{{Infobox Settlement 
|name              = Sharjah
|official_name     = Sharjah
|native_name       = الشارقةّ
|settlement_type   = city
|subdivision_type1 = Country
|subdivision_name1 = United Arab Emirates
|subdivision_type2 = Emirate
|subdivision_name2 = Sharjah
|translit_lang1_type = Arabic
|translit_lang1_info = الشارقة
|image_skyline     = Sharjah Panorama.jpg
|image_caption     = A panoramic photo of Sharjah city
|image_flag        = Flag of Sharjah.svg
|image_coat        = Coat of arms of United Arab Emirates.png
|pushpin_map       = UAE
|pushpin_map_caption = Location of Sharjah in the UAE
|image_map1        = LocationUnitedArabEmirates.png
|government_type   = Constitutional monarchy
|leader_title      = Sheik
|leader_name       = H.H. Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi
|area_magnitude    = 
|area_metro_km2    = 235.5
|area_metro_mi2    = 
|population_as_of  = 2008
|population_total  = 801,004
|latd=25 |latm=26 |lats= |latNS=N
|longd=55 |longm=23 |longs= |longEW=E
|latitude=25°26?N |longitude=55°23?E
}}

'''Sharjah''' (Arabic: '''الشارقة''') (, pronounced // in English) is the third most populous city in the Sharjah. The city covers an approximate area of 235&nbsp;km² and has a population of over 800,000 (2008). 

==Description==
thumb|200px|left|Emigration road, Sharjah.

Sharjah is the third largest city (after Abu Dhabi) in the United Arab Emirates.  The palace of the ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah (Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi) is located about  southeast of the city. 

The city of Sharjah overlooks the Persian Gulf and, has a population of over 800,000 (2008). It contains the main administrative and commercial centers together with an array of cultural and traditional projects, including several museums. Distinctive landmarks are the two major covered ''souks'', reflecting Islamic design; a number of recreational areas and public parks such as Al Jazeirah Fun Park and Al Buheirah Corniche. The city is also notable for its numerous elegant mosques. The Emirate of Sharjah is also known to be the Cultural Capital of the UAE. The [http://www.expo-centre.co.ae Expo Centre] of Sharjah is well known for the annual book fair that is famous all over the region. The Emir personally takes keen interest in this event which brings together hundreds of publishers from all over the world and thousands of titles. Links with the outside world are provided by Sharjah International Airport and Port Khalid. 

Sharjah is bordered by the cities of Dubai and Ajmān and is about 170 kilometers away from the capital city Abu Dhabi.

==History==
thumb|Right|Crystal Plaza (shopping mall and apartments).

Historically, Sharjah was one of the wealthiest towns in this region with a settlement in existence for over 5000 years. In the early 18th century, the Qawasim clan (Huwayla tribe) established itself in Sharjah, c.1727 declaring Sharjah independent. On 8 January 1820, Sheikh Sultan I signed the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like four of its neighbours, Ajman, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, and Umm al-Qaiwain, its position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state (be it of the lowest class: 3 guns).  On 2 December 1971, Sheikh Khalid III joined the United Arab Emirates.

Like the other former Trucial States, Sharjah's name is known by many stamp collectors because of the large numbers of stamps that were issued by the Sharjah Post Office shortly before the formation of the United Arab Emirates.<ref>[http://www.ohmygosh.on.ca/stamps/sharjah/sharjah.htm Sharjah and Dependencies - stamps and postal stationery on-line catalogue], Accessed on January 24 2008.</ref> Many of these items feature subjects unrelated to the emirates whose names they bear, and therefore many popular catalogues do not list them.<ref>Carlton, R. Scott.  ''The International Encyclopædic Dictionary of Philately''.  Krause: Iola, 1997, page 173.</ref>

==Education==
There are several universities in Sharjah, including the University of Sharjah, the American University of Sharjah, Troy University - ITS Sharjah Campus, Skyline College Sharjah, Sharjah Men's College, and Sharjah Women's College.

thumb|Sharjahs flagg
thumb|Emiratene ligger på østkysten av [[Den arabiske halvøy, mot Persiagulfen, og er en allianse mellom sju delstater]]
'''Sharjah''' (arabisk: الشارقة) er et emirat (en delstat) i De forente arabiske emirater.

Sharjah är det tredje største av de syv emiratene, og det eneste som har kyst både til Persiagulfen og Omanbukten. Landarealet er 2&nbsp;590 km², noe som tilsvarer 3,3&nbsp;% av emiratenes totalareal. Sharjah strekker seg 16 km langs Persiagulfen og har 80 km landgrense. Emiratet har 636&nbsp;000 år innbyggere (2003). Sharjah har tre enklaver på østkysten mot Omanbukten: Kalba, Khor Fakkan og Dibba al-Husn. Inne på Sharjahs territorium ligger en Omansk enklave på 75 km², kalt ''Madha''; inne i Madha ligger igjen (hvor utrolig det enn kan høres) en liten enklave tilhørende Sharjah. Denne heter ''Nahwa'' og har omtrent 50 innbyggere.

Sharjahs hovudstad, med samme navn som emiratet, har 519&nbsp;000 innbyggere, og ligger ved Persiagulfen. Byen er sentrum for handel og forvaltning. Den har oså mange museer, og er kjent for sin mange vakre moskéer. Byen regnes som et kulturelt sentrum i emiratene.

Det finnes en internasjonal flyplass i emiratet, kjent for sine mange gamle sovjetiske fly. Emiratet utga egne frimerker 1963-72.

==Historie==

Byen og området var allerede for 5 000 år siden et økonomisk tyngdepunkt i regionen. I 1727 erklærte staten sin uavhengighet, under ledelse av den fremdeles herskende Qasimi-klanen. I 1820 inngikk Sharjah, sammen med fire tilsvarende nabostater, en fredsavtale med det britiske imperiet. Avtalen innebar at britene fikk kontroll med et urolig havområde med mange arabiske pirater, og betød på den annen side at britene tok rollen som garantist for emiratenes uavhengighet vis-a-vis regionens stormakt Det ottomanske riket. 

Da britene trakk seg ut fra regionen i perioden 1968-71 forsøkte ni emirater å danne en forbundsstat. To av disse valgte å stå alene: Bahrain og Qatar. Seks av de øvrige dannet De forente arabiske emirater 2. desember 1971, mens den syvende (Ras al-Khaimah) sluttet seg til unionen 11. februar 1972. 