Khalid Lagoon Sharjah: Fountain Show Times, Boats, Parking & Al Noor Island
Khalid Lagoon holds 1,720,000 square metres of water in the middle of Sharjah city, and the promenade around it is free and open 24 hours. The evening draw is the Sharjah Musical Fountain at Al Majaz Waterfront, which sends a jet 100 metres into the air. Parking is the part that trips visitors up, because paid hours now run until midnight.
Khalid Lagoon quick overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Central Sharjah, along Buhaira Corniche |
| Water area | 1,720,000 square metres (artificial lagoon) |
| Promenade entry | Free, open 24 hours |
| Fountain | 220 metres wide, jet up to 100 metres |
| Fountain shows | From about 6:30 PM, free to watch |
| Al Noor Island | AED 35 adults, AED 20 children aged 3 to 12, open 9 AM to 11 PM |
| Boat rides | Shared rides from AED 20, private boat from AED 120, 4 PM to 11:59 PM |
| Paid parking | 8 AM to midnight, AED 2 for the first hour |
| Metro | None, Sharjah has no metro line |
Main places around the lagoon
- Al Majaz Waterfront is Shurooq’s flagship park on the lagoon. It has the fountain, mini golf, a splash park, a children’s playground, a jogging track, and restaurants and cafés facing the water.
- Al Majaz Splash Park covers 800 square metres of sprays, waterfalls and water tunnels with no standing water, which keeps it suitable for toddlers. A child’s ticket runs about AED 30 to AED 35 for a session of around two hours.
- Al Noor Island sits inside the lagoon and is reached by a footbridge from the corniche, next to Al Noor Mosque.
- Al Noor Mosque was completed in 2005 and follows Ottoman design. It runs free guided tours for non-Muslim visitors, and everyone dresses modestly.
- The 600-metre Al Layyah Canal opened on 27 February 2025 and joins the lagoon to the Arabian Gulf. Its main job is better water circulation in the lagoon, and an illuminated walkway from it leads to Flag Island.
- The Central Souk, also called the Blue Souk, is the lagoon-side market for gold, textiles and souvenirs.
Sharjah Musical Fountain show times
Shows start at about 6:30 PM every evening and cost nothing to watch. From Saturday to Wednesday the last show ends around 11:30 PM, while Thursday and Friday run later, with a final show near 12:30 AM.
The fountain is 220 metres wide, and the 100-metre jet is a rebuild of a fountain that drew crowds to Sharjah back in 1984. Each show pairs music with lights, lasers and video projected onto water screens.
The restaurants and cafés on the Al Majaz piazza face the fountain, so a table there gives the closest seat. The promenade offers free standing room along the water.
Boat rides on the lagoon
Sharjah Boat Tours runs traditional wooden abra boats from piers at Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Qasba, daily from 4 PM to 11:59 PM. Rides pass Al Noor Island and the Al Majaz skyline.
Shared rides start from AED 20. A private boat carries up to 10 people and costs AED 120 for 15 minutes or AED 240 for 30 minutes, with the fare charged per boat rather than per person, so it suits families and groups. Buy boat tickets online or at the boat reception on Al Majaz Waterfront.
Al Noor Island tickets & hours
Island entry costs AED 35 for adults and AED 20 for children aged 3 to 12. A combined ticket that adds the Butterfly House costs AED 50 for adults and AED 30 for children.
The island is open from 9 AM to 11 PM, running to midnight on Saturday and Sunday. The Butterfly House closes earlier, at 6 PM daily, so visit it first.
Inside, wooden walkways wind past art installations, a children’s play area, the Literature Pavilion and Noor Café. The island is lit after dark. Pets are not allowed.
The price is the trade-off. A family of two adults and two children aged 3 to 12 pays AED 110 for the island or AED 160 with the Butterfly House, while the promenade and fountain cost nothing. Children and butterfly fans get the most from the ticket, and anyone who only wants the skyline can skip it.
Parking, hours & access rules
Since 1 July 2026, paid parking runs until midnight in Sharjah city, Kalba, Khorfakkan and Al Dhaid. Standard zones are free on Fridays and public holidays, but blue-sign zones and smart parking lots charge every day, and the streets around Al Majaz include blue-sign bays.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Paid hours | 8 AM to midnight |
| Fridays and holidays | Free in standard zones, paid in blue-sign zones |
| Rates | AED 2 for 1 hour, AED 5 for 2 hours, AED 8 for 3 hours, AED 12 for 5 hours |
| Pay by SMS | Send the emirate code, plate number and hours to 5566, for example SHJ 12345 2 |
| Extend by SMS | Reply Y to the reminder message to add one hour |
| Pay by app | Mawqef, the Sharjah Municipality parking app |
| Fine | AED 150 for parking in a paid bay without a valid ticket |
Check the colour of the sign before you walk away from the car. A blue board or a blue strip under the sign means the bay is paid on Fridays too.
Getting to Khalid Lagoon
- By car, set your navigation to Al Majaz Waterfront on Corniche Street. Al Noor Mosque has its own car park for the island side.
- By taxi or ride-hailing, metered taxis and Careem both operate in Sharjah, and a drop-off at Al Majaz Waterfront puts you at the fountain.
- By bus from Dubai, RTA route E303 runs from Union Square, E306 from Ghubaiba and E307 from Deira City Centre, all to Al Jubail Bus Station near the Sharjah Corniche. A short taxi ride covers the rest.
Where to eat & stay
Eating is easiest at Al Majaz Waterfront, where a 4,700-square-metre dining area faces the fountain across the lagoon bank. Noor Café on Al Noor Island suits a coffee stop between the Butterfly House and the walkways.
Hotels on or near the lagoon include:
- DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront Hotel & Residences, on Corniche Street with views over the lagoon and a short walk to the restaurants.
- Golden Tulip Sharjah, in Al Fardan Centre on Corniche Road, with lagoon views.
- Al Majaz Premiere Hotel Apartments, next to Al Majaz Splash Park.
FAQ
Is Khalid Lagoon free to visit?
Yes. The promenade and fountain shows are free, and the promenade is open 24 hours. Al Noor Island, the Splash Park and boat rides charge their own tickets.
What time does the Khalid Lagoon fountain show start?
Shows begin at about 6:30 PM every evening. Saturday to Wednesday they end around 11:30 PM, and Thursday and Friday run to roughly 12:30 AM.
Is parking free on Fridays at Khalid Lagoon?
Only in standard zones. Blue-sign zones and smart parking lots charge every day, including Fridays and public holidays, and the streets around Al Majaz include blue-sign bays.
How much is Al Noor Island?
Adults pay AED 35 and children aged 3 to 12 pay AED 20 for island entry. The combined ticket with the Butterfly House is AED 50 for adults and AED 30 for children.
Can you take a boat on Khalid Lagoon?
Yes. Sharjah Boat Tours runs abra rides from Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Qasba between 4 PM and 11:59 PM. Shared rides start from AED 20, and a private boat for up to 10 people costs AED 120 for 15 minutes.
Is there a metro to Khalid Lagoon?
No. Sharjah has no metro line, so visitors arrive by car, taxi or bus.
Plan your visit
- With one hour, walk the promenade near sunset and stay for the 6:30 PM fountain show, which costs nothing.
- With two to three hours, take a boat ride after 4 PM, then cross to Al Noor Island, and see the Butterfly House before it closes at 6 PM.
- With a car, pay by SMS to 5566 before you leave the bay and check the sign colour first.
- With extra time, walk from Al Layyah Canal to Flag Island along the illuminated walkway.
