10-day Sharjah Light Festival Starts Today

The seventh annual Sharjah Light Festival (SLF) kicks off today in University City Hall in Sharjah City, and will go on for 10 days from February 2 to 11, 2017, covering 14 locations across the emirate.

Initiated, managed, and produced by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) – under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah – the Sharjah Light Festival is one of the most spectacular and dynamic light shows in the world.

Daily shows will be taking place from 6:00am till 11:00pm on weekdays, and till midnight on weekends. The shows will be on hold every day from 6:00pm to 6:35pm and from 7:30pm to 8:15pm to observe Maghrib and Isha prayers, respectively. Moreover, the Buhairah Corniche road between Al Majaz Waterfront and Al Majaz Amphitheatre will be closed for the live parade from 9:00pm until 9:45pm every evening, February 3 to 11.

The Festival is a highly creative, world-class event that uses the aesthetically alluring buildings of Sharjah as a canvas for dazzling and dynamic light shows, highlighting their authentic Islamic – as well as modern – architecture. The event features large-scale light installations and projections – some accompanied by music – all celebrating Sharjah as a creative and cultural hub in the Middle East.   

The seventh Sharjah Light Festival will cover 14 different locations spread across the emirate, including University City Hall, Cultural Palace, Al Noor Mosque, Al Taqwa Mosque, and Al Qasba. In addition to the interactive light shows in the Palm Garden and the parade on the Khalid Lagoon 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.

Over the years, the Sharjah Light Festival has succeeded in attracting thousands of visitors each year; in fact, the 2016 edition drew in more than 560,000 visitors from the UAE and abroad, while social media channels recorded 2.8 million interactions (according to Google Analytics) – a clear indication of the festival’s widespread appeal.