- Photo
- Photo
- Photo
- Chain
- Sharjah Art Foundation
- Brand
- Sharjah Art Foundation – The Flying Saucer
- Property Type
- Special Venues
- Rate
- -
- Built
- 1978
- Renovated
- 2020
- Max Capacity
- 150
- Largest Venue
- 662 meters
- Guest Rooms
- Number of Venues
- 8
Explore The Flying Saucer Sharjah venues
| Venues: 8 | Capacities |
|---|---|
|
Art Gallery
The Flying Saucer Gallery Venue size: 555 meters Venue Ceiling Height: 7
|
Standing or Reception:
150
Seating capacity:
100
|
|
Special Venue
The Flying Saucer Platform (Launch Pad) Venue size: 662 meters
|
Seating capacity:
120
|
|
Special Venue
Screening Walls Venue size: 280 meters
|
Seating capacity:
60
|
|
Special Venue
Library Venue size: 100 meters
|
Seating capacity:
30
|
|
Special Venue
Activation Pod Venue size: 52 meters
|
Standing or Reception:
30
Seating capacity:
20
|
|
Boardroom
Meeting Pod Venue size: 17 meters
|
Standing or Reception:
8
Boardroom:
8
|
|
Meeting Room
Craft Pod Venue size: 25 meters
|
Seating capacity:
8
|
|
Cafe
Fen Cafe
|
|
Premium assets
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Food & Beverage
In-house Catering or Restaurants/Cafes
Location
Getting here
From the nearest airport: Guests arriving via Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) can take a taxi or ride-share directly into Sharjah city centre, then drive to the Dasman junction at Al Wahda / Sheikh Zayed / Humaid bin Saqr intersection. Given relatively short distances inside Sharjah, this is typically a 15-25 minute drive depending on traffic.
Accessibility
Metro
Airport
Sights and attractions
Dhow Yard
7.06 Km awayAjman Museum
7.51 Km awayMowaihat
7.97 Km awayProduction details
Audiovisual
- High speed internet access
- Sound systems
- Microphones (wireless, handheld, lapel)
- Projectors and screens
- LED displays and video walls
- AV capabilities
Lighting
- Ambient lighting (uplighting, color-changing LEDs)
Staging and platforms
- Podiums and lecterns
Furniture and seating
- Chairs (folding, banquet, theater-style)
- Tables (round, rectangular, cocktail)
Decor and fabrication
- Meeting/banquet facilities
Most popular facilities
LED Wall
Facilities
- On-site Parking
- Taxi Access
- Terrace
- Air Conditioning
- Accessible Parking
- CCTV in Common Areas
- CCTV Outside Property
- Garden
- Internet Access
- Lectern
- Meeting Spaces
- Staging Area
Overview
The Flying Saucer is one of Sharjah’s most distinctive architectural landmarks: a retro-futuristic Brutalist dome sitting at a key road intersection in the Dasman area. Originally built in the 1970s and opened in 1978 as a one-stop commercial hub, it has been carefully restored by Sharjah Art Foundation into a flexible art and community venue. For event organisers, the building offers a strong visual identity and storytelling value: shortlisted for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, it is widely recognised as an icon of Gulf modernity, blending space-age form with concrete Brutalist structure.
Today, The Flying Saucer operates as a multi-zone cultural venue comprising the main circular hall under the dome, an open-access art library, café areas, a sunken courtyard and the underground “Launch Pad” community space. The architecture is defined by a wide concrete dome floating above eight columns and V-shaped pillars, a star-shaped canopy, and a fully glazed 360° panoramic façade that floods the interior with natural light by day, complemented by controlled gallery-grade lighting for screenings and events. Materials include exposed concrete, glass, and light-coloured finishes that read well on camera and support projection, exhibition setups and workshops. According to the official venue-hire data, spaces range roughly from 17 to 662 m² with capacities from about 8 up to 150 guests, making the venue suitable for film screenings, talks, workshops, breakout sessions, intimate receptions and creative corporate events rather than large banquets or weddings.
Seasonality
- Nov 1 - Dec 31
- Jan 1 - Mar 31
- Oct 1 - Oct 31
- Apr 1 - May 31
- Jun 1 - Sep 30
Awards / Accolades
Shortlisted for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (2022 cycle)
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