Khorfakkan Amphitheater: Hours, Tickets, Parking & Waterfall

The Khorfakkan Amphitheater appears on the back of the UAE’s Dh10 polymer note, which entered circulation in 2022. The open-air Roman-style theatre opened on 14 December 2020, when the Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, inaugurated it at the foot of Al Sayed Mountain. The venue spells its own name Amphitheatre.

It faces Khorfakkan Beach and the bay, with a man-made waterfall built into the rock beside it. The plaza and the waterfall are free to visit. Concerts are the paid part, and the two details that catch visitors out are the ticket terms and the paid parking on Corniche Street.

Visit details

Category	Key Specification	Details & Guidelines
Site Overview	Location	Corniche Street, Khorfakkan Waterfront, Sharjah East Coast, UAE
	Inauguration Date	14 December 2020 (Constructed Jan – Oct 2020)
	Architect	Rasem Badran (Dar Al Omran)
Architecture & Scale	Architectural Style	Roman semicircular amphitheatre fused with traditional Arab & Islamic motifs
	Dimensions & Footprint	190,000 sq ft (approx. 17,650 m²) built-up area; 110 m across
	Façade Features	234 stone arches and 295 columns
	Spectator Capacity	Over 3,500 seats
Visiting & Hours	Operating Hours	• Sat – Wed: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM • Thu – Fri: 9:00 AM – 1:00 AM
	Plaza & Waterfall Admission	Free Entry (Plaza and the adjacent 45 m tall, 11 m wide man-made mountain waterfall)
	Event & Concert Tickets	Ticketed per performance via official checkout; sales are final and strictly non-refundable
Practical Info	Parking Facilities	Paid public parking available along Corniche Street (Enforced 8:00 AM – 12:00 Midnight)
	General Inquiries	info@kfa.ae

The venue is open Saturday to Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Thursday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM. Event nights can run to different hours.

Entry works in three layers:

• Plaza and façade: free, no ticket needed.
• Waterfall: free admission, with official visiting hours Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
• Seating bowl: open to ticket holders on event days.

Best time to go

The right slot depends on what you came for:

• The waterfall inside its official hours: Tuesday to Sunday, before 8:00 PM. Monday falls outside those hours.
• The lighting: after dark. The amphitheater is lit in the evening and the waterfall is lit at night, and the venue stays open until 11:00 PM Saturday to Wednesday and 1:00 AM on Thursday and Friday.
• A concert: recent seasons have run from mid-November through February, when evenings are cooler.

Tickets & concerts

Concert tickets are sold only through authorised outlets, and the one the venue uses is the Get Tickets checkout linked from its own events page.

1. Open the concert lineup and choose the show.
2. Press Get Tickets, which opens the ticketing partner’s checkout, and pick a seating category.
3. Pay by card or Apple Pay and keep the e-ticket on your phone, or print it.
4. Show the printed or electronic ticket at the gate. Bags are checked at every entry point.

The lineup leans toward Arabic-language headliners. Recent dates:

• 1 February 2025: Ayed Yousef and Rahma Riad
• 15 November 2025: Angham, opening the “Let’s Khorfakkan” season
• 29 November 2025: Hussain Al Jassmi and Fouad Abdulwahed, for UAE National Day
• 7 February 2026: Assala
• 14 November 2026: Majid Al Muhandis, opening the next season

The ticket terms are strict:

• Every patron needs a ticket, children above 12 months included.
• Tickets are final and 100% non-refundable.
• The venue can add, withdraw or reschedule events, replace artists and change seating or capacity without notice.
• A ticket that is altered, damaged or missing a part can be invalidated, and the venue accepts no responsibility for tickets bought from unauthorised sellers.

Parking & getting there

Parking along Corniche Street is paid every day, and paid parking hours in Khorfakkan now run from 8:00 AM to midnight. Pay by SMS to 5566 or through the Sharjah Digital app. Accessible parking and drop-off zones are set aside for visitors with additional needs.

Khorfakkan is about 137 km east of Sharjah city. The drive from Dubai takes 1.5 to 2 hours, and from Fujairah about 30 to 40 minutes. Taxis and ride-hailing apps both reach the venue.

On a map, the amphitheater sits on Rughaylat Road beside Al Metalaa Park, and its Plus Code is 989W+5X6.

Architecture & waterfall

Design

Dar Al Omran (Rasem Badran), the Amman-based architecture and engineering consultancy, designed the theatre. Construction ran from January to October 2020 at a cost of USD 20 million, about AED 73 million.

The semi-circular bowl is 110 metres across and cut into the mountainside, with tiered seating that grows out of the natural slope. The main reference is the Amman Roman Theatre.

The stone façade, with its 234 arches and 295 columns, adds Islamic architectural influences, and the lobby has six main elevators, three at each of two entrances. A cooling system keeps open-air events comfortable in the heat, and the theatre has its own audiovisual systems.

Waterfall & dining

The waterfall beside the theatre is man-made but carved out of natural rock. It runs 45 metres, is 11 metres wide and sits 43 metres above sea level. Elevators and a walkway link it to the amphitheater, and viewing windows at the top are sometimes open to the public.

Habib Beirut sits behind the waterfall in a cave-like setting, and the amphitheater has its own restaurant and café.

Rules & accessibility

House rules

• Outside food and drinks are not allowed, though water bottles are. Hot food and beverages stay out of the venue.
• Photography and audio or video recording are prohibited at events under the ticket terms. On ordinary visits personal photography is fine, professional cameras need a permit, and drones need authorisation.
• Weapons, sharp objects, fireworks and flammable materials are banned. Smoking is allowed only in designated areas.
• Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Strollers are welcome and family seating areas are available.

Accessibility

The venue has dedicated accessible entry lanes, wheelchair-accessible seating with clear sightlines, assistive listening devices, accessible restrooms and priority exit assistance. The six lobby elevators accommodate visitors with special needs, and sign language interpretation is available on request. Email info@kfa.ae before a concert to arrange support.

On the Dh10 note

The Central Bank of the UAE launched the polymer Dh10 note on 21 April 2022. The note keeps the green colour of the earlier Dh10, shows the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi on one side and puts the Khorfakkan Amphitheater at the centre of the reverse.

Nearby stops

The amphitheater faces the bay, and the free public beach is a short walk from the plaza. Inland, Shees Village combines a restored old village, the 1.8 km Wadi Shees trail and Shees Park.

The plaza, the waterfall and the beach sit close together, so one stop covers three sights with no entry fee. The costs are elsewhere: 1.5 to 2 hours of driving from Dubai, paid parking until midnight and concert tickets that cannot be refunded. A concert night is the strongest reason to go, since the seating bowl is otherwise reserved for ticket holders.

FAQ

Is Khorfakkan Amphitheater free to visit?

The plaza, façade and waterfall are free. A ticket is needed only for concerts and other events inside the seating bowl.

What are the opening hours of Khorfakkan Amphitheater?

The venue is open Saturday to Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Thursday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM. The waterfall’s official hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

How many people does Khorfakkan Amphitheater hold?

It seats over 3,500 spectators.

Who designed Khorfakkan Amphitheater?

Dar Al Omran (Rasem Badran), an Amman-based consultancy, designed it with the Amman Roman Theatre as its main reference.

Is parking free at Khorfakkan Amphitheater?

No. Corniche Street parking is paid from 8:00 AM to midnight, and you pay by SMS to 5566 or in the Sharjah Digital app.

Can I get a refund on Khorfakkan Amphitheater tickets?

No. Concert tickets are final and 100% non-refundable.

Do children need a ticket for concerts at Khorfakkan Amphitheater?

Yes. Every patron needs a ticket, including children above 12 months.

Before you go

• Buy concert tickets only through the Get Tickets button on the venue’s events page.
• Reach the waterfall before 8:00 PM, and not on a Monday, to stay within its official hours.
• Set up Corniche parking by SMS to 5566 or the Sharjah Digital app before you walk in.
• Leave outside food, drones and professional cameras in the car.