• Home

Days of yore are back in Sharjah

SHARJAH — His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the 10th edition of Sharjah Heritage Days at Maraija in old Sharjah on Wednesday. The event runs until April 20 under the slogan, ‘Decade of Heritage’.

The event has a fair-like atmosphere with heritage pavilions and villages displaying pictures and models highlighting traditional customs, besides entertainment and cultural programmes. A heritage profession centre and workshops for making toys, perfumes and incense are other attractions. Dancers and traditional bands will perform throughout the festival and traditional food will be sold. Discussions on heritage development and methods of recording the history of the UAE will also be held.

The annual event this year is being organised by the Sharjah Culture and Information Department in coordination with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Authority with the aim of promoting tourism in the emirate.

Heritage Days will take place throughout the emirate and will celebrate the emirate’s heritage, culture and literature with special focus on the vocabulary.

Mohamed Ali Al Noman, SCTDA Chairman, stressed that Sharjah remains true to its cultural roots, traditions and heritage despite the advancements and progress on various fronts. “This is the unique and most distinguishing factor of the emirate. This is why the UNESCO designated Sharjah as the Cultural Capital of the Arab and Islamic world in 1998.

“This year, the Sharjah Heritage Days will have a new feel with features such as scientific lectures and will focus on the Arab world’s cultural horizons. The changes were made based on the directives of Shaikh Sultan under whose patronage the event is being held,” he added.

news@khaleejtimes.com