Shees Park (also spelled Shis Park) is a free or low-cost mountain park beside the Khorfakkan road in the Hajar mountains of Sharjah, with a 25-metre waterfall, terraced viewpoints, BBQ areas and cafés, open daily from about 8am to 10pm or 11pm. Just above it, Wadi Shees is a real mountain village, where a short walk of about a hundred stone steps leads past old stone houses, terraced farms and a working falaj water channel. Together they make an easy half day on the east coast, about 90 minutes from Dubai or Sharjah.
At a glance
- Shees Park entry
- Free in recent reports; a nominal AED 5 fee has applied at times
- Hours
- Daily from about 8am to 10pm or 11pm
- Waterfall
- 25 m, man-made, falling into a small lake
- Walkways
- About 500 m over three mountain terraces
- Wadi Shees walk
- Free, about 1 hour, around 100 steps
- From Dubai
- About 90 minutes
- Best months
- October to April
Last checked: 13 October 2026 against Sharjah Municipality information and recent visitor reports. Guides disagree on the fee and closing time, so check before a long drive.
On this page
Shees Park: what is there
Built by Sharjah Municipality in eight months and opened on 15 October 2020 by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Shees Park was designed as a green rest stop for drivers on the mountain road to Khor Fakkan. It covers about 11,400 square metres in the valley at the village of Shis, also spelled Shees.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Waterfall | A 25-metre artificial waterfall down the rock face into a small lake |
| Mountain terraces | About 506 metres of walkways and stone stairs across three terraces |
| Main viewpoint | A platform 30 metres above the park, best at sunset |
| Seating | 32 shaded family seating areas |
| BBQ | Designated barbecue areas; bring your own supplies |
| Children | A play area |
| Outdoor theatre | Seats about 70 |
| Shops and food | 58 shops run by Emiratis, plus restaurants and cafés |
| Facilities | Toilets and prayer rooms; free parking just outside |
Waterfall status: the waterfall is pumped, not natural, so it depends on the park running it. If the waterfall is the main reason for your trip, check the most recent visitor photos first.
Timings and entry
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily from about 8am (some listings say 7am) to 10pm, or 11pm at busy times |
| Ramadan | Usually opens in the late afternoon |
| Entry | Free in the most recent guides; a nominal AED 5 per adult was reported from 2024, with young children free |
| Parking | Free, outside the park |
Weekends and public holidays are very busy, and parking fills by early afternoon in winter. Weekday mornings are quietest.
Wadi Shees: the old village walk
Shees Park is the modern park; Wadi Shees is the valley and village around it, and it is the reason many people make the drive. The old village was founded roughly 150 years ago, with stone houses beside terraced farms watered by a falaj, the traditional channel that carries spring water through the valley. Residents moved to new homes in 1988, but families still farm the terraces every day. In 1992 the Ruler of Sharjah funded the restoration of the stairs and falaj channels, and the walk now has information boards on farming and the valley’s wildlife, developed with Emirates Nature-WWF, which runs freshwater conservation work in Wadi Shis.
- Start: by the parking area outside Shees village, where the trail begins with a flight of about a hundred stone steps up to the old village. An easier route avoids most of the steps.
- Route: through the old houses and along the falaj and farm terraces, with views over the mountains, then back down to the road and up to your car.
- Time: about an hour at an easy pace.
- Pools: further along the wadi there are rock pools after rain; the first pool is a drinking-water source, so do not swim in it or in the channels.
Respect the village: this is a working farming community. Stay on the main path, do not enter farms or houses, keep the falaj clean, and dress modestly.
Shees Park or Wadi Shees?
| Shees Park | Wadi Shees village | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A landscaped municipal park | A historic mountain village and farms |
| Best for | Families, picnics, BBQs, an easy stop | A short walk, heritage and photography |
| Effort | Stairs to the terraces | About 100 steps and uneven paths |
| Facilities | Toilets, cafés, shops, play area | None in the village |
| Cost | Free or about AED 5 | Free |
Getting there
Shees Park is on Khor Fakkan Road (S142/E55) in the Sharjah enclave inland from Khor Fakkan. From Dubai or Sharjah, take the Emirates Road (E611) or Sheikh Khalifa Road (E84) towards the east coast and follow the signs for Khor Fakkan; the drive takes about 90 minutes. Coming from Khor Fakkan, the exit for Wadi Shees is straight after the Al Ghezeer tunnel. The road into the village becomes steep, narrow and single track, with blind bends, so drive slowly.
Best time to visit
- October to April, when the terraces and stairs are comfortable.
- Late afternoon for the best light on the waterfall and a sunset from the top viewpoint.
- Weekday mornings for the quietest village walk.
- After rain the wadi pools fill, but avoid the valley during rain warnings because of flash floods.
Combine it with
- Al Rafisah Dam: kayaking and a lakeside walkway, about 10 minutes away.
- Al Suhub Rest Area: a mountain viewpoint café above Khor Fakkan.
- Al Rabi trail: an easy hike to a watchtower over Khor Fakkan bay.
- Things to do in Khor Fakkan: beaches, the waterfall, the amphitheatre and more.
- Hiking in the UAE: trails from easy to hard.
- Day trips from Dubai: routes by drive time.
- Things to do in Hatta: Dubai’s mountain enclave.
Shees Park and Wadi Shees FAQs
Is Shees Park free?
The most recent guides say entry is free. A nominal fee of about AED 5 per adult has been reported at times, with young children free, so carry some change.
What are Shees Park timings?
Shees Park opens daily from about 8am until 10pm, or 11pm at busy times. Hours change in Ramadan.
Is the Shees Park waterfall natural?
No. It is a 25-metre man-made waterfall pumped down the rock face into a small lake, so check recent photos to confirm it is running before a long drive.
What is the difference between Shees Park and Wadi Shees?
Shees Park is the modern municipal park with the waterfall, BBQ areas and cafés. Wadi Shees is the old mountain village beside it, with stone houses, terraced farms and a falaj walk.
Can you BBQ at Shees Park?
Yes, in the designated barbecue areas. Bring your own grill supplies.
How far is Shees Park from Dubai?
About 90 minutes by car, via the Emirates Road or Sheikh Khalifa Road towards Khor Fakkan.