05 January 2009 23:10 GMT
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Arriving and departing
After you’ve landed at Sharjah airport, you will pass through the main departures/transit area before heading to the visa counters and then downstairs towards baggage claim and the exit.
- Walking distances are very short, although queues at the visa counter can be lengthy – try to get a seat near the front of the plane to save some time in arrivals.
- In 2008 the airport opened an e-gate service for holders of UAE e-gate cards. To apply, you either have to be a resident of the UAE or one of those nationalities who qualify for an automatic visa on arrival at the airport. They're definitely a good idea and can save lots of waiting time at busy periods.
- If you're pre-arranged a visa to be collected at the airport, then look for the counter which is clearly marked 'Visa Collection' in different languages.
- After organising your visa, you’ll find yourself in the airy arrivals hall which opened in 2006. There’s a small duty-free arrivals shop near baggage claim which is usually less busy and crowded than the main duty-free outlet in departures.
- There is an ATM next to baggage claim, but it does not accept all international cards. It’s definitely worth making sure in advance that you have some local currency with you for an onward taxi, or alternatively use the Travelex money exchange counter, which is just after customs.
- A number of car rental booths and hotel reservation offices, open most hours of the day, can be found after the baggage claim/customs area.
The best transport option for reaching Sharjah, or going on to nearby Dubai, is to take a taxi. A line of them depart from outside the main terminal building and all are metered. A fare to central Sharjah will cost around Dhs 40-50 ($11-14) with a trip taking around 20-40 minutes depending on traffic. Expect to pay above Dhs 60 ($16) to reach most locations in Dubai. See Transport Options for more.
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