Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) is Air Arabia’s home base and is served from many Indian cities by Air Arabia, Air India Express and IndiGo. The airport is in the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah, close to Dubai, though road time depends on traffic and where in Dubai you are going. UAE entry rules for Indian passport holders depend on your situation, so check the official UAE government and airline guidance before you book.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Sharjah is a popular choice for travellers from India, and many pick it over Dubai for convenience or schedule. Here is what to know before you book.
Which airlines fly from India to Sharjah?
Three names come up most. Air Arabia, which is based at Sharjah, flies to many Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Nagpur and Thiruvananthapuram, according to public route listings. Air India Express is listed from cities such as Amritsar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli and Varanasi. IndiGo is listed from Amritsar, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram.
These lists come from public route tables and airlines add and drop routes often. Confirm your specific city and date with the airline before you plan around a flight.
Did you know? Air Arabia’s headquarters is on the grounds of Sharjah airport itself, in the Sharjah Freight Center, which is why Sharjah is so closely tied to the airline’s network.
How far is Sharjah from Dubai?
The airport lies about 13 km east-southeast of Sharjah city. Dubai is the neighbouring emirate, but the road distance from the airport to most Dubai areas is tens of kilometres, so check a map app for your hotel and allow extra time in rush hour.
- If your hotel or meetings are in Dubai, add road transfer time and traffic to your plan.
- If you are staying in Sharjah, you save the transfer entirely.
- Compare the total cost of the flight plus the transfer, not just the fare.
What are the UAE entry rules for Indian travellers?
Indian passport holders need to have a visa arranged in one of the permitted ways. Public references describe a visa on arrival for those who hold specific visas or residence permits from certain countries, and an online visa route for others, including through some airlines. Eligibility, durations and fees are set by the UAE authorities and change from time to time, so I am not quoting prices.
To stay safe:
- Check the official UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) service for the current rules.
- Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity.
- Have your return or onward ticket and accommodation details ready.
- Ask your airline what it needs to see at check-in.
Why choose Sharjah over Dubai?
There are a few honest reasons. Sharjah is Air Arabia’s base, so that airline’s network is strongest here, and the listings above show direct service from a long list of Indian cities. On the flip side, Dubai has its own set of airlines and timings. The best approach is to compare both airports for your dates and weigh the transfer time.
Also look at the baggage on the fare you choose. Low-cost carriers usually sell fares with different baggage inclusions, so a fare that looks cheap may cover less than you expect.
If you are connecting onward from the UAE to another country, check the transit and visa rules for that second country too. A short layover in Sharjah can still need paperwork if you plan to leave the airport, and the airline can tell you what applies to your ticket.
When you compare fares, look at the timing as well as the price. A flight that lands in the early hours may mean paying for an extra hotel night, which can cancel out a small saving. Keep a screenshot of your booking and your visa approval on your phone as well as a printout, because some airport staff ask for both at the counter. Also check how the return leg works, since the days and times of return flights are not always the mirror image of the outbound ones.
What should I check before flying?
- Name: it must match your passport exactly.
- Baggage: check the allowance for your fare and the airline’s rules on what you can carry.
- Terminal: confirm which terminal your airline uses on the day.
- Insurance: travel insurance is a sensible add-on for an overseas trip.
Web check-in and airport check-in are free on Indian airlines. For foreign carriers such as Air Arabia, check the airline’s own check-in policy.
Common Questions
Which Indian airlines fly to Sharjah?
Air India Express and IndiGo are the Indian airlines listed on public route tables. Air Arabia, an Emirati airline, also flies many routes.
Is Sharjah close to Dubai?
Yes, they are neighbouring emirates, but the transfer to Dubai is typically tens of kilometres and traffic can add time.
Do Indians need a visa for the UAE?
Yes, in one of the permitted forms. Check the official UAE ICP service and your airline for the current route that applies to you.
Is Air Arabia based in Sharjah?
Yes. Sharjah is its home base and its headquarters is on the airport grounds.
Can I fly to Sharjah from Tiruchirappalli?
Air India Express is listed on that route in public tables. Check the current schedule before you book.
Comparing flights to Sharjah and Dubai? Search on HappyFares, set a price alert, ask Meera, our AI assistant, or add travel insurance. Our price-match guarantee is there if you find the same flight cheaper.
Visa rules, routes and fees change. Verify current specifics with the airline, the UAE ICP service or the airport before you travel.
