Quick facts
Sharjah overview
Sharjah (orange) and the other large cities of United Arab Emirates
Sharjah lies in United Arab Emirates at 25.33°N, 55.41°E, about 15 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Dubai (UTC+4); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Abu Dhabi (1,807,000) and larger than Al Ain City (846,747). The largest city in United Arab Emirates is Dubai with 3,790,000 people; the capital, Abu Dhabi, has 1,807,000.
The national capital, Abu Dhabi, is about 142 km away; the nearest large city is Ajman, 10 km from Sharjah.
United Arab Emirates as a whole has a live population of 11,632,947 (+1.7% a year) and ranks #85 of 238 countries — see the United Arab Emirates population page for the full statistics and the United Arab Emirates atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Sharjah
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Ajman Ajman | 10 km | 490,035 |
| Umm Al Quwain City Umm Al Quwain | 29 km | 59,098 |
| Dubai Dubai | 30 km | 3,790,000 |
| Ras Al Khaimah Ras Al Khaimah | 73 km | 351,943 |
| Ḩattā Dubai | 93 km | 15,324 |
| Khawr Fakkān Sharjah | 93 km | 40,677 |
| Fujairah Fujairah | 97 km | 118,933 |
| Kalbā Sharjah | 100 km | 37,545 |
Largest cities in United Arab Emirates
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai | Dubai | 3,790,000 |
| 2 | Abu DhabiCapital | Abu Dhabi | 1,807,000 |
| 3 | Sharjah | Sharjah | 1,800,000 |
| 4 | Al Ain City | Abu Dhabi | 846,747 |
| 5 | Ajman | Ajman | 490,035 |
| 6 | Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah | 351,943 |
| 7 | Fujairah | Fujairah | 118,933 |
| 8 | Zayed City | Abu Dhabi | 63,482 |
| 9 | Umm Al Quwain City | Umm Al Quwain | 59,098 |
| 10 | Khawr Fakkān | Sharjah | 40,677 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sharjah?
Sharjah has about 1,800,000 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Sharjah the capital of United Arab Emirates?
No. The capital of United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi (1,807,000 people), about 142 km away. Sharjah is the 3rd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Sharjah compared with the rest of United Arab Emirates?
Its 1,800,000 residents are 15.5% of the 11,632,947 people living in United Arab Emirates today. Dubai is larger with 3,790,000 people.
Where is Sharjah?
In United Arab Emirates, at latitude 25.33 and longitude 55.41, 15 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Ajman (10 km), Umm Al Quwain City (29 km), Dubai (30 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Sharjah Population 2026 — United Arab Emirates. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/">Sharjah Population 2026 — United Arab Emirates</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.