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Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation

While no stone is being left unturned in promoting the cultural bounties of Sharjah, some of the noted tourist sites are museums such as the Al Mahatta or Airport Museum, named after Al Mahatta, the first airport in the Gulf region. The aim of the museum is to illustrate the importance of aviation in the development of the emirate. It was over eight decades ago that the first airport in the Gulf opened in Sharjah. The British aircraft, model HP42, was said to be the first aircraft to land in Sharjah airport in 1932 and it is part of this old airport station that is now converted into a unique museum.

The museum has several interesting areas, such as the flight section, which is the most attractive and important section that exhibits spnall maquettes of the aircraft that are known to have landed at the Sharjah airport, among which is a model of the HP42 aircraft.

Also on display are old photographs and a fuel-provider truck One of the major attractions of the museum is a documentary film show in English and Arabic, showing clips from the old airport's activities during its active period. Another must-visit is the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation that is housed in a magnificent building that is the second of its kind in the Gulf region, to use traditional, Arab-lslamic design elements in its ground plan and ddcor.

The building, with its impressive architecture and attractive design features, was subsequently renovated and reopened in 2008 as the Museum of Islamic Civilisation. Its most outstanding feature is its gifted central dome, decorated on the inside with an intricate mosaic depicting the night sky and the signs of the zodiac.

The wonders of the museum include the Islamic Faith Gallery that explores the Five Pillars of Islam and the main principles of the Faith. The Science and Innovation Gallery celebrates the remarkable achievements of scientists from across the Muslim world and their groundbreaking contributions to disciplines as diverse as astronomy, medicine, geography, the natural sciences and architecture. Islamic coinage is also displayed in a series of prominent cases along the centre of the atrium. The entire first floor of the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation is devoted to Islamic Art. Four spacious galleries take the visitor on a journey of artistic discovery, which starts in the early Islamic period and continues until the present day. Start your explorations with a visit to the state-of-the-art audiovisual show. Enjoy stunning images from all over the Muslim world and learn about the artistic achievements of its calligraphers and artisans.

Sharjah has kept history alive by ingeniously incorporating tradition into every aspect of contemporary development. The result is a vibrant, modem city that simultaneously looks forward to a bright future as it looks back respectfully upon its past.