--- iata: SHJ name: Sharjah International Airport city: Sharjah country: United Arab Emirates lastUpdated: '2026-09-06' officialWebsite: 'https://www.sharjahairport.ae/' sources: - 'https://www.sharjahairport.ae/' - 'https://www.sharjahairport.ae/en/traveller/to-and-from-the-airport/' - 'https://www.sharjahairport.ae/en/traveller/to-and-from-the-airport/taxis/' - >- https://www.sharjahairport.ae/en/traveller/to-and-from-the-airport/car-parking/ - >- https://www.sharjahairport.ae/en/traveller/to-and-from-the-airport/transportation/ - >- https://www.sharjahairport.ae/en/traveller/airport-facilities/facilities/wi-fi/ - 'https://www.sharjahairport.ae/en/traveller/airport-facilities/facilities/' - >- https://www.sharjahairport.ae/en/%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%84-%D8%A3%D9%83%D8%AB%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%86-19-4-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7/ - 'https://www.airarabia.com/en/Plan/Booking-with-us/Airport-Shuttle-Service' - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en/lounges/united-arab-emirates/sharjah-international/shj-the-lounge - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en/lounges/united-arab-emirates/sharjah-international - 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharjah_International_Airport' - >- https://www.aaco.org/media-center/news/industry/sharjah-airport-welcomes-over-19-4-million-passengers-in-2025-achieving-13-9-growth quickFacts: - >- Sharjah International Airport (IATA SHJ / ICAO OMSJ) sits about 7 NM / ~13 km east-southeast of central Sharjah and is a practical northern-Dubai alternative to DXB. Operator is Sharjah Airport Authority. Official site: sharjahairport.ae. - >- Sharjah Airport Authority reported a record ~19.48 million passengers in 2025 (+13.9% vs ~17.1 million in 2024; ~15.36 million in 2023), with 116,657 aircraft movements (+8.3% vs 107,760 in 2024) and about 204,323 tonnes of cargo. Air Arabia is the home low-cost carrier and primary hub airline. - >- One commercial passenger terminal (~125,000 m² often cited for the current building) handles scheduled passenger flights. A major terminal expansion (Sharjah Airport Authority / WAM: overall programme about AED 2.4 billion; completion commonly targeted by end-2027) is raising published capacity toward ~20–25 million passengers/year — expect construction wayfinding changes through 2026–2027. - >- Airfield: single asphalt runway 12/30 ~4,060 × 60 m; published elevation ~116 ft / 35 m (UAE AIP / commonly published charts). Single-runway operations mean weather, incidents, or peak banks can cascade delays faster than dual-runway Gulf hubs. - >- Lounges: Alpha Flight Services / dnata operate **The Lounge** airside after passport control (Priority Pass / LoungeKey-family networks / walk-up commonly ~AED 157.50 for 3 hours on 2025 traveler tariffs — confirm at desk). Al Diyafa is a separate paid meet-and-assist / private-suite product booked ahead, not a Priority Pass lounge. Priority Pass currently lists The Lounge as the live SHJ network lounge — verify the app on the day. - >- City access is road-only (no metro at the terminal). Sharjah Taxi from arrivals ranks: metered fares plus a published **AED 20** airport surcharge on trips originating at SHJ (Sharjah Taxi / SRTA 600 525 252). Airport copy also points to Muwasalat orange buses inside Sharjah and Air Arabia coaches toward Dubai / Abu Dhabi / Al Ain / Ras Al Khaimah (airport overview says fares from about AED 7; confirm live Air Arabia shuttle pages before you rely on a specific stop). bentoTips: - label: Timing title: Single terminal — still budget Air Arabia banks and construction detail: >- SHJ is one passenger building, so you are not hunting a wrong terminal — but Air Arabia departure banks, morning Gulf/South Asia waves, and ongoing expansion works still pack check-in and outbound immigration. Online check-in plus bag drop where offered beats curb queues. Transfer passengers who remain airside avoid a full landside re-entry; exiting forces immigration and outbound controls again. summary: >- Arrive ~3h before long-haul / ~2.5h before busy LCC banks; expect construction detours through 2027. category: timing - label: Terminal title: One hall — The Lounge is upstairs after Duty Free / transfer desk detail: >- After security and passport control, turn left past duty free and take the first-floor vertical circulation. Priority Pass places The Lounge opposite the transfer desk near the Visa / Information help desk. Gates fan along the sterile concourse — screenshot FIDS before free Wi-Fi friction slows you down. Do not confuse SHJ with DXB Terminals 1/2/3 or DWC (Al Maktoum) farther south. summary: >- Single terminal; The Lounge = Level 1 opposite transfer desk after duty free. category: terminal - label: Food title: The Lounge or walk-up if you need soft product — retail is basic LCC detail: >- Airside cafés and quick-service cover the LCC basics after security; this is not a DXB food-hall destination. The Lounge (Priority Pass / paid walk-up, commonly ~AED 157.50 / 3h) is the main comfort upgrade with hot buffet windows and showers (shower access may be a separate desk fee — confirm live). Al Diyafa suites are pre-booked meet-and-assist, not a casual food-court substitute. Alcohol follows UAE rules and is paused in Ramadan inside the lounge per Priority Pass conditions. summary: >- Eat retail if you lack lounge rights; The Lounge walk-up is the honest paid Plan B. category: food - label: Status title: 'Metered Sharjah Taxi + AED 20 — or coach/bus, not lobby touts' detail: >- Use the signed Sharjah Taxi rank on arrivals. Fares are metered with a published AED 20 airport surcharge on trips starting at SHJ; ladies-only and family taxis are available. Careem/Uber operate in Sharjah/Dubai but only from signed pickup points — not from the first person with a laminated “fixed Dubai price” card in the hall. For Dubai on a budget, combine Muwasalat / Air Arabia coach options with RTA buses or metro once you reach a Dubai interchange — there is no rail station at SHJ itself. summary: >- Sharjah Taxi meter + AED 20 surcharge; coaches for Dubai/RAK; no airport metro. category: status lounges: - name: The Lounge zone: >- Departures airside — after security and passport control, turn left after Duty Free, 1st Floor opposite the transfer desk near Visa / Information Help Desk (Priority Pass directions) hours: '00:00–23:59 daily (Priority Pass)' access: - >- Priority Pass / LoungeKey / participating lounge-network cards listed in your live app - Air Arabia / other airline invitations when contracted for the day - >- Paid walk-up commonly ~AED 157.50 per adult for 3 hours on 2025 traveler reports (children tariffs and shower-only fees vary — confirm at reception) bestFor: - Priority Pass holders on Air Arabia or other SHJ departures - Long LCC layovers needing showers and a hot buffet summary: >- Flagship pay-in / network lounge run with Alpha Flight Services (dnata joint venture) after the renovation. Buffet windows, soft drinks, limited complimentary alcohol outside Ramadan (Priority Pass: max two alcoholic drinks per adult; none in Ramadan), kids play area, and showers. Priority Pass caps access at 3 hours and only from 3 hours before scheduled departure; space can restrict entry at peaks. Best soft product in the public terminal when you qualify or pay; still a busy LCC airport lounge, not a Gulf carrier first-class suite. verdict: worth-it terminal: Main Passenger Terminal amenities: - Hot and cold buffet (meal-period windows) - Showers (confirm whether included or desk fee) - Soft drinks and limited alcohol (Ramadan restrictions) - Kids play area / games - Wi-Fi - Flight information screens - Accessible entry - name: Al Diyafa Lounge / Meet & Assist zone: >- Pre-booked private suites / meet-and-assist product (not a walk-up Priority Pass lounge) — arrange via airport / Hala-style desk channels before travel hours: By appointment / booked service window (confirm when purchasing) access: - >- Advance paid booking (individual and family packages published on third-party airport service pages — verify live airport / operator tariff) - >- Packages with or without lounge-suite time; meet-and-assist / fast-track elements when sold bestFor: - Families or PRM travelers wanting escorted formalities - >- Travelers willing to pre-pay for a private suite, not a network lounge swipe summary: >- Separate premium meet-and-assist / private-suite product from the Priority Pass “The Lounge” experience. Useful when you booked escort and a suite in advance; useless if you only hold Priority Pass and expected a second PP door. Treat published third-party package prices as indicative until the operator confirms your voucher. verdict: depends terminal: Main Passenger Terminal amenities: - Private suites (when booked) - Meet-and-assist / porter when packaged - Wi-Fi in suite product waterOptions: - kind: purchase name: Landside retail bottled water zone: landside price: Typically ~AED 3–8 for a small bottle (confirm at till) summary: >- Cafés and convenience shops before security sell sealed bottles. Best value before you clear liquids screening; carry an empty bottle if you prefer to buy again airside. location: Landside departures hall shops and café counters near check-in islands terminal: Main Passenger Terminal isBestValue: true - kind: purchase name: Airside café and duty-free bottled water zone: airside price: Typically ~AED 8–15 at café mark-up (confirm at till) summary: >- After security and passport control, cafés and retail sell chilled bottles at higher mark-ups. Fine once sterile; worse value than a landside bottle for the immigration queue. location: >- Airside retail and café units along the departures concourse after Duty Free terminal: Main Passenger Terminal - kind: free name: Lounge drinking water (The Lounge) zone: airside summary: >- Soft-drink stations and water inside The Lounge once you have valid Priority Pass, airline, or paid walk-up access. Not a public fountain programme — do not plan hydration on lounge entry you may not get at peak. location: >- Inside The Lounge on Level 1 opposite the transfer desk after accepted entry terminal: Main Passenger Terminal isBestQuality: true airportistScore: 6.5 slug: shj region: Middle East --- > Markdown for [/airports/shj](/airports/shj). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/shj) - [Lounge directory](/airports/shj/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) Sharjah, United Arab Emirates · Middle East Busy Air Arabia single-terminal alternative to DXB: simple to navigate with a real Priority Pass lounge, but single-runway ops, construction, and Dubai road traffic keep the score honest. ## Airportist Score **6.5 / 10** - Comfort: 6.5 - Navigation: 7.5 - Food: 6.0 - Transport: 6.8 - Disruption resilience: 5.8 ## At a glance - Passengers: 19.48M (2025) - Terminals: 1 (main passenger terminal; expansion through ~2027) - Typical security: 22 min - On-time: 74% - Disruption: normal ## Best for - Air Arabia LCC arrivals and departures - Priority Pass holders needing The Lounge showers/buffet - Travelers targeting Sharjah / northern Dubai without DXB complexity - Budget coach or metered-taxi city access ## Watch out for - Single runway — delays cascade faster than at DXB/AUH - Terminal expansion detours through 2026–2027 - No metro at the airport — Dubai transfers are road-only - Al Diyafa suites are not Priority Pass ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/shj/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/shj/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/shj/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/shj/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/shj/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/shj/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/shj/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/shj/reviews.md)