Duty Free are duty-free shops operating on the territory of international airports. Here you can buy drinks, food, cosmetics, clothes and shoes cheaper than in ordinary supermarkets, boutiques. This is a common practice for vacationers in the UAE, when goods are purchased upon arrival at prices lower than usual. Of particular interest is duty free in Sharjah, where there is a “dry” law. Is it possible to buy controversial drinks, cigarettes at the airport and how to bring them into the emirate?
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Location of stores in terminals
There are two points of sale of goods at Sharjah International Airport – in the landing and arrival areas. The path to them is written on the information signs. You can go to duty-free places after passing customs control during landing or before it upon arrival at the terminals of the capital of the emirate. Duty free for arriving tourists is a little more than for departing tourists.
What you need to know about the trade zone at Sharjah International Airport (SHJ):
- It works around the clock, there are small technical breaks.
- When departing from Sharjah, duty free is much less, there are not as many goods here as in another area.
- Alcoholic drinks are sold, you can buy alcohol. But you need to comply with the import standards – up to 1 liter of strong alcoholic beverages and up to 3 liters of low alcohol.
- Prices are average, for some goods – cosmetics, perfumes, souvenirs, they are lower. Alcohol costs 5-8% more than in duty free at other international airports.
Payment for purchases at International Airport Sharjah can only be made in local currency – dirhams. Prices are pegged to the US dollar, you can change the currency at the exchange offices that operate in each terminal. In addition, credit cards are accepted for payment. Sellers answer questions in English. Some know Russian. Over the past year, the number of the latter has increased.
Comparison with Dubai
The Sharjah Terminal Duty Free Zone is often compared to Dubai. Most of the reviews are in favor of the latter – there is a larger assortment, some prices are lower. However, there are positive aspects in the duty free non-alcoholic emirate – it’s better service, there are places to relax. These include cafes and restaurants.
Tourists arriving on vacation in the United Arab Emirates cannot always choose the place of arrival. Low-cost airlines fly to Sharjah, most of the country’s major airlines arrive in Dubai. However, the rules for trading in these areas of airports are the same. Only the norms for importing goods, products, in particular alcohol into the country, differ. In Dubai, you can spend more alcoholic drinks, about 2 times.
Shopping Tips
Tourists are not recommended to plan big shopping in Sharjah duty free. The reason is a small assortment. Most stores are designed for workers who come to the country to work. Tourists and independent travelers can buy souvenirs here. But in the capital of the emirate and in the resorts, there is more choice, prices are lower.
Alcohol is sold not only for departing UAE guests. But the choice in the arrivals area is very small. Here you can buy cosmetics, gadgets, perfumes at prices lower than in shopping centers. Do not purchase gold jewelry, watches and similar accessories. They can be found cheaper in specialty markets in Dubai and Sharjah.