H.E. Al Midfa:

• The SLF highlights the emirate’s best features of authentic Islamic architecture of its landmarks and buildings, which makes it ideal for this kind of festival

Sharjah, February 12, 2017:  The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) concluded the seventh annual Sharjah Light Festival in a ceremony held at University City Hall on Saturday, February 11, 2017.

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 His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA.

Addressing the audience at the closing ceremony, H.E. 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”.

H.E. 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,” H.E. 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.”

Concluding his speech, the SCTDA Chairman thanked all those who contributed to the success and development of the festival in its seventh year, as well as the festival’s sponsors and all local, Arab and international media outlets who attended the event and presented Sharjah and the Sharjah Light Festival in a positive light.

H.E. lauded all government departments who played a part in the success of the event, in addition to the sponsors and artists who designed the shows.

The seventh annual Sharjah Light Festival took place from February 2 to 11, 2017. The Festival covered 14 locations across the entire Emirate of Sharjah: 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 Festival attracted the attention media outlets across the region, and the rest of the world. The Authority hosted 25 international media delegates from India, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Armenia for four days.

The list of sponsors for the Sharjah Light Festival 2017 includes: Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Police Headquarters, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA), Sharjah Media Corporation, Sharjah Transport, Sharjah Civil Defense Department, and the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). Show and event organisers Nomada signed on as official partner, while the list of media partners includes Dar Al Khaleej Printing & Publishing, Al Rabia FM, and Gulf Today Newspaper.