Cultural Square in Sharjah: The Holy Quran Monument & Visitor Guide
A 14-metre pedestal carrying an open Holy Quran stands in the middle of one of Sharjah’s busiest roundabouts, and seeing it costs nothing. Cultural Square is open around the clock, so there is no ticket desk and no closing time to plan around.
The square sits east of the old city centre, where five main roads meet, including the E88 coming in from the east coast. Most people treat it as a short sightseeing and photography stop, which suits the layout: the monument is viewed from the pavement, and the civic buildings around it are the rest of the attraction.
Cultural Square visitor snapshot
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Location | 1b Street 103, Al Jazzat, Al Riqa Suburb, Sharjah |
| Opening times | Open 24 hours, every day |
| Entry | Free |
| Centrepiece | Holy Quran sculpture on a 14-metre pedestal |
| Sculptor | Marinas Rubias, from Spain |
| Other names | Quran Roundabout, Book Roundabout (Duar Al Kitab), Cultural Roundabout |
| Access | Viewing from the pavements; the central island is off limits |
| Best for | Photography, architecture, a short stop on a Sharjah city route |
| Parking | Public parking around the square; paid bays use SMS to 5566 |
| Suitable for | Adults and children |
What the Holy Quran monument represents
The open Quran at the centre of the roundabout stands for the spiritual heart of the city, and it is the reason the square is on most Sharjah sightseeing lists. The Spanish sculptor Marinas Rubias designed it, and the surrounding buildings were designed in a matching Islamic style.
The spot had a different centrepiece first. After the Cultural Palace was built in 1987, a large gas flame was lit on the roundabout, and the circle became known as Shula, meaning flame. The flame was later taken down and the Quran sculpture took its place. A Quranic verse is engraved inside the sculpture in gold-plated calligraphy.
The roundabout has gone by several names since then: Book Roundabout, Quran Roundabout and, finally, Cultural Roundabout. Road projects around it have come and gone, and the Quran has stayed exactly where it was placed.
Buildings around the square
Each pair of approach roads is separated by a significant building, so the square reads as a ring of civic and cultural landmarks rather than a single monument. These are the ones worth recognising:
- The Ruler’s Office, one of the buildings of real weight in the UAE’s modern history.
- Ahmad Bin Hanbal Mosque, part of the same group of Islamic-style buildings.
- The Cultural Palace, a venue for concerts and cultural events, built in 1987.
- Sharjah Public Library, whose current building on the square opened in May 2011. It holds more than half a million books, a children’s hall and a section for Braille readers, and it has a 24/7 self-service book-return station outside.
Reading programmes, hall bookings and library membership are handled online, which matters if you plan to go beyond the exterior.
Getting there & parking
By car or taxi
Search “Cultural Square” in Waze or Google Maps and use the address 1b Street 103, Al Jazzat, Al Riqa Suburb. Drivers coming from the east coast reach the square directly on the E88. A taxi or ride-hailing driver only needs the name “Cultural Square”, since it is one of the best-known roundabouts in Sharjah.
Because the sculpture sits in the middle of a roundabout, you can drive past it as many times as you like. Children tend to enjoy the repeat laps, which makes the square an easy stop on a family day out.
Parking
Public parking is available around the square. Where a bay is paid, Sharjah Municipality’s standard rules apply:
- Paid hours run from 8 AM to midnight.
- Standard zones are free on Fridays and public holidays; blue-sign zones are paid every day.
- A rate of AED 2 covers one hour, and five hours costs AED 12.
- Payment is by SMS to 5566, with the plate source, plate number and hours, for example SHJ 12345 2 for two hours.
- Parking without a valid ticket in a paid zone carries an AED 150 fine.
Access rules & etiquette
The central island that holds the monument is not open to pedestrians, because it sits inside live traffic. Stay on the pavements and crossings, and treat the lawns and flower beds around the sculpture as part of the display.
Standard UAE public conduct applies: modest dress and respectful behaviour around a religious monument and an active mosque. Frame the monument and the architecture in your photos, and skip government and security buildings in the shot.
Best time to visit & photo tips
Morning and late afternoon are the comfortable windows, especially from June to September, when midday heat makes standing on the pavement unpleasant. Evening suits photography, with the monument and the surrounding facades lit against a darker sky.
- Use a wide-angle setting. You cannot walk closer to the sculpture, so the width of the square has to fit in the frame.
- Shoot from the pavement corners to include the sculpture and the Islamic-style facades together.
- Keep it short. The monument and the buildings are quick to take in, and the square works best as one stop in a longer day.
Nearby stops worth adding
- University City: the Islamic Culture Capital monument marks Sharjah’s 2014 title, and a scroll monument marks the 2019 UNESCO World Book Capital title. The Holy Quran Academy, a large building devoted to the Quran, its language and sciences, is in the same direction.
- Sharjah’s largest mosque: Sharjah Mosque opened in 2019 and is open to non-Muslim visitors daily, which makes it a natural second religious and architectural stop.
- Heart of Sharjah: Souq Al Arsah is Sharjah’s oldest traditional market, a heritage contrast to the monumental scale of the square.
Cultural Square also fits into a wider Sharjah city route alongside its museums, beaches and waterfronts.
FAQ
Is Cultural Square free to visit?
Yes. It is an open-air public landmark, and there is no ticket or booking.
What are the opening hours of Cultural Square?
The square is open 24 hours a day, every day. The buildings around it, such as the Cultural Palace and the library, keep their own schedules.
What is the monument at Cultural Square?
It is a sculpture of the open Holy Quran on a 14-metre pedestal, placed at the centre of the roundabout. It stands for the spiritual heart of the city.
Who designed the Quran monument at Cultural Square?
The Spanish sculptor Marinas Rubias designed it.
Can you walk up to the Quran monument?
No. The central island is restricted, so the monument is viewed from the surrounding pavements and from the road.
Is Cultural Square the same as Quran Roundabout?
Yes. Quran Roundabout, Book Roundabout (Duar Al Kitab) and Cultural Roundabout all refer to the same square.
Is there parking at Cultural Square?
Yes, public parking is available around the square. Paid bays run from 8 AM to midnight and are paid by SMS to 5566.
Next steps for your visit
- Pin “Cultural Square” in your map app before you set off.
- Go in the morning or late afternoon, and stay for the evening light if photography is the goal.
- Park in a public bay and pay by SMS to 5566 if the bay is paid.
- Add Sharjah Mosque or Souq Al Arsah to turn a ten-minute stop into a half-day cultural route.
