If you are looking for bargains, you will not be disappointed in Al Rolla. This particular district in Sharjah is known as the place that offers everything, from suitcases to mattresses, and from bicycles to hi-tech gadgets.
The area is divided into several parts that focus on garments, electronics and restaurants, which mostly cater to the Asian community. It is also popular during the weekends, particularly on Friday, when it is common to see hundreds of Asian bachelors strolling along the streets to meet friends and catch up on the weekly gossip.
But despite it being a popular meeting point for bachelors in the weekend, many of the apartment buildings cater to families and during the week the streets are busy with mothers as they fill their shopping bags with bangles, kohl (eyeliner) and hair products.
Our first stop was at Al Ghuwair Market — a place that has been known for decades by residents as the best place to buy textiles for curtains and garments.
"I have been living in Al Rolla for almost three years now and come here often because it is an economic market with lots of variety. They have everything you need, like bags, toys and make-up kits. But today I came here to buy some food," said Amarjeet Kaur, a mother of one.
The rent is also reasonable, as a two-bedroom apartment can fetch between Dh2,500-Dh3,000 per month, she points out.
Alleyways
Along the alleyways, we spot lots of small shops with T-shirts and trousers hanging outside, barely missing the top of pedestrians' heads.
"This place has cheap accessories, and I like to come here often and buy bangles. The shops are better than the ones in shopping malls because the quality are both of the same standard, but here you can bargain with the shopkeepers and get things cheaper," says Rahima Rizawan, from Pakistan, who lives near Abu Shagara.
Most of the shopkeepers in Al Ghuwair market have been running their business in the same place for years, as the place is always thriving with customers. Even though the global economic crisis had also made an impact on business, shopkeepers remain optimistic about the future.
"My shop has been here for 15 years and I do not plan to move out," says Bismillah Khan, a Pakistani shopkeeper who sells rolls of textiles.
"Many customers have left the country and business is not as good as it used to be five years ago, but I will stay because people still need to do their shopping," he said, adding that the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment can still be found for Dh25,000 a year.
The largest shop there is a two-storey building housing Al Zubair Garments, Shoes and Textiles. The shop was originally constructed nearly 16 years ago in a small street corner and has dramatically expanded since then. The shop offers bridal dresses traditionally known as a lahenga, which is made up of a heavily-beaded skirt, top and shawl, for Dh2,500. The attire for the groom, comprising of a pair of trousers, shirt and a long coat known as sherwani, can be bought at Dh1,000.
Electronics shops
As you make your way out of the market and head towards the main road of Al Arouba, you can instantly see rows of electronics shops and hear the vendors calling customers to take a peek at the latest gadgets, "all imported from China," said one shopkeeper proudly.
Naushad Theruvath, a shopkeeper at one of the electronics shops, explained that the products on sale are such a bargain, not because they are counterfeit, but because their quality is slightly below average.
"There was a time when Al Rolla was filled with Russian businessmen, and they would buy refrigerators and lots of watches. Now there are not so many, and we make our living mostly from residents," he said, adding that he pays Dh90,000 a year for rent.
But it is not all gadgets and electronics that you can find as there are several street vendors that sell leather items, such as belts and wallets.
Along the busy pavement, Shahid Shaikh sits on his stool reading a newspaper waiting for customers to pop in and bring their broken watches. In his little shop, there are two glass shelves that display stainless steel or leather watch straps, as well rows of batteries neatly lined up next to each other. The prices for a strap vary from Dh15 to Dh20, and are repaired on the spot.
Bargains
"I just bought a wallet for Dh8 and am pleased because I got it for less than half the asking price. At first, it was being sold for Dh15," said S. Jamil. Jamil has lived in Sharjah for 15 years and assures us that Al Rolla is "the best place to shop."
After your long day of shopping, you can pop in for various Indian and Pakistani dishes, where you have a choice of either cafeteria or restaurant food. While the cafeterias mostly cater to the Asian community with their chapattis and samosas, the restaurants are filled with Arabs and other expatriates.
One such popular restaurant is Karachi Darbar and can be easily spotted from the main road. The restaurant is partitioned into two; a family dining room and another one for only men. Waiters can be seen scurrying across the floor carrying hot plates of butter chicken and mutton biryani as main courses, while picking up orders of dessert from other customers.
The Rolla Square is a historical site in Sharjah and was named after the planting of the first Banyan tree (locally known as Rolla tree) by Shaikh Sultan Bin Saqr Bin Rashid Al Qasimi (1803-1866).
The tree lasted for nearly 150 years until 1978. Families from Dubai, Ajman and other emirates gathered near the Rolla tree, meeting there for Eid, National Day, and other special occasions. The municipality has closed the square but plans to upgrade it.
Street smart
1 Shopping: Al Ghuwair Market offers visitors a variety of textiles at a cheap price from curtains to garments, and numerous electronics shops are also available that sell watches, camcorders and cameras.
2 Hotels: There are a number of budget hotels in the district but the most popular one is Rotana Hotel. Located along the main road of Al Arouba, the four star hotel has 205 rooms, a restaurant and a coffee shop.
3 Hospitals and Clinics: There are dozens of clinics available in the neighbourhood, and Al Zahra Private Hospital.
4 Restaurants: Restaurants and cafeterias can be found on every street, but the most popular one is Karachi Darbar, which offers Indian and Pakistani cuisine, as well as Mughlai and Chinese.
5 Grocery stores: Al Madina Supermarket and Al Maya Supermarket are both located in the area within walking distance from each other and offer customers both imported and exported food items, as well as garments.
6 Mosque: Al Zubair Mosque. Although there are four mosques in the area of Al Rolla, Al Zubair is the most popular one.
The communities and neighbourhoods of the UAE are multiculturally diverse. In this instalment of a fortnightly series, Gulf News delves deep into the heart of one of the most popular districts in Sharjah.
