Sharjah International Airport (IATA: SHJ, ICAO: OMSJ) is the low-cost gateway to the UAE’s third emirate, sitting roughly 13 km east-southeast of Sharjah city and about 25–35 minutes by road from Dubai depending on traffic and your exact destination. It’s the third-busiest airport in the UAE and the tenth-busiest in the Middle East, and it’s the home base of Air Arabia, the region’s largest budget carrier.
This guide pulls numbers directly from the airport authority’s own published tariffs where possible.
What Is Sharjah International Airport? Key Facts
Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) is a single-terminal, single-runway airport in the UAE, opened in 1977, which handled 19.48 million passengers in 2025 — up 13.9% on the year before — with an expansion plan targeting 25 million annual passengers by 2027.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| IATA / ICAO codes | SHJ / OMSJ |
| Opened | 1 January 1977 (replaced RAF Sharjah) |
| Terminal area | Approximately 125,000 m² across one passenger terminal |
| Total site area | Approximately 15,200,000 m² (about 3,800 acres) |
| Runway | One runway, designated 12/30, asphalt surface measuring 4,060 m × 60 m — historically cited as the longest in the Middle East |
| Passenger volume | 17,101,725 passengers in 2024 (+11.4% year on year); 19,480,000 in 2025 (+13.9%) |
| Regional rank | 3rd-busiest airport in the UAE; 10th-busiest in the Middle East |
| Home carrier | Air Arabia, headquartered on airport grounds. Confirmed dedicated cargo operators include Singapore Airline Cargo, UPS Courier, Rwandair, Ethiopian Cargo, and Kenya Airways, per the airport authority’s own current operating-airlines list |
| Expansion target | Capacity expected to reach 25 million passengers annually by 2027 |
| Distance from Sharjah city | ~13 km |
| Elevation | 34 m above sea level |
| Sustainability accreditation | Achieved Level 4 accreditation under the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme in June 2026 |
| Summer 2026 traffic | Airport authority projected roughly 3 million passengers for the July–August 2026 peak travel period |
| Google user rating | 4.2 out of 5 from roughly 33,000 reviews |
Passenger Growth, 2015–2025
SHJ’s passenger numbers dropped by nearly 70% during the pandemic and have since more than tripled, climbing from a 2020 low of 4.2 million to 19.48 million in 2025 — putting the airport within striking distance of its 25-million target well ahead of the original 2027 deadline if the current growth rate holds.
| Year | Total passengers | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 10,039,000 | — |
| 2018 | 12,040,000 | — |
| 2019 | 13,600,000 | +13% (pre-pandemic peak) |
| 2020 | 4,200,000 | Pandemic collapse |
| 2021 | 7,000,000 | Recovery begins |
| 2022 | 13,100,000 | Back near pre-pandemic level |
| 2023 | 15,356,212 | — |
| 2024 | 17,101,725 | +11.4% |
| 2025 | 19,480,000 | +13.9% |
Where Is Sharjah International Airport Located?
SHJ sits east-southeast of Sharjah city and is often used as a low-cost alternative to Dubai International, since the two cities have no border checkpoint between them — but they run separate transport systems, so “close” doesn’t mean “connected.”
Distance figures for SHJ vary between sources because different sites measure from different points (Sharjah city centre vs. Dubai city centre vs. Dubai International Airport vs. a specific Dubai neighbourhood).
| From SHJ to… | Approx. distance | Approx. drive time (light traffic) |
|---|---|---|
| Sharjah city centre | ~13 km | 15–20 min |
| Dubai International Airport (DXB) | ~25 km | 20–30 min |
| Dubai city centre / Deira | ~25–37 km (varies by exact point) | 25–45 min |
| Abu Dhabi (Zayed Int’l) | ~150 km | 90 min+ |
| Ras Al Khaimah Airport | ~53 km | 45–60 min |
During UAE rush hour (roughly 7–9 am and 5–7 pm), any of these journey times can extend by 30–60 minutes, particularly on the Sheikh Zayed Road corridor. Build in buffer time rather than trusting a single “X minutes” figure quoted anywhere online, including this one.
Sharjah International Airport Location on Map
Terminal and Facilities
SHJ operates one passenger terminal covering roughly 125,000 m², with check-in, security, a transit hotel, duty-free retail, a food court, prayer rooms, family play areas, and Smart Gate immigration for eligible travellers — all under one roof, which is part of why it processes passengers faster than larger regional hubs.
- Check-in: Most airline counters open at least two hours before departure; some allow online check-in up to 48 hours in advance.
- Immigration: Smart Gates are available for eligible travellers, speeding up entry and exit.
- Transit hotel: A small in-terminal transit hotel (around 16 rooms) sits close to the departure gates for long layovers.
- Retail: Duty-free operations are run by Dufry, covering fragrance, electronics, confectionery and beauty products.
- Family facilities: Dedicated play areas and baby-care rooms are available airside.
- Accessibility: Free wheelchair-marked parking at both arrivals and departures, plus staff trained in sign language for hearing-impaired travellers.
Airlines and Destinations
SHJ is served by roughly 30 passenger and cargo airlines combined, with Air Arabia — the home carrier — flying to more destinations than every other airline at the airport put together, spanning South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and an actively expanding European network.
Passenger airlines currently operating (selected destinations):
| Airline | Key destinations |
|---|---|
| Air Arabia | Dozens of cities across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and Europe (largest network at the airport by far) |
| Qatar Airways | Doha |
| IndiGo | Amritsar, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Air India Express | Amritsar, Delhi, Indore, Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram |
| SpiceJet | Ahmedabad |
| Pakistan International Airlines / Airblue / SereneAir / Fly Jinnah | Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Sialkot |
| Egyptair / Air Cairo | Cairo, and seasonally Alexandria, Assiut |
| Fly Cham / Syrian Air | Aleppo, Damascus |
| Jordan Aviation / Royal Jordanian | Amman–Queen Alia |
| Iraqi Airways | Baghdad |
| Kam Air | Kabul |
| Uzbekistan Airways / FlyOne | Tashkent |
| Caspian Airlines | Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas, Lar, Qeshm, Tehran |
| Varesh Airlines | Chabahar/Konarak |
| Biman Bangladesh / US-Bangla | Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet |
| Flynas | Jeddah |
| AJet / Pegasus | Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Addis Ababa |
| Air Peace | Lagos |
| Belavia | Seasonal charter to Minsk |
| Ural Airlines | Seasonal charter to Moscow, Yekaterinburg |
| FitsAir | Seasonal charter to Malé, Yerevan |
Cargo carriers currently operating (selected destinations):
| Cargo airline | Key destinations |
|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines Cargo | Amsterdam, Brussels, London–Heathrow, Singapore |
| UPS Airlines | Cologne, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shenzhen |
| Ethiopian Cargo | Addis Ababa |
| Egyptair Cargo | Cairo |
| Aerotranscargo | Dammam, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Munich, Riyadh |
| Astral Aviation | Delhi, Eldoret, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Nairobi |
| Express Air Cargo | Bengaluru, Hong Kong, Tunis |
Jordan Aviation and Royal Jordanian both operate the Amman–Sharjah route, with Royal Jordanian having commenced service in early 2026.
Air Arabia’s Recent European Expansion
Air Arabia has added a genuinely long list of new European routes from Sharjah over the past two years:
- Athens — added January 2024
- Vienna — resumed late 2024
- Sarajevo — resumed June 2024
- Sochi — added June 2025
- Munich — new direct daily flights from December 2025
- Prague — new daily flights from December 2025
- Warsaw Modlin — planned for late December 2025
- London Gatwick — launched November 2025
- Rome — added around February 2026
Given how frequently this list has changed even within a single year, always cross-check Air Arabia’s own current route map before booking rather than relying on any single published list, including this one.
Getting To and From the Airport
From SHJ, a taxi to Dubai typically costs AED 80–100 and takes 25–40 minutes, while the Air Arabia coach to Al Ghurair Centre costs around AED 20 and takes roughly 60 minutes; public buses are cheaper still but require at least one transfer to reach the Dubai Metro network, since Sharjah and Dubai run entirely separate transit systems.
| Mode | Cost (one-way) | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi | ~AED 80–100 | 25–40 min | Airport surcharge of ~AED 20 applies; meter-based |
| Air Arabia coach | ~AED 20 | ~60 min | Runs to Al Ghurair Centre, Dubai; timed to flight arrivals, so waits can stretch to hours between departures |
| Public bus + metro transfer | ~AED 12–20 total | 70–110 min | Sharjah’s SRTA buses (cash or Sayer card) connect to a Dubai RTA route (Nol card) at a transfer point like Al Jubail Terminal |
| Private/rental car | Fuel + tolls (Salik) | 20–45 min | Best for flexibility; not worth it for a single one-way airport transfer |
Sharjah buses use the Sayer card or cash, while Dubai’s Metro and RTA buses require a Nol card — you’ll need both systems if you’re connecting by public transport.
Parking at Sharjah Airport
Short-term parking (arrivals and departures) costs AED 16 for the first hour, AED 27 for two hours, AED 37 for three hours, and AED 48 for four hours, rising by AED 11 per additional hour; long-term parking costs the same for the first four hours, then switches to a flat AED 95 for 4–24 hours and AED 95 per additional day.
| Parking type | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term, 1 hour | AED 16 | Includes VAT |
| Short-term, 2 hours | AED 27 | Includes VAT |
| Short-term, 3 hours | AED 37 | Includes VAT |
| Short-term, 4 hours | AED 48 | Includes VAT |
| Short-term, each additional hour | AED 11 | — |
| Short-term, Day 2 onwards | AED 200/day | Any part of a new 24-hour period counts as a full day |
| Long-term, 4:01–24:00 hours | AED 95 | — |
| Long-term, Day 2 onwards | AED 95/day | — |
| Lost ticket | AED 200 | Added on top of the parking fee owed |
| Exceeding 30 days | AED 2,000 penalty | Plus the parking fee itself |
| People of Determination | First 2 hours free | All car parks; contact airport customer service in advance to validate |
Payment is accepted by card, cash, or NFC at booths in the car park, with a 10-minute grace period to exit after paying. A “Scan to Pay” QR option and online pre-booking (via the airport’s Mawgif booking page) are also available if you’d rather not queue at a machine.
Hotels at and Near Sharjah International Airport
Sharjah International Airport has its own small transit hotel inside the terminal for layover passengers, plus a cluster of hotels within a 5–10 minute drive of the entrance — including the airport-adjacent Sharjah International Airport Hotel and Centro Sharjah by Rotana — with nightly rates commonly ranging from roughly $60–$150 depending on season and how far you’re willing to travel from the terminal.
There are two different options depending on what you need:
If you need a bed between flights (airside, no visa/immigration needed): the in-terminal transit hotel near the departure gates is the only option that doesn’t require you to clear immigration. It has around 16 rooms, standard amenities, and can be booked for a full night or in short blocks of 1–12 hours.
If you’re staying in Sharjah before or after your flight (landside, outside the airport): several hotels sit within a few minutes of the terminal itself, not just “in Sharjah” generally.
| Hotel | Approx. distance from SHJ | Type | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharjah International Airport Hotel | Directly opposite the airport entrance | Budget/functional | Closest off-airport option; simple air-conditioned rooms, 24-hour dining |
| Centro Sharjah by Rotana | Adjacent to the airport | Midscale | Free valet parking, beach shuttle, ~15 min from Sharjah city centre |
| Citymax Hotel Sharjah | A few km, central Sharjah | Budget/midscale | Closer to museums, souks and the Sharjah Aquarium than to the terminal |
| Four Points by Sheraton Sharjah | Short drive | Upscale | Business-traveller amenities, gym, higher review scores |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront | Short drive | Upscale | Waterfront location, consistently high guest ratings |
| Golden Sands Hotel & Residences | Short drive | Midscale/apartment-style | Popular with longer-stay and family travellers |
Published average nightly rates vary by source — one major booking platform cites roughly $90, another cites roughly $130. Check live rates before booking.
Lounges and Premium Services
SHJ offers paid-access lounges — including Aldiyafa Lounge and premium suite options — open 24/7 with day-pass entry available for non-loyalty-programme travellers, typically bookable through the airline, a travel agent, or the airport’s own Hala/transfer desk.
- Entry is generally allowed up to three hours before departure.
- Walk-in access is possible by purchasing a voucher at the lounge reception, subject to availability.
- Premium “suite” options add private space, dedicated staff assistance and entertainment for a higher fee.
- Al Diyafa (Hala) meet-and-greet services extend beyond the lounge, covering fast-track immigration and porter assistance for an additional charge.
Airport Services and Facilities
Beyond check-in and security, SHJ’s terminal includes a 24-hour medical clinic, a lost-and-found counter in the arrivals hall, ATMs and currency exchange, free Wi-Fi, a help desk, and family-focused amenities including a free kids’ play area and baby-care rooms — with a paid “drop-and-go” childcare option for parents who want to shop or eat unaccompanied.
| Service | Detail | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Kids’ play area (departures) | Supervised play space for children | Free to use with a parent present |
| “Drop-and-go” childcare | Staff-supervised care while parents shop, eat or pray | Charges apply (confirm current rate with the airport) |
| Baby-care rooms | Located at both arrivals and departures | Free |
| 24-hour medical clinic | Staffed by licensed doctors, plus airport pharmacies | Consultation fees apply |
| Lost & found | Counter in the arrivals hall | Free to file a report |
| Help desk | General wayfinding, flight status, delay information | Free |
| ATMs and currency exchange | Multiple bank ATMs plus a dedicated exchange kiosk | Standard bank/exchange fees apply |
| Wi-Fi | Terminal-wide, password available at help desks | Free |
Sharjah Airport’s own lounge policy states that children under 5 enter free, and children aged 5–12 are charged 50% of the adult rate.
Meet-and-Greet (Al Diyafah / Hala) Pricing
Sharjah Airport’s premium meet-and-greet service, Al Diyafah, charges AED 180 per passenger without lounge access or AED 280 with lounge access, rising to AED 650 for a family of four with lounge access — figures taken directly from the airport authority’s published service page rather than estimated.
| Al Diyafah package | Price (AED) |
|---|---|
| 1 passenger, without lounge access | 180 |
| 1 passenger, with lounge access | 280 |
| Family (max. 4), with lounge access | 650 |
| Additional family member, without lounge access | 100 |
| Additional family member, with lounge access | 150 |
Booking requires at least 6 hours’ notice before the flight, though walk-in requests are accepted subject to availability.
History and Ongoing Expansion
SHJ opened on 1 January 1977, replacing RAF Sharjah — the first airport in the UAE and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council region. The old terminal and control tower building now houses the Al Mahatta Museum, and the original runway forms part of King Abdul Aziz Street in the city centre.
Key milestones in the airport’s history:
- 1932 — RAF Sharjah opens, originally used by Imperial Airways and later the Royal Air Force
- 14 December 1971 — RAF Sharjah closes as a military airfield
- 1 January 1977 — Sharjah International Airport opens on its current site
- 1990–1991 — Around 450 members of the US Air Force’s 926th Tactical Fighter Group are stationed at the airport, flying A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft during Operation Desert Shield/Storm
- 1985 — Sharjah Airport Travel Agency (SATA) is founded, owned by the Sharjah Airport Authority
SATA now operates 14 branches across the UAE, including one inside the main terminal, offering ticketing and travel services to the public.
Like any airport with decades of operating history, SHJ has recorded a small number of serious incidents over the years:
- A 1997 approach crash involving a scheduled passenger flight
- A 2004 approach crash involving a scheduled passenger flight
- Two cargo-flight accidents, in 2004 and 2009
These are documented in aviation safety databases for anyone researching the airport’s operational history in depth.
The current expansion programme is targeting a jump to 25 million annual passengers by 2027, a significant increase from current volumes, reflecting Sharjah’s positioning as an affordable alternative within the crowded UAE aviation market.
Sharjah vs. Dubai vs. Abu Dhabi vs. Ras Al Khaimah Airport
Sharjah Airport is the budget-focused choice among the four main northern-UAE airports — cheaper fares and lighter crowds than Dubai International, at the cost of a longer, less-connected road transfer if your final destination is central Dubai.
Here’s how the four main northern-UAE airports stack up against each other.
| Airport | Terminals | Best for | Distance to Dubai centre | Typical passenger charge model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharjah (SHJ) | 1 | Budget carriers, Air Arabia network | ~25–37 km | Passenger Service Charge ~AED 60, Facility Charge ~AED 35, Safety/Security Charge ~AED 15 (SHJ tariff) |
| Dubai (DXB) | 3 | Full-service airlines, maximum route choice | 0 km (in Dubai) | Generally bundled into ticket price via Emirates/flydubai |
| Abu Dhabi (Zayed Int’l / AUH) | 1 (new terminal) | Etihad network, Gulf stopovers | ~140–150 km | Bundled into ticket price |
| Ras Al Khaimah (RKT) | 1 | Emerging low-cost/leisure routes | ~90–100 km | Bundled into ticket price |
Source for SHJ’s specific passenger charges: the airport authority’s own published aircraft and passenger charges schedule — which lists an AED 60 Passenger Service Charge, an AED 35 Passenger Facility Charge (including transfer passengers), and an AED 15 Passenger Safety & Security Charge, all collected by the Sharjah Airport Authority.
Tips for a Smoother Trip Through SHJ
- Arrive early for international departures — three hours is the standard recommendation, and immigration queues can be the primary bottleneck, not security.
- Carry small AED cash for buses and short taxi hops — not every payment point at the Sharjah end of a journey accepts cards.
- If connecting to Dubai Metro, get a Nol card ready in advance rather than trying to buy one mid-transfer; it saves real time at the changeover point.
- Don’t rely on the Air Arabia coach for a tight connection — because departures are timed around flight arrivals rather than a fixed schedule, gaps between coaches can run into hours.
- Book lounge access ahead of travel during peak seasons (Hajj/Umrah periods, summer school holidays), when walk-in availability tightens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sharjah International Airport’s IATA code?
Sharjah International Airport’s IATA code is SHJ. Its ICAO code, used mainly in aviation and air traffic contexts rather than by passengers, is OMSJ.
Is Sharjah International Airport the same as Dubai Airport?
No. They’re separate airports in separate emirates, roughly 25 km apart by road, run by different authorities with no shared transit system. Sharjah is generally the lower-cost option; Dubai has far more airlines and direct routes.
How far is Sharjah Airport from Dubai?
Road distance is typically cited between 25 and 37 km depending on the exact start and end points compared, with a drive time of 25–45 minutes outside peak traffic hours.
Does Sharjah Airport have international flights?
Yes — it’s the only airport in Sharjah handling international traffic, with routes across the Middle East, South Asia, Africa and a growing number of European cities via Air Arabia and other carriers.
How many terminals does Sharjah Airport have?
One passenger terminal handles all commercial flights; separate cargo-handling facilities exist elsewhere on the airport grounds.
Is there a direct bus from Sharjah Airport to Dubai?
There’s no single direct public bus straight into central Dubai on the RTA network — you typically take a Sharjah SRTA bus or the Air Arabia coach to a transfer point, then continue by Dubai Metro or a connecting RTA bus.
What is the cheapest way from Sharjah Airport to Dubai?
Public bus plus a metro or RTA bus transfer is consistently the lowest-cost option, though it takes the longest — often 70–110 minutes door to door versus 25–40 minutes by taxi.
