Al Layyah Canal Sharjah: Bridges, Parking & Walk Guide

The canal is 600 metres long and joins Khalid Lagoon to the Arabian Gulf in the Al Khalidiyah area of Sharjah city.

Along that short run sit a palm-lined promenade, two bridges with pedestrian walkways, a 330-metre breakwater and a lit walkway across to Flag Island. Entry is free.

The Ruler of Sharjah inaugurated it on 27 February 2025. Listings spell the name both Al Layyah Canal and Al Layah Canal, and both point to the same waterway.

Canal details

Detail	Information
Location	Al Khalidiyah, Sharjah city, between Khalid Lagoon and the Arabian Gulf
Canal length	600 metres
Breakwater	330 metres, including a 210-metre rock barrier beside Al Layyah station
Bridges	Two: 88 metres and 123 metres long
Opened	27 February 2025
Entry	Free
Walking link	Illuminated walkway to Flag Island
Best light	Sunset onward, when the bridges and canal edges are lit

Why the canal was built

The canal’s main job is to improve circulation and water renewal in Khalid Lagoon. Its outlet near Souq Al Jubail is positioned to lift circulation and bring pollution levels in the lagoon down.

The walls carry protective rock layers against wave impact, and the planning accounts for climate change and rising sea levels.

Work on the project goes back to 2017. “Layyah” means the force of colliding waves, a meaning the Ruler wrote out by hand on the project’s commemorative display.

The project area runs from the waterway corridor to Al Khalidiyah Bridge and on into Khalid Lagoon. It covers the canal, the breakwater, the promenade, the two bridges, the walkway to Flag Island, and road and parking upgrades.

Opening day

The inauguration on 27 February 2025 paired a ceremony with a programme on the water. Sharjah Maritime Academy students performed alongside a military band, a maritime parade passed through the canal, and single, double and traditional rowing races ran along it.

That evening an illuminated whale display lit the canal, and the newly installed edge lighting came on for the first time.

Bridges & breakwater

The two bridges

Two bridges cross the canal: a sea-side bridge and a second one beside the government buildings. Both carry vehicles and pedestrians, with pedestrian walkways just over 3 metres wide.

Measure	Sea-side bridge	Government-buildings bridge
Length	88 metres	123 metres
Width	33 metres	26 metres
Traffic lanes	Three in each direction	Two in each direction
Pedestrian walkway width	3.2 metres	3.1 metres

Breakwater & coral planting

The breakwater is 330 metres long and includes a 210-metre coastal rock barrier next to Al Layyah station, built to take wave energy off the canal and its walls. The canal entrance was dredged to match seabed levels so water moves freely.

The Ruler planted the first coral on the breakwater as part of the Coral Reef Cultivation Initiative. The initiative aims to create habitat for marine life, build up fish stocks and restore damaged marine areas.

Walking & cycling the canal

Palm-lined walkways run along the canal, and the bridges and canal edges are lit after dark. The paths suit walking and cycling, and the water reflects the lighting from sunset onward.

Pedestrian walkways on both bridges let you cross the canal on foot.

From the canal, an illuminated walkway leads to Flag Island, home to the 123-metre UAE flagpole.

How to get there

The canal sits in Sharjah city, in Al Khalidiyah near the Al Layyah district, at roughly 25.3507, 55.3735.

• By car: search “Sharjah Al Layyah Canal” in your maps app and follow it to the pin, then park nearby (see the parking rules below).
• By taxi or ride-hailing: metered taxis and the Careem app both operate in Sharjah. Set the drop-off to the canal pin.
• By metro: Sharjah has no metro line.

Parking

Parking near the canal is paid wherever a bay carries a paid-zone sign, and paid hours in Sharjah run from 8am to midnight. Payment is by SMS to 5566.

Standard zones are free on Fridays and public holidays. Blue-sign zones charge every day.

The canal project included road and parking improvements around the site.

Ramadan markets & events

The promenade hosts Ramadan pop-ups. The Al Layyah Ramadan Market opened alongside the canal on 27 February 2025 and ran until 3 March, with family activities, youth-run enterprises, food stalls and cafés.

RUWAD, the Sharjah foundation that supports entrepreneurs, later added Dhay Al Layyah, a Ramadan initiative that opened at the Al Layyah Canal Walk.

Souq Al Jubail & the next phase

Souq Al Jubail sits on the opposite side of the canal. The next phase adds a new waterfront inspired by the design of Al Qasba, with Islamic architectural elements that match the surrounding government buildings and the souq.

FAQ

Is Al Layyah Canal free to visit?

Yes. Entry to the canal and its promenade is free. Parking in paid-zone bays is charged separately.

How long is Al Layyah Canal?

The canal is 600 metres long. The breakwater at its sea end adds another 330 metres of structure.

Is Al Layah Canal the same as Al Layyah Canal?

Yes. Both spellings refer to the waterway linking Khalid Lagoon and the Arabian Gulf in Sharjah.

Can you walk from Al Layyah Canal to Flag Island?

Yes. An illuminated walkway connects the canal area to Flag Island.

When did Al Layyah Canal open?

The Ruler of Sharjah inaugurated it on 27 February 2025.

Is there a metro to Al Layyah Canal?

No. Sharjah has no metro line, so the options are driving, a taxi or a ride-hailing app.

Plan your visit

• Arrive close to sunset so the lighting is on while you walk.
• Check the bay sign before you leave the car, because paid zones run until midnight.
• Cross at least one bridge, since each has a pedestrian walkway over 3 metres wide.
• Add the walk to Flag Island, which starts from the canal on the illuminated walkway.