Clock Tower Sharjah is located at Al Zahra Square (also known as Clock Tower Roundabout) on Sheikh Zayed Street in the central Al Musalla district of Sharjah. Constructed in the late 1960’s, it is one of the oldest of the emirate’s still existing landmarks and continues to function as a traffic circle, commercial centre, and a reference point for its inhabitants.

Before the buildings of glass towers were added to the skyline of the emirate and shopping malls overtook it, this roundabout monument marked the map for the citizens, but also became a bone of contention in numerous pictures, and remains one of the loveliest reminders of “Old Sharjah” that is still there.

Quick Facts

Where Is the Sharjah Clock Tower Located?

Al Zahra Square is located in Al Musalla / Al Gharb district near Sheikh Zayed Street, where the Sharjah Clock Tower is located. It is one of the oldest and central neighbourhoods of SSharjahh where you can find other areas of interest like Rolla, Al Arouba Street,  and Sharjah Corniche.

That’s exactly why the roundabout became so much of a useful shortcut for locals and tourists alike in the decades that followed – it’s a big intersection that connects several more established residential and commercial area pockets of the city to the rest of the road network.

How to get there:

• By bus: Rolla Square Bus Stop is roughly a 15-minute walk away, and several routes (including E304, E306, E307A, E400, 3, and 8) stop nearby.
• By car: The tower sits on a well-connected roundabout just off Sheikh Zayed Street, making it easy to reach from most parts of central Sharjah.
• On foot: The surrounding area is highly walkable, with shops, clinics, and eateries lining the streets that radiate from the square.

A Short History of the Clock Tower

The date the tower was built is also given with various dates, with most giving it as late 1960s, when the emirate was undergoing its fast development in infrastructure. Others say it was a gift from a German construction company, which provided the tower to the city, and that a traffic circle was laid out in Sharjah’s master plan at around the same time.

The tower was a physical reflection of this shift in Sharjahbecausees,,e at the time the city was evolving from a small seaside village to a modern city, and the tower itself stood on a major realignment point. It has been extended and updated throughout the year,,s and its purpose has not changed – it continues to be a useful clock, a way of getting your bearings, and a peaceful reminder of the city’s evolution from fishing village to cultural capital of the UAE.

Architecture and Design

Four clock faces representing a single time are in use on the tower, a simple symmetrical design so drivers and pedestrians can read the time from many directions from which they approach. The detailing is based on Islamic geometric design ratherthan decorationand the building’s plainness is enhanced by day.

The fountains and illuminated clock faces transform the roundabout in the nighintoo a different persona; at night, this roundabout is sometimes referred to as one of the more photogenic central locations in Sharjah. The tower is often lit with UAE flags and lights during the national holidays, making it a gathering place.

Things to Know Before You Visit

• Unlike a paid event,nt it’s not a roundabout, it has no ticket, no entry gate, and is not fixed on hours of visiting, but it is visited by you and around the street/pavements of this area.
• The photographer moves constantly, capturing the traffictryingry to shoot from the pedestrian walkways and corners, avoiding going on the road.
• Prayer time is hectic when there is the most traffic and business in the surrounding stores as well as restaurants.
• Signage is in both Arabic and English, and residents use different terms, such as “Al Zahra Square,” “Al Rolla Clock Tower,” or, most simply, “the Clock Tower roundabout.”

Best Time to Visit

The best time is either in the late afternoon or early evening. With the heat then abated, the shops are open and humming around the square. Afterwards, at the end of the day, it appears tthat he lighting up of the tower and of the fountains was involved. If you prefer to stay away from the crowds, you’ll find fewer stores will be open in the early morning, as the time will be cooler anand quieterAccessibility and Parking.

It is pedestrian-friendly, but the street surfaces are not uniform, and the streets are narrower, so it’s more practical for different users in a built-up pedestrian environment than a purpose-built pedestrian zone. Street parking is available around the square and the side streets, but it quickly fills up as many businesses make use of the square to attract shoppers: if arriving outside the peak shopping hours (late morning on weekdays), it is much easier to find a space.

Kalyan Silks Clock Tower Branch

When it comes to seeking “Sharjah business” related to the landmark, one of the most common businesses is Kalyan Silks, the showroom of which is located right at Al Zahra Square on Sheikh Zayed Street, across Central Private Hospital, around the Clock Tower, which is also called here “Al Rolla Clock Tower”. It occupies twofloorssr,s and with its extensive range of silk Sarees, bridal apparel, and family cloths, it’s one of the reasons the Clock Tower area is a shopping hotspot, in particular among the South Asian community.

Al Ansari Exchange Near Clock Tower Branch

Al Ansari Exchange has a branch nearby Clock Tower roundabout,t which is convenientt so it could be a good option for exchange of currency and remittance for shoppers with shopping or errand plans in that area. Like other exchange counters in the close vicinity of Al Zahra Square, it takes advantage of the traffic generated throughout the day at its target place.

Where to Eat Nearby

The Clock Tower area falls into one of Sharjah’s most food-rich commercial pockets, which are primarily targeted toward the local populace – from Rolla and the different streets radiating out from Al Zahra Square, casual South Asian and Arabic eateries, bakeries, and juice counters are to be expected rather than fine dining. A good place to have a meal where you don’t mind the quality between errands, especially if you want Kerala food or North Indian fffood as most of the neighbourhood’s population are from those cultures.

Family-Friendly Notes

Though the roundabout doesn’t have its own play space, nearby Al Musalla Square Park provides green space for children to let off steam, and the lowered pace of the neighbouring roads — shops, small eateries, and pedestrian corners — are better suited to a family stroll than a crisscrossing tourist tour. The wider main pavements are easily accessible for strollers, but some side streets are narrower.

What Else Is Nearby

The surroundings of the Clock Tower are a testament to “Old Sharjah”, the amalgamation of individual stores, textile and electronics shops, pharmacies,  and small restaurants instead of big malls — many of those who live there would still recognise them. There are several interesting attractions within easy reach:

• In proximity to the roundabout, there is Khan Saheb Mosque w, which is also quite close.
• A close by Park named Al Musalla is available as a convenient green space for a break from the traffic.
• Beyond the roundabout is a commercial strip in well known Rolla Square and Rolla Park.
• Kalyan Silks, which is diagonally oppositethe CeCentral Railwayospital, is located there.

A bit further out, but not far from the Clock Tower, are a few lesser-known cultural venues in Sharjah: Central Souk (Blue Souk) and the Sharjah Heritage Area, which houses a motley collection of Museums, and Al Majaz Waterfront. Its location near these makes it convenient to walk to and from the Clock Tower, heading to one of the older, less trendy areas of the emirate before taking a taxi or car to the waterfront areas as the day goes on.

Practical Tips for Visitors

• Traffic: The roundabout is intended for lots of traffic during rush hour; make sure to drive at times other than rush if possible.
• The parking on the street is available and will fill up depending on how busy the area is in terms of shops and parking.
• Late in the day, since the tower is lit up and the fountains are working, it is when the best photos can be taken (take from the pedestrian corners,  not the road).
• Shopping: Any shopping trip you make from Kalyan Silks or the other textile shops will be easier in the morning during the week, compared to the weekend afternoon.

Also Read: Al Mahatta Park Sharjah

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the Sharjah Clock Tower?

It is situated at Al Zahra Square (Clock Tower Roundabout, Sheikh Zayed Street, Al Musalla area, central area of the city of Sharjah.

When was the Sharjah Clock Tower built?

The site is generally attributed to the late 1960s, when there was a considerable development of infrastructure in the emirate.

Is Kalyan Silks near the Clock Tower?

Yes — Al Zahra Square is opposite Central Private Hospital with the Kalyan Silks right there, near the Clock Tower.

Is there an Al Ansari Exchange near the Clock Tower?

Yes, there is indeed an Ansari Exchange branch right there next to the roundabout, which is more commonly known as the Clock Tower branch.

Does the Clock Tower have visiting hours or an entry fee?

No — not a ticketed attraction — there is also a public roundabout, which can be viewed all day on the surrounding streets.

Is the Clock Tower a tourist attraction?

It is more of a sprawling attraction than a traditional one and gives visitors a real taste of life in Sharjah, particularly relative to that of the emirate’s more rrigidly structuredmuseums and heritage sites.

Is this the same as the Kalba Clock Tower?

The distinctive tower – No. Kalba is not related to this; it is a wholly distinct, much more recent building situated on the East Coast of Sharjah. The most popular option is “clock tower Sharja,h,” but the old Al Zahra Square landmark in the heart of the city is the one that comes to mind.