome.

Mobile Charging – At the time of this update, we did not have any information about mobile charging availability. One reader wrote to tell us there was “not a single outlet anywhere. ”  If you have additional information, click here to update this airport guide.

Pharmacy – Several pharmacies and Pharmashop vending machines can be found throughout the airport.

Prayer Rooms and Mosque – Prayer rooms are available with separate facilities for both men and women. Locations: Main Passenger Terminal transit area • Departures Area (ground floor). Mosques are also available at the airport. Locations: East and West cargo terminals 3 & 4.

Rest Zones – There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Showers – Showers are available in the lounge. [ see Airport Lounges above ]

SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.

Smoking Rooms – Designated smoking rooms are clearly-marked and located conveniently throughout the airport terminal.

Telephones – Free local calls (within Sharjah) can be made from most public phones in the airport. Phones also accept cash or credit card for UAE and international calls.

Travel Agencies – If you are arriving in Sharjah and need local arrangements or help planning a really last minute trip abroad, there is a SATA Travel Agency (Main Terminal) that can probably be of assistance.

airport hoursAirport Hours

The airport is open 24 hours.

airlinesAirlines

Sharjah airport is served by the following airlines: Air Arabia • Air China • Airblue • Air India • Cham Wings • Egyptair • Emirates • IndiGo • PIA • Pegasus Airlines • SCAT Airlines • Syrian Airlines • Turkish Airlines • Uzbekistan Airways.

transportationAirport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Buses

Muwasalat offers coach bus connections to Sharjah (3 different routes). Buses depart approximately every 15 minutes. At the time of this update, a one way adult ticket costs 8 AED. For fares, routes and schedules, visit the Muwasalat website.

Air Arabia offers its passengers comfortable coach bus service. Check with the airline.

Car Rentals

The following companies have an office in Sharjah airport: Arizoona Group • Auto Lease • Avis • Budget • Dollar • Emirates Car Rental • Europcar • Hertz • Maximum Rent a Car • Sayara • Sixt • Thrifty.

Hotel Shuttles

See also Airport Hotels above.

Taxis

Taxis are available 24 hours at the taxi stands located outside the Arrivals Area of each terminal. Note: All taxi trips leaving from the airport have an additional charge of AED 20.

Last updated: 2024-01-31

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or  write a review.