Pros and Cons of Living in Sharjah

We all know what draws people to bustling and glamorous cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but we should not dismiss the cost of maintaining that lifestyle. Living in these towns comes with a considerable cost and people are starting to find suitable and less expensive alternatives like Sharjah. Here is where people can raise their families, complete their education in the most prestigious institutions, enjoy world-class healthcare facilities and work. Plus, for those interested in cultural values and living in a city with deep roots in history, Sharjah is simply superb. There are of course a couple of downsides to Sharjah as it is with every other city you could name. But would it be possible to adjust to them in time or should you consider other neighbouring emirates? In this article by Dxboffplan, let’s Explore pros and cons of living in Sharjah—to help you decide whether this unique emirate is right for you and your aspirations.

Advantages of Living in Sharjah

Sharjah offers the mix of modern and traditional and a unique perspective on Middle East life. The high level of security, high-speed internet connectivity, clean air, ease in doing business, and affordable cost of healthcare services in Sharjah are just a few among many advantages that simplify and enhance life for its residents. Here are the reason you must consider this town for your residence:

• Rich heritage city: Sharjah’s historical sites and landmarks and its art galleries and museums provide an idea about its distant past. They enable residents to be immersed in the rich Emirati culture.
• Family Living area: Sharjah’s emphasis on family makes its citizens enjoy a comfortable and secure life. Sharjah is an ideal place to raise children due to its schools and recreation areas being highly rated internationally and offering diverse study programs.
• Affordable housing: your choices are plentiful in Sharjah. The property prices in Sharjah are rather fair, regardless whether you want to rent a small apartment or a large house.
• Booming job market: Sharjah abounds with plenty of economic opportunities with a booming job market in fields ranging from healthcare and education to business. The pro-business environment promotes entrepreneurship and investment.
• Strategic location: Sharjah is accessible to Dubai and other emirates. With an extremely good network by roads.
• Leisure and recreation facilities: Sharjah is punctuated by different areas of greenery and parks as well as public areas with good recreational and relaxation space outdoors. You will also find a whole range of restaurants here, some fancy shopping malls and entertainment centers to attend with your friends or family.
• Transport and Infrastructure: you wouldn’t find any trouble finding your way through Sharjah as there is a wide network of public transportation active here. You’ll have your way with the buses, taxis and metro, allowing you to move freely wherever you want to go.
• Environmental Sustainability: Sharjah commitment to environmental causes has been proven for a long time. The government here is passionate about creating healthier and cleaner living conditions for residents.

Disadvantages of Living in Sharjah

The living conditions in Sharjah, just like in any other global urban center, have their own disadvantages to take into account carefully. They include:

• Heaviness in traffic: Heavy traffic and lengthy commuting to other locations is one big disadvantage. For all those who travel every day to work or personal destinations, it is a time-consuming and tiring issue.
• Strict laws: Sharjah is more conservative than most emirates in its laws. Sharjah is committed to strict laws regarding alcohol consumption, dressing modestly, and respectful behavior that might be a source of incontinence to some expats.
• Cost of living: Although the cost of living in Sharjah is fairly affordable, there are complaints from residents that some services like the internet, private schools and household utilities are rather overcharged compared to other countries.
• Climate in Sharjah is hot and humid for most part of the year and might be unbearable for individuals from cold climates. Its climatic conditions might affect normal life and health and might require an adjustment period to get used to.

Cultural and Religious Expectations in Sharjah

Living in Sharjah requires an even higher respect for the emirate’s strong adherence to Islamic religious and cultural principles. Sharjah is stricter in application of Sharia law-governed rules of public conduct than more cosmopolitan cities like Dubai. Times of prayer govern the pace of life, and most businesses close up shop for a break to respond to calls to worship. The cultural climate is not oppressive to walk in, though, but rather reflective of Sharjah’s deep respect for tradition. Museums, arts exhibitions, and literary symposia abound, reinforcing the emirate’s status as cultural center of the UAE.

Community and Lifestyle in Sharjah

Sharjah’s communal life is one of its great strengths. The emirate is known for compact neighborhoods, peaceful atmosphere, and interest in communal well-being. Public festivals such as the Sharjah International Book Fair, Light Festival, and cultural shows foster community feeling and intellectual activity. Unlike the frantic pace of life in Dubai, Sharjah fosters an easy, unpretentious pace of life that is supportive of families, teachers, artists, and senior residents. The emirate is also designed to be livable—wide pathways, spotlessly maintained public spaces, and generous greens generate an idyllic environment in which to live. Souks and small-scale businesses add character to everyday life, and most areas include mosques, clinics, parks, and schools within walking distance.

Sharjah vs Dubai: Detailed Comparison Between Pros and Cons

In making a decision whether to buy property in Sharjah or in Dubai, you must balance many factors in-depth. Sharjah living is far cheaper with lower housing prices and food and bills. Sharjah is thus an ideal choice for families and people who want to lower their living cost. Sharjah workers who commute to work in Dubai have worse-than-average traffic as a disadvantage because it takes more time during peak hours. For most people, frugality is more than enough compensation for the inconvenience. Sharjah is special in its essence and is infused with strong heritage and more family-oriented and traditional society based heavily on Islamic teachings. Of course, job opportunities abound in Dubai with many multinational companies set up headquarters there and more job opportunities to select from. Sharjah and Dubai’s schools and medical centers have good facilities but those in Dubai’s are slightly better quality.

For excellent educational institutions residents can visit American School of Creative Science, GEMS Millennium School, and Sharjah English School, which provide quality education by way of state-of-the-art facilities. For higher studies, one of the largest academic institutions of UAE is University City of Sharjah, which is home to such well-established universities like American University of Sharjah (AUS) and University of Sharjah, which provide various undergraduate as well as post-graduation programs.

In the end, the decision is all about personal choice—whether one wishes for affordability and depth in Sharjah’s cultural life or Dubai’s action-packed and working life and chances.

Living in Sharjah vs Abu Dhabi

You have to put your options into perspective when it comes to choosing between Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. For instance, regarding the cost of living in Abu Dhabi, insurance is more expensive here than Sharjah. Is that a deciding factor for you? Travel and traffic is also less complicated in Sharjah but slower going towards Abu Dhabi because it is distant but less congested than roads leading to Dubai. Sharjah is richer in experience due to culture but Abu Dhabi is more diversified in terms of recreation and cultural activities based on different museums and events. There is more job availability in Abu Dhabi with more emphasis on governmental, oil and business sectors with more job diversification options.

Sharjah also promotes well-being in the form of public health initiatives, air purity controls, and urban planning incentives for green areas. For non-citizens, the majority of health insurance policies cover Sharjah’s network of medical care. That is not to say, of course, that anyone seeking more advanced procedures couldn’t go to Abu Dhabi or Dubai, because each of these cities has more of a variety of niche specialists and cutting-edge facilities available. Ultimately, it is a matter of your own personal choice and lifestyle.

Future of Sharjah and its Economic Vision

Although we recognise Sharjah as a very historic town with deep roots in history, we must also acknowledge its path forward. Sharjah has been investing in its future by focusing on infrastructure and economic developments. The government is shifting its focus from oil to education, health and tourism. The renewable energy industries are also in the focus. The strategic creation of free zones in Sharjah has also been very successful in attracting international investors and start-up companies.

Infrastructure spending, like extension of public transport and digitalization, is proof of planning ahead. In addition, the emirate is aggressively promoting environmental sustainability, integrating ‘green’ into urban planning. All these initiatives turn Sharjah into an attractive destination for not just families, but also for professionals, and entrepreneurs as well. For property investors, as well as residents looking to reside there in the long run, Sharjah’s evolving environment is well positioned for growth, both on an individual level as well as from an investment perspective.

Final Words

In this article, we offered a balanced look to pros and cons of living in Sharjah. You could expect a unique mix of traditional appeal and modern convenience when settling down here. There are also a whole range of museums, celebrations and events happening, truly, a paradise for those who love a richly historical town. Sharjah is particularly appealing to families with its affordable housing and family-friendly amenities from gardens and recreation centers to schools.

However, living in Sharjah comes with its own set of issues that we thoroughly discussed earlier. For insurance and budgetary purposes, while Sharjah is relatively less costly in comparison to Dubai, residents here still report having relatively high living costs, particularly when it comes to high-quality dwellings and imported goods. Nevertheless, for individuals who love cultural intensity and family living and also want it to be affordable, Sharjah is excellent. However, future dwellers must balance out the pragmatic issues to maintain a balanced and enriching life for themselves and their families.