Shees Park is a little park wedged into the Hajar Mountains near Khorfakkan, out on the Sharjah east coast, and the thing people actually drive out for is the waterfall. About 25 metres of it, falling into a pond, with stone steps behind it that take you up for the view. Entry is cheap, it stays open late, kids love it. That is really the gist.
You are not coming here to conquer a mountain. You come to grab a shady bench, throw the kids at the play area, wander a bit, maybe fire up a barbecue. Except instead of a flat city park, all of that sits inside proper rock and cliffs. That is the bit that makes people bother with the drive.
It opened October 2020 and honestly it blew up with UAE families pretty fast. It is tiny, barely 11,000 square metres, no getting around that. But it is stacked up the hillside in steps, so it plays bigger than it sounds. Anyway, everything you need is below. The drive, the cash, the hours, and what you get once you are inside.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Shees area, near Wadi Shees, Khorfakkan, Sharjah |
| Opened | October 2020 |
| Size | Roughly 11,300 square metres |
| Main feature | 25 metre waterfall and a mountain viewpoint |
| Entry fee | Small fee per adult, kids usually free (see note) |
| Timings | Daily, morning until late evening |
| Parking | Outside the park, paid by app or coins |
| Best months | November to March |
| Nearest city | Khorfakkan, about 17 km |
It is way out east in Sharjah, near a village called Wadi Shees, maybe 17 kilometres past central Khorfakkan. Coming from Dubai or Sharjah city you are looking at 90 minutes, could be two hours if the road is busy. Point is, block out half a day. Do not treat it like a quick errand because it is not.
The road itself is easy though. Emirates Road (E611) heading to Sharjah, then just follow the Khorfakkan Road signs and sit on that road for about 70 kilometres. Take the ramp for Shees, drop onto Masafi Road, done. It spits you out at the park.
If you are driving over from central Sharjah, it is worth understanding how paid parking works before you leave, especially if you plan to stop in the city on the way back. I learnt that the rules can vary between different areas, so knowing the basics of Sharjah paid parking saves a bit of guesswork later.
That last climb twists around and gains height, which, fine, is half the reason the drive is nice. One heads up: you leave the car outside and walk in. No driving through the gate. And there is no bus, so it is your own car or a rental, nothing else.
Right, this part keeps changing, so actually read it. Free when it first opened. Then they brought in a charge, and from what people report it is only a few dirhams per adult now, kids usually walk in free. It has moved once already though. So do not go quoting whatever number you saw on some random blog (this one included). Check the live figure on Visit Sharjah or with Sharjah Municipality before you set off.
Parking is paid, same as loads of public places here. By the hour, either through the Sharjah Municipality app or by shoving coins in a machine. Which means: bring coins. I am not joking, keep a little pile in the car, because no phone signal and no coins out in the mountains is a genuinely daft way to get stuck.
Gates are open a long stretch, morning right through till late evening, every single day. In Ramadan it opens later in the afternoon, which is normal for family stuff here. And the hours shift a bit by season on top of that. So double check. A pointless two hour drive is not fun.
It is built on a slope so you start low and climb. Each level changes what you are looking at.
Waterfall hits you first, obviously. Around 25 metres, straight into a little pond, and it keeps the bottom of the park cool and green. Looks even better with all that bone dry rock around it, if you ask me.
Then above the water there are three stone terraces, joined by steps, going up to a platform about 30 metres over the park floor. This climb? This is the one everybody mentions afterwards. Do it. Because if you skip it you have basically missed the best thing here, and loads of people do exactly that by loitering near the entrance.
There is around 506 metres of paths, palms and local plants down the sides. Flat, nothing to it, no boots required. Gets you a mountain feel without it turning into an actual hike.
Whole place is basically pointed at families. Play area for the kids, 30 odd shaded seats spread about, free drinking water, clean toilets. That shade is not a nice extra either, you will want it the minute the sun is properly up.
Yeah, there is a set barbecue area, done to the usual safety and cleanliness rules, and it is a huge weekend magnet for locals. It goes fast. So bring your own food and coals, get there early, and grab a spot before everyone else piles in.
Forgot to pack food? There is a café doing coffee, pastries, cakes, a few local sweets. Bit pricier than your own cooler box, so honestly most families just do both. There is a mosque on site too, put up in 2022, holds a couple hundred, so you can pray without heading off anywhere.
November to March. Simple as that. The east coast is way more bearable then and those steps feel good instead of punishing. Go late afternoon into the early evening if you can, when the light goes soft and it cools off.
Weekends and public holidays get rammed, mostly around the barbecue and the benches. Want peace? Weekday morning, or roll in early on a weekend before the place fills. Summer is technically fine but only in the evening, once the heat calms down.
Personally, I like visiting mountain parks in the cooler months, then keeping city parks for shorter evening walks. Places such as Al Mahatta Park in Sharjah are great when you only have an hour or two, while Shees Park feels more like somewhere you plan a proper road trip around.
Little things that just make it easier:
Shees Park honestly works better as part of a bigger east coast day than on its own. The Wadi Shees Nature Trail is literally next door, an easy loop past old falaj water channels and terraced farms, and any age can manage it.
If you have another day to spare in Sharjah, I would not try squeezing everything into one trip. We did that once and spent more time driving than enjoying the places. The landscapes here are completely different from the wildlife experience at Sharjah Safari Park, so each deserves its own day if you can manage it.
Khorfakkan throws a load more at you within a short drive. Al Rafisah Dam, the Khorfakkan Amphitheatre and its waterfall, Khorfakkan Beach, all busy and all for good reason. More of a history person? Chuck in Najd Al Maqsar Village, a restored mountain settlement nearby. Line up two or three of these and that is a proper full day out from Dubai, Sharjah or Fujairah.
Shees Park hands you a waterfall, mountain views and solid family facilities in one stop, without the grind of a real hike. Do not rush it. Climb the steps, sit at the top a while, take your time with it. Go when it is cool, keep coins and water on you, and add a nearby trail or the coast to fill the day. Sort the fee and hours before you leave, and everything else pretty much handles itself.
Is Shees Park free to enter?
Was free at the start, then a small per adult fee came in. Kids usually still get in free. Check the current price first because it has already changed once.
What are the timings?
Daily, morning to late evening. Opens later in Ramadan, and the hours move with the season, so check before a long drive.
How far is it from Dubai?
About 90 minutes to two hours by car, depends on traffic. Roughly 17 kilometres from central Khorfakkan.
Is there parking?
Yes, outside the park. Paid by the hour on the Sharjah Municipality app or a coin machine. No cars inside.
Can you barbecue there?
Yep, there is a dedicated spot. Bring your own food and coals, and get there early on weekends.
Is it good for kids?
Very. Play area, shade, toilets, café. Just know a few parts involve stairs.
Best time to visit?
Cooler months, November to March, late afternoon ideally. Weekdays are calmer than weekends.
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