1 / 5Al Mahatta Museum
β Temporarily Closedπ Al Mahatta, Sharjah
Aviation heritage museum housed in the Gulf's original 1932 airport hangars. Displays include original aircraft used on the UK-to-India Imperial Airways route, plus exhibits covering everything from prehistoric flying creatures to modern aviation.
π The Beginning Al Mahatta Airport opened on October 5, 1932. It is recognized as the first airport in the Gulf region. At that time, Imperial Airways (the predecessor of British Airways) used Sharjah as a stopover on its route between the UK and India. βΈ» π Why Sharjah? In the 1930s, aircraft could not fly very long distances without refueling. Sharjahβs ruler signed an agreement with the British government to allow aircraft to land, refuel, and rest. This strategic decision placed Sharjah on the global aviation map. βΈ» π’ Facilities in the 1930s β’ A simple desert runway β’ A small control tower β’ Passenger accommodation building β’ Fuel storage facilities Aircraft at that time were small and carried only a limited number of passengers. βΈ» π Later Development As aviation technology improved, larger and more modern airports were built. Eventually, operations moved to Sharjah International Airport, and Al Mahatta stopped functioning as the main airport. βΈ» ποΈ Today The site is now preserved as the Al Mahatta Museum. Visitors can see historic aircraft, documents, photographs, and exhibits that showcase the early days of aviation in the UAE. βΈ» β Key Facts β’ Opened in 1932 β’ First airport in the Gulf β’ Major stopover for Imperial Airways β’ Now a historic aviation museum Bro, since youβre based in the UAE, visiting this place once is actually powerful. It shows how one strategic agreement in 1932 shaped the regionβs future in aviation and trade. βοΈ
π Family Action Verdict
Best for plane-enthusiast families and children aged 4 and up who respond to the visceral scale of real aircraft in their original hangar setting. The broader flight taxonomy exhibits extend engagement for younger visitors whose interest in vintage planes is sparse.
βΉοΈ What to Know Before You Go
π¬ What Families Are Saying
View all reviews β1,471 Google reviews
Saifu Fareed
βπ The Beginning Al Mahatta Airport opened on October 5, 1932. It is recognized as the first airport in the Gulf region. At that time, Imperial Airways (the predecessor of British Airways) used Sharjah as a stopover on its route between the UK and India. βΈ» π Why Sharjah? In the 1930s, aircraft could not fly very long distances without refueling. Sharjahβs ruler signed an agreement with the British government to allow aircraft to land, refuel, and rest. This strategic decision placed Sharjah on the global aviation map. βΈ» π’ Facilities in the 1930s β’ A simple desert runway β’ A small control tower β’ Passenger accommodation building β’ Fuel storage facilities Aircraft at that time were small and carried only a limited number of passengers. βΈ» π Later Development As aviation technology improved, larger and more modern airports were built. Eventually, operations moved to Sharjah International Airport, and Al Mahatta stopped functioning as the main airport. βΈ» ποΈ Today The site is now preserved as the Al Mahatta Museum. Visitors can see historic aircraft, documents, photographs, and exhibits that showcase the early days of aviation in the UAE. βΈ» β Key Facts β’ Opened in 1932 β’ First airport in the Gulf β’ Major stopover for Imperial Airways β’ Now a historic aviation museum Bro, since youβre based in the UAE, visiting this place once is actually powerful. It shows how one strategic agreement in 1932 shaped the regionβs future in aviation and trade. βοΈβ
Carla Redondo
βBeautiful Action museum that explains, with some.words, the evolution of the aviation in the emirate of Sharjah. You can learn about aircraft used back in time, how long it was to fly from UK to Sharjah, and a lot of other amazing things. The aircraft in the Hangar are beautiful well taken care of. As a plus the newly opened exhibition for the 90 years is filled with knowledge and amazing old pictures that will take you to past times! Visiting with kids is also a great experience. The staff was committed to explain all things to my curious kids and gave them activities...β
Sibi Mammen
βThis is a must visit place for at least once to experience and get to know the history of the first airport in the region. The total time we may spend will be 45 mins to 1 hour. The kids may enjoy this place especially with the history of dinosaurs and different flying species. The entry fee set to affordable prices. It costs 10 dhs for adults, 5 dhs for kids (2-12)and free for infants and wheelchair users. Parking is available for visitors inside the premises.β
Ibrahim Lahoud
βI love the way Sharjah preserves its heritage. This is one of the very first airports in the region. And now you can see most of the original aircraft used back then, displayed within the airport building itself. Gorgeous! Then you take a tour of everything that flies, from insects and birds, to prehistoric animals and humans. A beautiful trip into the past centuryβ
Reviews from Google
Overview
Al Mahatta Museum occupies the actual hangars of the Gulf's first airport, opened in 1932 as a stopover on Imperial Airways' UK-to-India route. Original aircraft sit where they once refuelled, giving the space authentic atmosphere that purpose-built museums cannot replicate.
