Acrobats to create splash at Sharjah Water festival

Abdulla Al Zari, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa and Colonel Ali Seif Al Naddass announcing the details of Sharjah Water Festival 2013 on Wednesday. — KT photo by M. Sajjad

The world renowned Aqua Circus, performing high dives and mind-boggling acrobatics over the water, is just one of the several new, world-class attractions that will highlight this year’s Sharjah Water Festival (SWF).

Kicking off on December 11 at the Al Majaz Park next to the Khalid Lagoon in Sharjah, some 10,000 visitors are expected to flood the gates daily before the shows conclude on December 21.

Director-General of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, said this year’s edition of SWF has new activities for all ages, unlike in the past where entertainment and recreational events were tailored mostly toward children.

Aside from the Aqua Circus, a 360-square metre outdoor Ice Rink — considered the largest of its kind in the UAE — a Roaming Carnival with musical stilt performers, unicyclists, jugglers, ribbon dancers, mimes, musicians and street entertainment with theatre performers sourced from around the world, are some of the features of the Water Festival this year. The Public Skate Park is another big attraction this year, which appears for the very first time in the region.

The Sharjah Water Festival 2013 promises to be a completely new and exciting experience at Al Majaz Park, which is divided into three areas: Adventure Zone, Fun Zone and Kids’ Zone, according to age groups.

Some of the attractions on offer this year include the Climbing Wall, Bungee Trampoline, Skate Park, Skate Park Competition, Bag Jump Show, Heritage Area, Roaming Musicians Shows, Mouj Meet and Greet and above all, the hugely popular Carnival.

Al Midfa said the festival coincides with the much-awaited UIM H20 Formula One World Powerboat Championship at the Sharjah Grand Prix, to be held on December 12 and 13, in the waters of the picturesque Khalid Lagoon — one of the most celebrated sporting events in the region that attracts thousands of sports enthusiasts and spectators to the emirate each year.

In the press conference, he said SCTDA’s top priority is to keep the visitors, particularly the kids and families, secure and safe inside the fun ride area. “We have taken measures and increased safety measures, including an agreement with the fun rides operator to deploy more security men at the entrance and exits points. We have also selected the rides. Dangerous rides are not allowed at this year’s edition,” he added.

Present at Wednesday’s launch will be Abdulla Al Zari, Director General of Sharjah Transport; Colonel Ali Seif Al Naddass, Director of Public Relations at Sharjah Police; Hasan Yaqoub, Sharjah Radio Manager at Sharjah Media Corporation; Engineer Tariq Rashid Demas, Deputy Director for Technical Affairs at SEWA; Haji Al Hajiri, Director General of Zulal Water Factory; Mrs Nada Al Suwaidi, Director of Corporate Communications at Sharjah Municipality; Yazan Bin Hamid Al Mikhawi, Head of Public Relations at Directorate of Public Works; Ali Al Mutawwa, Public Relations Officer, Department of Seaports and Customs; Khalifa Salem, Key Account Manager at Airarabia; and, Manal Abu Khater, Tutor at Sharjah Baby Friendly Emirate Campaign.

lily@khaleejtimes.com