⚠️ Reference data only, not for flight planning. Full notice →
← Home / Airports / United Arab Emirates
Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Sharjah International Airport

Compiled by

Sharjah, Sharjah Emirate (United Arab Emirates)
IATA: SHJ ICAO: OMSJ
Longest Active Runway
13,320 ft
4,060 meters
Field Elevation
111 ft
34 m MSL
Runway Inventory
1 active
Lighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
25.3286°, 55.5172°
LARGE AIRPORT
🏆

Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
#45 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#80 of 7558
Top 1.0% percentile worldwide
National Standing (United Arab Emirates)
#4 of 7 in AE
#4 of 12 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+33.2%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 SHJ in numbers: 13,320 ft longest runway · #45 of 650 published · #80 of 7,558 worldwide (top 1.0%) · #4 in United Arab Emirates.
🛫

Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Sharjah International Airport (SHJ)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Sharjah International Airport is the historic cradle of civil aviation in the Arabian Gulf. Its 13,320 ft runway is engineered to full Code 4F super-heavy standards, allowing massive cargo freighters (including Antonov An-124s) and passenger airliners to operate at maximum gross takeoff weights in searing summer heat. SHJ provides essential operational redundancy and low-cost connectivity for the northern Emirates.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Single paved Runway 12/30 (13,320 ft / 4,060 m).
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
Founded in 1932 as an Imperial Airways flying boat and staging post. Relocated to its current inland site in 1977; pioneered the Middle East's low-cost aviation revolution as the primary hub of Air Arabia.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Positioned just 10 NM northeast of Dubai International (DXB), serving as a low-cost passenger hub and massive international air cargo alternative.
Data Nuances & Operational Quirks
Integrated tightly into the congested Emirates Terminal Maneuvering Area (TMA), coordinating approach tracks closely with adjacent DXB traffic.
📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) · United Arab Emirates Aeronautical Information Publication (UAE AIP)
Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft
⛰️

Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

SHJ lies at 34 m (111 ft), #431 of 650 published airports by elevation and 29.3 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is equal to the United Arab Emirates median; AAN is highest at 869 ft, 758 ft higher than SHJ.

🧭

Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

8 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Closest of 8 paved-runway (≥5,000 ft) neighbours within 100 NM: Dubai International Airport (DXB), 9.2 NM, 14,590 ft. Next: RKT 28.5 NM, DWC 32.3 NM, FJR 46 NM. DWC has the radius's longest runway, 1,444 ft more than SHJ.

✈️

Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 13,320 ft (4,060 m)

SHJ runway: 12/30 13,320 × 197 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #4 of 7 in United Arab Emirates; DWC leads by 1,444 ft (14,764 ft). +33.2% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
12/30 13,320 ft (4060 m / 4.060 km) 197 ft (60m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name IATA Distance Longest Runway Lighting
Dubai International Airport (Dubai) DXB 9.2 NM (17 km) 14,590 ft ✅ Lighted
Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (Ras Al Khaimah) RKT 28.5 NM (52.8 km) 12,336 ft ✅ Lighted
Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai(Jebel Ali)) DWC 32.3 NM (59.8 km) 14,764 ft ✅ Lighted
Fujairah International Airport (Fujairah) FJR 46 NM (85.2 km) 10,007 ft ✅ Lighted
Al Ain International Airport (Al Ain) AAN 64.3 NM (119.1 km) 13,123 ft ✅ Lighted
Zayed International Airport (Abu Dhabi) AUH 71.2 NM (131.9 km) 13,471 ft ✅ Lighted
Suhar International Airport (Suhar) OHS 82.7 NM (153.2 km) 13,173 ft ✅ Lighted
Qeshm International Airport (Qeshm(Dayrestan)) GSM 88.1 NM (163.2 km) 13,864 ft ✅ Lighted

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →