Heart Of Sharjah Concludes Heritage Days Festival With Cultural Celebrations And Record Attendance

Sharjah recently concluded the 22nd edition of Sharjah Heritage Days, themed "Roots," with a grand ceremony. Over 11 days, the festival attracted 388,851 visitors to more than 12,000 events across seven cities in the emirate. These cities included Sharjah, Khorfakkan, Mleiha, Al Dhaid, Kalba, Al Hamriyah, and Dibba Al-Hisn.

The closing ceremony at Heart of Sharjah featured a documentary on the festival's success and a performance of "The Palm Tree" operetta. Various heritage-inspired artistic performances were also showcased. More than 46 supporting entities were honoured for their contributions, including sponsors and government and private institutions.

This year's event welcomed over 100 distinguished guests from 25 countries. These included Arab nations like the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and international countries such as China, India, France, and Germany. The final day featured cultural performances in Sharjah, Khorfakkan, and Dibba Al-Hisn.

A panel discussion titled "Inspiring Experiences in Cultural Heritage Preservation" was held during the final cultural session. Experts from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Turkey participated. Sultan Al-Hammadi moderated the session.

Dr Mishari Al-Naim discussed tangible and intangible heritage in Saudi Arabia’s National Memory Project. Talal Al-Rumaihi emphasised documenting research for heritage preservation. Abdul Wahab Al-Khaja highlighted systematic training programs' importance in conservation efforts.

Dr Alp Arslan Açıkgenç presented his book "Islamic Scientific Traditions in History". Mohammed Ali Abdullah explored the Arabian Gulf's cultural roots. Following this panel discussion, a group book signing event was hosted by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage.

Publication Highlights

The institute released its latest publication titled "Roots," co-authored by 14 researchers and academics. Contributors included Abdulaziz Al-Musallam and Dr Mini Bounama among others. The book explores various heritage topics such as Emirati traditions in Majlis culture and historical traditional markets in Sharjah.

Reflecting on this year’s success, Dr Abdul Aziz Al-Musallam stated: "This year’s edition was truly exceptional in every sense." He credited His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi for his unwavering support that ensures Sharjah's rich heritage remains prominent.

Future Plans

Abu Bakr Mohammed Al-Kindi expressed commitment to continuous growth: "The remarkable success of this year’s edition is both a privilege and a responsibility." Planning for next year has already begun with an aim to enhance Sharjah as a distinguished heritage destination.

The event honoured 27 organising committees along with over 100 employees from the Sharjah Institute for Heritage for their outstanding contributions. Their efforts played a crucial role in making this year's festival successful.

With inputs from WAM