At eight o'clock last night, the Emirate of Sharjah was adorned with artistic displays across its various landmarks as the 13th edition of the "Sharjah Light Festival" kicked off. The festivities began at the Sharjah Police General Headquarters, where light shows took attendees on a journey combining the authenticity of Sharjah's identity and the United Arab Emirates, with ambitious future visions through symbols represented by the lights, narrating the emirate's history and developmental directions.
The opening ceremony of the festival, attended by a selection of heads of authorities, departments, institutions, prominent figures, and visiting delegations, featured a visual presentation dedicated to Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
The festival, organized by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, runs from February 7 to 18. It showcases artistic visual performances using the latest lighting technology across 12 architectural and natural locations throughout Sharjah.
Khalid Jassem Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, confirmed that the tourism sector in Sharjah is a vital contributor to supporting the national economy, experiencing qualitative development on various fronts thanks to the wise vision of Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The Sharjah Light Festival represents a significant cultural tourism addition given its wide media and crowd appeal, making it an attractive destination that draws thousands of visitors and tourists from across the country and the world, promoting the emirate's components and achievements.
The selection of illuminated sites in the 13th edition of the "Sharjah Light Festival" reflects the diversity and richness of Sharjah in terms of history, present, future, and culture. It showcases the beauty of the tourist and architectural landmarks abundant in the emirate, with artistic light displays illuminating sites that tell stories about the cultural heritage of the emirate between the past, present, and future visions.
The festival features more than 15 international artists presenting light artworks that illuminate 12 tourist sites, including three new locations this year: the Sharjah Police General Headquarters, the Hamriya Public Market, and the Kalba Waterfront, in addition to other sites such as Khalid Lagoon, Al Majaz Waterfront, the Bee’ah Group headquarters, Al Dhaid Fort, Sharjah Mosque, Sheikh Rashid Al Qasimi Mosque, Al Noor Mosque, Al Rafisa Dam, and the "Village of Lights," which commenced earlier this February opposite the Sharjah University City Hall.
