Watch Sharjah Light Up for Leilat al-Meiraj
Dusk settles over the Corniche and the call to prayer rolls across Al Majaz Waterfront. Along the waterfront promenades, families spread blankets on the grass, children carry small lanterns, and the fountains begin their evening cycle. On Leilat al-Meiraj, Sharjah observes the night journey of the Prophet Muhammad — the Isra from Mecca to Jerusalem and the Miraj through the seven heavens — and the emirate marks it the way it marks most of its religious occasions: quietly, communally, and after dark.
Leilat al-Meiraj falls on 27 Rajab in the Islamic calendar. In 2027 it is expected to arrive twice on the Gregorian calendar — once around 5 January, and again around 25 December — because the lunar year runs shorter than the solar one. The night is a public holiday in the United Arab Emirates, so mosques, homes and public spaces fill with activity. Here is how to spend it.
Join the Evening at the Mosques and Majlis
The centrepiece of Leilat al-Meiraj is the recitation of the story of the night journey. Congregations gather at mosques across the emirate, where the Isra and Miraj are told aloud: the angel Gabriel leading the Prophet on the winged steed Buraq to Jerusalem, where he meets Abraham and Moses and leads them in prayer, then the ascent through the seven heavens to the Lotus of the Utmost Boundary, where the five daily prayers are ordained.
- Arrive before the evening prayer to find a place; services run through the night at many mosques.
- Dress modestly and remove your shoes before entering a prayer hall — this applies to visitors of any faith at Sharjah's working mosques.
- If you are not Muslim, listen from the courtyard or the surrounding streets rather than the prayer floor, and follow the cues of those around you.
- Home observance is just as central: many families decorate their houses with candles and lights and share a meal after the recitation, so if you are invited to a home, accept.
Eat Late in the Markets and Along the Corniche
Because the observance runs into the night, the eating does too. Sharjah's markets and central souqs stay busy after dark on the occasion, and the Corniche and Al Majaz Waterfront fill with families out for the evening. The food is what Sharjah eats year-round, at its best when the weather is cool:
- Grilled meats, shawarma, and fresh flatbread from the souq stalls and cafeterias of the central market district.
- Karak chai and small sweets carried along the waterfront — the standard fuel for a late promenade.
- Shared family meals at home or in restaurants after the mosque service, in keeping with the tradition of gathering with relatives and friends.
- Look for the busiest stall rather than the best sign; turnover is the only reliable guide.
If your visit falls on the January date, the evenings are cool enough to eat outdoors comfortably. The December date coincides with the emirate's mild winter, which is also the season for the city's outdoor life.
Walk the Waterfront and the Heritage Quarter
Sharjah's public celebration of the night is mostly ambient — lights, crowds, and the pleasure of being out. Build an evening around it:
- Al Majaz Waterfront — fountains, lawns, and promenades where families gather after dark; the natural starting point for the night.
- The Corniche — a long, lit walk along the water, busy with strollers and picnicking groups.
- The heritage area around the central souqs — the older streets and market lanes, where the evening trade and the smell of the food stalls carry the night.
Expect crowds, expect children up late, and expect the city to feel like one continuous living room. That is the point of the night.
Plan Around the Two 2027 Dates
27 Rajab 1448 is expected to fall around 5 January 2027, and 27 Rajab 1449 around 25 December 2027 — the lunar calendar placing the observance twice in one Gregorian year. Exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon and are confirmed closer to the time, so treat both as windows rather than fixed appointments and check local announcements before you travel.
- January: cool days, cold evenings, peak season for outdoor eating and waterfront time.
- December: mild and comfortable, with the city at its most active outdoors.
- Both dates are public holidays in the UAE, so government offices and some businesses close; shops and restaurants largely stay open.
Add a Day Beyond the City
Sharjah is the base, but the emirate extends well past the Corniche. With a public holiday in hand, give yourself a full day outside the city before or after the night itself — the historic districts and the desert and east-coast reaches of the emirate are within easy reach of Sharjah's centre. Keep the day flexible: the observance itself is an evening and night affair, and you will want to be back in the city by dusk.
Start with the dates: check the moon sighting for 27 Rajab 1448 and 1449, book your stay near Al Majaz or the Corniche so the waterfront is a walk rather than a drive, and leave one evening entirely unplanned. The night rewards wandering — a lantern in a doorway, a full courtyard, a plate of something grilled, and the story of the journey told aloud until late.