Travel through time and enjoy great outdoors in the Deserts of Mleiha

Heart-pumping dune bashing, exploring past civilisations, and stargazing in the middle of the desert: Mleiha has put together an all-encompassing itinerary through its Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project.

Mleiha, in the Emirate of Sharjah, is striking the right chord with history buffs and the traveller who loves the great outdoors. In 2016, the Mleiha Archaeological Centre was officially opened by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, as part of the first phase of the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism Project.

The project, realising the true potential of Mleiha as a tourist site, seeks to make use of the natural landscape and the archaeological discoveries of the area to offer tourist activities and luxuries that are in line with its policy of sustainable development.

Remnants excavated in Mleiha date back as far as the Neolithic to pre-Islamic Arabia. The Mleiha Archaeological Centre is a portal to take a step back in time as visitors are taken through many archaeological treasures, including early developments such as the Mleiha Fort, the Castle, the ancient farmhouse, the historical graveyards and the caves inhabited by Mleiha’s first dwellers more than 130,000 years ago.

Sharjah never fails to surprise in terms of bringing in the contemporary, especially in this extremely historically significant location for the UAE. For the enjoyment of tourists, Mleiha’s magnificent desert lends itself to a number of adventure sports that everyone can enjoy. A favourite among dare-devils is definitely dune bashing with Mleiha’s Polaris Extreme Adventure buggies, closely followed by paragliding and para-motoring.

For a thrilling and more luxurious adventure, tourists can ask to be driven in luxury off-road vehicles for the desert safaris. Another way to experience the heart-pumping ups and downs of the dunes is Fatboy Biking, off-road bikes with oversized tires.

Overnight camping and stargazing in Mleiha is a must-try, not only because it will acquaint the traveller with the tranquility and beauty of the desert, but also because the experts at the campsites effectively educate the visitors about constellations, galaxies and other aspects of astronomy.

Fossil Rock Lodge is one of the main components of the Sharjah Collection, located in Mleiha. The lodge, while luxurious, is steeped in authenticity. Named after the Fossil Rock mountain, the lodge is set against the beautiful backdrop of Mleiha’s desert landscapes. The Lodge is one of the resorts to be introduced as part of Shurooq’s sustainable eco-tourism developments in Sharjah. It provides visitors with a trail through history, as well as the opportunity to escape the fast-paced hustle and bustle of city life and get back to nature.

Whether you are a nature lover, or an adventure-seeker, or are simply seeking a leisurely escape, a trip to Mleiha can be planned to suit every traveller. The thrilling daytime adventures and calming nighttime recreation are sure to make for your perfect escape, with the added bonus of learning more about history, science and geography without having to open a book!