Constructed in the late 1970s, the building has become a landmark for the emirate and will now become an arts and community space
Courtesy Sharjah Art Foundation
Opening in 1978, Sharjah’s Flying Saucer has lived many lives over many years – a shop, cafe, grocery store and fast food restaurant. On Saturday, it reopened after a two-year renovation as an art and community space run by the Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF).
The building’s design is distinctive for its Brutalist influences and unusual appearance against the backdrop of downtown Sharjah. The circular building has star-shaped canopy that gives it its space-age look, along with a seven-metre-high dome that sits atop a ring of eight columns. Its panoramic facade is supported by V-shaped pillars.
(Re)visit the Flying Saucer with The National here.
