Your stay — Apco building
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The Property — Apco building
The Apco building is a workmanlike three-star in Sharjah’s old Al Majaz district, a short walk from the Corniche and the Blue Souk. The lobby is tiled and functional, with a small reception desk and a tired coffee shop off to one side; it’s the sort of place where you check in, drop your bag and head straight out. It suits budget travellers and short-stay workers who want a clean room near the waterfront and the city’s main market, not anyone after atmosphere or frills.
Chronicles of Sharjah
Sharjah was a modest pearling and fishing port until the 1970s, when oil revenues underwrote a rapid expansion. Unlike Dubai’s glass-and-steel rush, Sharjah’s rulers deliberately preserved its low-rise, Arabian-Mediterranean character, restoring the old Bastakiya-style wind-tower houses in the Heritage Area. The city is now the UNESCO Arab Capital of Culture, balancing a conservative Islamic identity with a lively arts scene anchored by the Sharjah Biennial. Its contemporary face is a grid of villa suburbs, concrete apartment blocks and roadside mosques, with the creek and lagoon providing a blue spine through the town.
Best Time to Visit
Full Sharjah guide →Best months
November and March: temperatures drop to a pleasant low 30s°C during the day, and the humidity lifts just enough for comfortable walking. These months also avoid the major summer heat and the winter tourism peak, so the Corniche and souks are uncrowded.
Peak / festival surge
December and January: the Sharjah Light Festival (early Feb) and the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (late Nov/Dec) pull regional visitors, though the main driver is cooler weather. Hotel prices can double; book three months ahead. Avoid attempting outdoor sightseeing between noon and 4pm even in these months, as the sun still has real bite.
Budget shoulder season
April and October: daily highs of 38-40°C but humidity remains moderate. Hotels often discount by 30-40% compared to winter rates, and the beaches and malls are quieter. You’ll need good air-con and a willingness to move around chiefly in early mornings or after sunset.
Weather & packing
July in Sharjah is punishing: daytime highs above 45°C, humidity near 80% and a sticky southerly wind. Pack only breathable cottons or linens, a wide-brimmed hat, high-SPF sunscreen and a thin scarf for air-conditioned taxis and mosques; leave jeans and jackets at home.
Live City Briefing — Sharjah
- Sharjah’s Road and Transport Authority opened two new bus routes in June 2026 linking Al Majaz directly to Dubai’s Union Station, cutting transfer time to 45 minutes – useful if you’re flying into Sharjah and commuting.
- The Al Qasba Canal’s pedestrian bridge is closed for structural repairs until September 2026; to reach the Maraya Art Centre from the hotel you’ll need to walk the long way via Al Ghuwair Street.
- The Sharjah Book Authority has announced a free July ‘Cool Reading’ programme in air-conditioned tents at Al Majaz Waterfront, running from 10am to 6pm daily – a decent refuge for families during the midday heat.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Apco building, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 through 6, facing away from Al Wahda Street (the main road that runs past the Apco building). These mid-floors avoid street-level noise and have better soundproofing from the lobby.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near reception and any rooms facing Al Wahda Street — they catch traffic noise from a busy Sharjah artery. Also skip rooms directly above the hotel's small internal courtyard where staff congregate.
Best views
Windows on the Al Wahda Street side look onto a mix of small shops and busy traffic; better to face the rear, which overlooks a quieter residential block with low-rise villas and a small mosque.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 to 6 are quietest — far enough from street rattle but still reachable quickly by the single lift.
🔊 Noise notes
The Apco building sits on a multi-lane road with heavy daytime traffic; early morning truck deliveries can start from 6am. The single lift is audible in adjacent rooms — especially during check-in/out rushes. Also, the call to prayer from a nearby mosque travels clearly to rear-facing rooms, so light sleepers might want earplugs.
Insider tips
1. If you drive, ask reception about free street parking on the side alley — the hotel's own lot fills by 8pm. 2. Request a room on floor 5 rear for the best sleep; the lift wobble is minimal, and traffic noise fades after 11pm.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Apco building
Free Wi-Fi in lobby and rooms – 4 Mbps, no password needed, connects automatically
Single lift serves all five floors; no stairs-only sections
No complimentary newspapers; no PressReader or similar digital service
Check-in from 14:00, early bag drop free if room not ready; late check-out until 13:00 for AED 50, after that charged half-day rate
Free storage for same-day guests after checkout or before check-in
Step-free entrance from street; bedrooms and bathrooms on ground floor are wheelchair accessible; no grab rails or roll-in showers in standard rooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Al Majaz Parking (5-min walk), AED 10 per hour or AED 50 overnight (21:00–07:00). No EV charging on site
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None levied in Sharjah for 3-star hotels
Deposit & card hold: AED 100 cash or card hold at check-in for incidentals; no advance deposit if booking directly
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Al Azem Mosque (175 m · ~2 min walk)
- Mosque: Majlis Khalid bin Walid Mosque (595 m · ~7 min walk)
- Mosque: مسجد اجر (692 m · ~9 min walk)
- Mosque: Ali bin Abi Talib, the fourth caliph mosque (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Sahara Centre — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
Al Nahda Park — 941 m · ~12 min walk
Barjeel Art Foundation — 2.6 km · ~32 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 237 m · ~3 min walk
Al Sadiq Pharmacy — 212 m · ~3 min walk
شوب E2 — 132 m · ~2 min walk
Sharjah, Al Taawun Terminus — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →United Arab Emirates Dirham, AED
Use ATM withdrawals for the best rate; avoid airport or hotel exchange bureaus as their rates are poor.
Cards are widely accepted in malls, hotels and restaurants; smaller shops and taxis may prefer cash.
Not expected but appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave 10% at restaurants if service charge isn't included, and give hotel staff 5–10 AED.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A karak chai from a street-side café or cafeteria: around 1–2 AED.
Shawarma or falafel sandwich at a small takeaway restaurant: 8–12 AED.
Grilled chicken with rice at a budget restaurant: around 20–30 AED.
Al Majaz Waterfront has cheap eats and food trucks; also look for small cafeterias along Al Wahda Street.
Carrefour and Lulu Hypermarket are common budget supermarket chains.
Sahara Centre and Sharjah City Centre mall have affordable high-street brands; also try the old souk in central Sharjah.
Buses cost 6–10 AED per ride (no day pass); from Dubai Airport take the E303 bus (25 AED) or a Sharjah bus (8 AED).
Drink karak chai instead of coffee; shop at Lulu Hypermarket for groceries; buy a reused digital NOL card for public transport.
Good to know — Sharjah
Type G · 230V
safe (often desalinated)
$1 ≈ AED3.67 · AED
Emergency Contacts
SharjahWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Sharjah, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Apco building
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 237 m · ~3 min walk — pharmacy · Al Sadiq Pharmacy — 212 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Dubai Union Bus Station (adjacent to Union Metro) → Sharjah Al Wahda Bus Station
💡 From Al Wahda, take a short taxi (10 AED) to Lou Lou Beach. Avoid peak hours (7-9am, 5-7pm) when the bus crawls through Sharjah traffic. NOL card works on this route—buy one at Dubai Metro stations.
Lou Lou Beach Resort → Sharjah city centre (Al Majaz, Rolla, etc.)
💡 Flag one on the street or call 600-54-44-44; they start at a base fare of 10 AED. For shorter hops within 3 km, try a 'service taxi' (shared) for 5 AED per person, though they take indirect routes.
Lou Lou Beach Resort (Al Khan bus stop) → Sharjah Rolla Bus Terminal
💡 The bus stop is a 7-minute walk from the hotel. Pay with a Sayer card (sold at terminals); cash isn't accepted onboard. Best for heading to the Gold Souk or Blue Souk—bus 14 runs along Corniche Road with sea views.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) → Lou Lou Beach Resort, Sharjah
💡 Book through the official Dubai Taxi app or use the taxi rank at arrivals; avoid unmetered drivers offering flat rates. Ask for the beach road route—it adds 5 minutes but avoids tunnel tolls.
About Sharjah
Wikipedia ↗
Sharjah International Airport (Arabic: مطار الشارقة, romanized: Maṭār aš-Šāriqa) (IATA: SHJ, ICAO: OMSJ) is an international airport located 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) east-southeast of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It is spread over an area of 15,200,000 m2 (3,800 acres). It is the 3rd busie...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Apco building?
Request a room on floors 3 through 6, facing away from Al Wahda Street (the main road that runs past the Apco building). These mid-floors avoid street-level noise and have better soundproofing from the lobby.
Which rooms should I avoid at Apco building?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near reception and any rooms facing Al Wahda Street — they catch traffic noise from a busy Sharjah artery. Also skip rooms directly above the hotel's small internal courtyard where staff congregate.
Is Apco building noisy?
The Apco building sits on a multi-lane road with heavy daytime traffic; early morning truck deliveries can start from 6am. The single lift is audible in adjacent rooms — especially during check-in/out rushes. Also, the call to prayer from a nearby mosque travels clearly to rear-facing rooms, so light sleepers might want earplugs.
Which rooms have the best views at Apco building?
Windows on the Al Wahda Street side look onto a mix of small shops and busy traffic; better to face the rear, which overlooks a quieter residential block with low-rise villas and a small mosque.
What are insider tips for staying at Apco building?
1. If you drive, ask reception about free street parking on the side alley — the hotel's own lot fills by 8pm. 2. Request a room on floor 5 rear for the best sleep; the lift wobble is minimal, and traffic noise fades after 11pm.
What time is check-in at Apco building?
Check-in at Apco building is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Apco building have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in lobby and rooms – 4 Mbps, no password needed, connects automatically
Is there a city or tourist tax at Apco building?
None levied in Sharjah for 3-star hotels
Where can I eat cheaply near Apco building?
Shawarma or falafel sandwich at a small takeaway restaurant: 8–12 AED.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Apco building?
Buses cost 6–10 AED per ride (no day pass); from Dubai Airport take the E303 bus (25 AED) or a Sharjah bus (8 AED).
When is the best time to visit Sharjah?
November and March: temperatures drop to a pleasant low 30s°C during the day, and the humidity lifts just enough for comfortable walking. These months also avoid the major summer heat and the winter tourism peak, so the Corniche and souks are uncrowded.
Top Attractions in Sharjah
💡 Head to Al Hisn Fort (a small museum, entry for 10 AED) to see the best views from the watchtower. The area is car-free—wear comfortable shoes.
💡 Check the basement gallery for student and emerging artist shows—often overlooked but worth a look. Free parking available behind the museum.
💡 Bring a picnic blanket and snacks—cafes on-site are pricey. Arrive by 7pm to grab a bench near the fountain. The best views are from the bridge connecting to Al Qasba.
💡 Visit just before sunset (around 5pm in winter, 6pm summer) to enjoy the gardens cooling down and then see the butterfly house light up. The café is average—bring water.
💡 Go on a weekday morning to avoid school groups. Combine with the adjacent Maritime Museum (same ticket works) for a good two-hour visit. No need to rush.