AL QASBA

On either side of the canal linking Khalid and Al-Khan lagoons, this is the antithesis of the Dubai Mall, or if you prefer, the Sharjian version of entertainment: few shops, no gaudy supermarkets, walking areas, a bookshop, terraced cafes, boats, art. People come here for a quiet lunch, to walk by the water, but it is between 4pm and midnight that the attractions open and the crowds gather. It is also worth visiting the Maraya Art Centre, a superb contemporary space in the spirit of multimedia wastelands.