ART EVENT Sharjah Light Festival 2017 Kicks Off in 14 Locations Across the Emirate

The seventh annual Sharjah Light Festival (SLF) kicked off last night in University City Hall in Sharjah City, and will go on for 10 days from February 2 to 11, 2017. The Festival is organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

Also in attendance at the Festival’s opening ceremony were 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.

Sharjah Light Festival / Courtesy of SLF

The seventh Sharjah Light Festival will cover 14 different locations spread across the emirate and including architectural landmarks, mosques, and historic buildings, that will be brought to life with dazzling light displays and musical performances, highlighting the aesthetic qualities of Sharjah’s architectural landscape.

Locations include 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 interactive technology show at Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre for Gulf Studies, which is joining the festivities for the first time this year.

Sharjah Light Festival / Courtesy of SLF

Sharjah Light Festival / Courtesy of SLF

In a speech delivered at the opening ceremony, H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa underlined the prominent international status that the Sharjah Light Festival has come to occupy, placing it on par with such high-profile events as the Lyon, Sydney, or Berlin Festivals.

“The Sharjah Light Festival is a culmination of art, culture, science, and the renaissance movement initiated by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah,” H.E. Al Midfa continued, adding that this year’s festival stands out from previous editions for using 3D video techniques in all 14 locations.

The 2017 edition of the Festival will focus on certain areas in an effort to make it easier for festivalgoers to move between locations, H.E. Al Midfa explained, pointing out that Khalid Lagoon in the centre of the City of Sharjah was chosen to host the main event in University City Hall, as well as the interactive show that will be hosted – for the very first time – by Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre for Gulf Studies. Moreover, dazzling light shows are also slated to take place in Dhaid, Khor Fakkan, Kalba, and Dibba.

Sharjah Light Festival / Courtesy of SLF

Sponsors of the Sharjah Light Festival 2017 include: Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Police Headquarters, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA), Sharjah Transport, Sharjah Civil Defence Department, and Sharjah Investment & Development Authority (Shurooq). In addition to that, Nomada show and event organisers has also pledged support for the Festival as an official partner. Meanwhile, Dar Al Khaleej Printing & Publishing, Al Rabia FM, and Gulf Today have signed on as media partners.

Over the years, the Sharjah Light Festival has succeeded in attracting thousands of visitors each year, H.E. Al Midfa pointed out; 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.

Sharjah Light Festival / Courtesy of SLF

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority employs the most cutting-edge techniques to design the shows, offering audiences a breath-taking mix of light, music, and design, all the while relying solely on environmentally friendly, power-saving technologies.