[2024 Sharjah Stay] Travel Guide for The Chedi Al Bait Sharjah UAE (Updated Dec)
United Arab Emirates | A treasure in the Middle East, the old city of Sharjah
| A treasure in the Middle East, the old city of Sharjah.
🇦🇪 The third largest emirate of the UAE, Sharjah, was historically one of the wealthiest areas in the region, with a history of over 5000 years.
Today, it blends the modern urban landscape with the traditional Arabian old town. The most immersive experience in this cultural capital of the UAE is to live within it—right in the Heart of Sharjah by the sea.
❤ The 'Heart of Sharjah' is one of the most important historical revitalization projects in the UAE, preserving the traditional Emirati architecture in the city center and restoring it to its 1950s appearance. Here you can find shops, restaurants, art galleries, markets, archaeological sites, museums, amusement areas, and the famous The Chedi Al Bait Sharjah UAE hotel.
🚶🏻 Surrounding tips:
- You can buy a joint ticket for the following four museums for 20 units, or 10 units each if purchased separately.
The hotel offers a buggy service to take guests there and give them a tour around.
1️⃣ Bait Al Naboodah: A grand house with beautiful furnishings
2️⃣ Sharjah Heritage Museum: Learn about the local culture and history of Sharjah
3️⃣ Sharjah Calligraphy Museum: Calligraphy art exhibition
4️⃣ Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn): Also known as Sharjah Castle, a defensive structure built in 1823, which was the headquarters of the independent emirate of Sharjah and the residence of the Al Qasimi family
- Sharjah Art Museum: Free admission, very beautiful paintings
- Souk Al Arsa: A covered open-air market, just outside the hotel's café, selling clothing, antiques, souvenirs
Special Tip!!!!
Don't buy souvenirs from the museums!!!! They are made in China... You'll only realize it after the purchase.
TranscontinentalWanderlust$7
Staying in an Arabian tycoon's ancient mansion, sleeping on a mattress worth 100,000 is truly blissful
Sharjah may not be the largest emirate in the UAE, but it retains the most complete Arabian historical culture. This protection and inheritance permeate every aspect, subtly influencing everything around.
This time, staying at The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah, a resort hotel transformed from the ancient mansion of one of Sharjah's four wealthiest families. Outside the door is a bustling market, and through an inconspicuous alley, you find another tranquil world.
🏨Al Bait means 'home'. This radiant 'home' located in the heart of Sharjah is a precious historical conservation artifact in itself, constructed mainly of wood and rammed earth, exuding a sense of history with ever-changing light and shadows at different times, and a dreamy light at night, making one feel as if they are in another era.
🕌️The circular wind tower outside the reception area is said to be the oldest in the UAE and has become a symbol of the hotel. The guest area is in another secluded space, with high walls in the corridors leading to a serene path. The second floor also has connecting aerial corridors; though not large, they resemble a maze, and it's easy to get lost when first arriving, adding to the sense of mystery.
🛏️The hotel has a total of 53 rooms, each blending Arabian style with a holiday vibe, and each one is unique. The original layout of the old building is preserved, and restored to its former state. With wooden ceilings, woven grass murals, wooden furniture, and a hundred percent Middle Eastern exotic atmosphere. The bath amenities are from the Italian national treasure brand 'Acqua di Parma', and the mattresses are the same as those used in sailboat hotels, said to be worth 100,000, and whether it's psychological or not, they provide an incredibly good night's sleep.
🏊♀️Although it is a renovated old house, the facilities are very complete, with a swimming pool, SPA, and fitness center hidden in different corners, forming unique scenery. There's even a library open only to guests, telling the family's past with artifacts.
🍴The full-service restaurant, The restaurant, offers a chance to bask in the morning sun in the courtyard, and over three days, I tried Arabian, American, and Indian breakfasts, each completely different and satisfyingly delicious. The Chinese dinner and other meals here also have their own characteristics, highly recommended.
Because it's right in the heart of Sharjah, you can walk to various museums, mosques, and markets, easily exploring Sharjah's historical and cultural heritage.
S@m Sm.th
Staycation of The Chedi Ai Bait Sharjah, UAE
This property was renovated from an old Arab Houses and only 20 mins from Dubai International Airport.
The hotel face to a canal and close to a local market, you could walk and find some local stuff. Then I am really like the swimming pool here, the staff was very nice and introduce sauna equipment for me.
Also, hotel have very romantic Arabic restaurants, they operated breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfasts have different kinds of packages, like American style, Arab style and English Style. Lunch is provide International Menu, and dinner time only provide Arabic Menu.
At last, it is really a good place to take photos and videos.
#newyearadventure #tripblazers
Eric Huang @SG
Visa-free travel to the UAE, stay in the heart of Sharjah, the former mansion of celebrities
As is well known, The Chedi is a luxury resort hotel brand created by Adrian Zecha, the founder of Aman, under GHM (General Hotel Management), with each location chosen with exquisite care. This hotel is striving to be listed as a World Heritage Site.
🏠Al Midfa Family Mansion
Al Bait means 'the House' in Arabic, and the hotel is indeed converted from the old mansion of the five Al Midfa brothers, a prominent Sharjah family.
The traditional building materials of Sharjah are derived from the surrounding nature, such as coral stone, plaster, and limestone. The distinctive texture of coral stone can still be seen on many walls. The doors and windows are made of teak, the columns of mango wood, and the ceilings of palm leaves, with a history dating back to 1927.
The patterns, elements, and decorative designs are mostly borrowed from neighboring countries, such as India and Iran, or brought back by merchants.
Each cluster of guest rooms has a large communal space. And the guest room area has restaurants, SPAs, etc., that are only open to guests, separate from the hotel's public areas, ensuring safety and privacy.
📖Library + Museum
Ibrahim Bin Mohammed Al Midfa, the publisher of Sharjah's first newspaper, had his house converted into a library, and his personal items are also on display, telling the family's history.
Among the famous exhibits is the 'Elephant Door,' which was the main entrance to his house. It got its name because it has two elephants on top, brought from his travels to India.
☕Café:
Converted from Majlis Ibrahim Al Midfa's old house, open to non-guests, with a beautiful courtyard and indoor space.
This was the first postal service headquarters of the British in Sharjah. The round wind tower Barjeel outside the courtyard is unique to the UAE.
🤵🏻Reception Center:
The old house of Bait Eissa Al Midfa, the courtyard is a classic spot for photos, capturing the hotel's signature main visual.
🏡Guest Rooms:
The old house of Bait Abdul Rahman Al Midfa.
The rooms retain the traditional recessed niches, maintaining the specific proportions of old rural houses, with wooden ceilings and traditional finishes and colors. A full set of Acqua di Parma toiletries is provided.
👳🏻♂️Arab Restaurant:
Converted from the old house of Bait Abdullah Al Mahmood, it serves international cuisine, especially authentic Southeast Asian dishes, which are particularly comforting to the Chinese stomach. The Turkish specialty ice cream is the most delicious. The courtyard is especially beautiful when it's sunny.
🏊🏻Fitness Center:
The fitness center in Building 2, with a blue swimming pool, for guests who like swimming and sunbathing.
Others:
The house of Issa Al Midfa was also the first customs headquarters in Sharjah.
The residence of Abdulrahman Al Midfa was once the Sharjah Maritime Museum (2003-2009).
🏰The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah, a must-stay in Sharjah.