Home to 1.5 million people, out of which expats account for 1.2 million, Sharjah is one of the most popular emirates in the UAE. Also known as the cultural capital of the country, it attracts a huge number of people, some for exploring its beauty, others for finding an employment opportunity.
Let’s take a look at some major reasons why you should consider Sharjah if you’re planning to move to the UAE:
1. Lower Cost of Living
The cost of living in Sharjah, as compared to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is significantly lower. You can even find a villa for rent in Sharjah at comparatively lower rates without burning a hole in your pockets. This is the reason why many people live in Sharjah despite having their workplace located in Dubai. They are willing to face commutation hassles caused by travelling daily between the two emirates solely because of this reason.
Keeping rental properties aside, the cost of buying a home in this emirate is also on the lower side. Furthermore, utilities, recreational and medical facilities are also available at reduced rates in Sharjah.
2. A Modest Culture
If you are someone who prefers to live in a place where modest culture is prevalent, Sharjah is the best choice. Some may call it conservative, but Sharjawis take pride in their modest culture and feel comfortable in it.
You wouldn’t find the glamour and glitz that’s available in Dubai. However, this doesn’t mean that it is any less than the City of Gold. There’s a lot to do in this emirate, which makes it a fairly interesting place to live in.
3. Opportunity to Save
As stated above, the living cost here is less than the other two popular emirates. Therefore, there are abundant opportunities for you to have healthy savings. For example, you can save money on rent. Even if you have to travel daily to Dubai, you will still be able to save money, provided you are taking public transport.
4. Affordable Education
As per a report, the annual fee in Sharjah is AED 18,300 on average. This means that you can find schools that charge even lower than this figure. This makes it a great place to live if you have a family, as you wouldn’t have to burn a hole in your pockets for your kids’ education.
Bear in mind that inexpensive education doesn’t necessarily mean the quality is inferior. You will be amazed to know that some of the best UAE universities are located in this emirate. Therefore, you can give your children the best education without worrying about monetary issues.
5. Abundant Leisure Options
Dubai is one of the best tourist destinations in the world, and it deserves this recognition fair and square. However, when it comes to leisure options in Sharjah, it’s not much behind either. There are various family-friendly recreational places in this emirate. These include A Majaz Waterfront, Sharjah Art Museum, Al Noor Island, Al Qasba, to name a few. Suffice it to say, living here is not as boring as it is made out to be.
6. A Rather Calming Ambience
The emirate features a rather calming and relaxing ambience. It is less congested as compared to other emirates, primarily because it is not a popular tourist destination. Tourists do visit Sharjah but not in as huge numbers as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
7. Bigger, Spacious Units
Residential units in Sharjah are bigger and spacious. Therefore, they are more suitable for families. And the best part? They are affordable as well. The ones located in modern communities and residential projects come laced with state of the art amenities, giving a tough competition to the ones available for residents in Dubai.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, it’s safe to say that Sharjah is your ultimate choice if you’re looking for affordable housing units in the UAE. As the emirate is growing in popularity, several corporate entities are also preferring this emirate. This has resulted in increased employment opportunities. Therefore, the need for travelling to Dubai or Abu Dhabi on a daily basis for work purposes will be eliminated as you can find employment opportunities here in Sharjah that suit your qualifications and skills.
Having said that, it’s important to hire the services of an expert real estate agent to get the best apartment or villa for rent in Sharjah.
