Staff Report
The seventh annual Sharjah Light Festival has concluded. It took place from February 2 to 11, 2017. The festival covered 14 locations across the entire Emirate of Sharjah.
Locations include University City Hall, Cultural Palace, Al Noor Mosque, Al Taqwa Mosque, Al Qasba, Palm Oasis, Khalid Lagoon and the Corniche.
Other locations around the emirate include Kalba University, Khor Fakkan University, Dibba Mosque, Al Dhaid Mosque, and Masjid Sheikh Rashid Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi in Dibba. This in addition to the Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre for Gulf Studies, which is joining the festivities for the first time this year.
In the span of 10 days, the Festival attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors who visited to the emirate to see the shows, which used cutting-edge 3D technology designed by world-class artists to highlight the architectural appeal of Sharjah’s monuments and landmarks.
The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) held a closing ceremony on Saturday at University City Hall.
The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Corporation and Chairman of Sharjah Media Centre; Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); and Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA.
Addressing the audience at the closing ceremony, Al Midfa said that Sharjah has always marched steadily towards its ambitious goals, drawing inspiration from the emirate’s wise leadership to persevere and achieve solid and sustainable successes. “The Sharjah Light Festival is one of these cultural achievements that add to the development and renaissance movement launched by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah”.
He added: “We are proud of the cultural advances that Sharjah has made, these successes put us on par with the world’s leading countries. The festival gains world acclaimed and is associated with Sydney and Moscow light festivals.”
“Sharjah is known for many qualities which make it a leading destination for tourism, science, and art. The emirate’s best feature, however, is the authentic Islamic architecture of its landmarks and buildings, which makes it ideal for this kind of festival,” Al Midfa noted, asserting that the Sharjah Light Festival has successfully shed light on Sharjah’s status as a cultural, touristic, and family destination of excellence. “All of the festival’s shows were appropriate for all members of the family who flocked from around the UAE and the world to attend the festivities,” H.E. said. “The local and international media, as well, played an immense role in cementing Sharjah’s place on the international tourism map.”
