Dubai to Mleiha and Al Noor Mosque: Private day trip

The Mleiha Archaeological Centre was opened in 2016 by Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah. The area has proven itself to be a treasure trove for archaeologists, with prehistoric fossils, evidence of “anatomically modern humans” dating back 130,000 years (around when they began migrating out of Africa), and the millennia of civilization that followed. At the visitors center, interactive displays and historic artefacts ranging from pottery to an actual Bronze Age tomb educate visitors on the area’s rich past. For those who want to really dig into history, it’s also possible to arrange excursions into the desert to visit other archaeological sites and zoom over the dunes. When you’re done, the on-site cafe offers a place to relax with a coffee, snack, or lunch. For more information, please visit discovermleiha.ae

The Al Noor Mosque was built in 2005, but its architecture is based on the historic Ottoman style. The 34 domes and towering minarets overlooking the Khalid Lagoon make it one of the most beautiful of the 600 mosques in Sharjah. During their Ramadan donation campaign in 2014, the mosque set the Guinness World Record for the "World's largest wooden charity box". Another distinction is that this is one of the emirate’s only mosques that is open to non-Muslims. Free tours operated by the Sharjah Centre for Cultural Communication inform visitors about the on the mosque's design, as well as Islam and Emirati traditions, and end with a complimentary Arabic coffee.