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The second preliminary showing for the Sharjah Lights Festival 2011 - scheduled for February next year - attracted the attention of Sharjah’s residents, and visitors to the emirate, during the recent Eid al-Adha.
The showing was held at the Cultural Palace building as part of the celebration of Eid al-Adha, and included an art showcase of the previous lights festivals held across major European capitals and cities, such as the French city of Leon and the German city of Berlin. Sharjah will be the region’s first city to host a lights festival.
Commenting on the occasion, H.E. Mohamed A. Al Noman, Director General of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), said: “We are keen to promote the Sharjah Lights Festival 2011 through live shows where audiences are treated to the wonderful combination of music and lights. The first preliminary showing was held in May, during which spectacular light and music shows were displayed on the building of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry for nine days. We launched the second preliminary showing as part of the celebration of Eid al-Adha, which attracted the attention of visitors and residents, as well as the media.”
He said: "The Sharjah Lights Festival will run from 10 to 18 February 2011, and will feature 22 buildings across 13 different sites, namely the Heritage and Arts Area, Sharjah Museum for Islamic Civilization, Al Qasba, Central Souq, Palm Oasis, Al Majaz Park, Al Maghferah Mosque, Al Noor Mosque, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cultural Palace Square, Hosn Al Sharjah, and the buildings of government departments.
“Through this second preliminary showing, the Authority wanted to increase the flow of local and regional tourists into the emirate. By tying in with the Eid al-Adha’s holiday, the aim was to encourage tourists to familiarize themselves with the emirate’s unique attractions, which not only makes the emirate a global tourism destination of choice, but also helps tourists take advantage of their time by visiting Sharjah’s renowned tourism sites,” Al Noman added.
“Supporting Sharjah’s status as a leading global tourism destination is one of the top priorities of the SCTDA. This can be achieved by organizing major global festivals that attract local, regional and international interest. By organizing this festival, Sharjah will not only join the list of major European cities and capitals that have hosted the event, but will also become the first city in the Middle East to host a lights festival,” he concluded.
Organized by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), the Sharjah Lights Festival is the first of its kind in the Middle East. Running from 10 to 18 February 2011, it is expected to be the region’s most prominent international festival next year. The festival was launched by the SCTDA in May at a special ceremony attended by H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, SCTDA Chairman, and several VIPs, senior representatives of UAE tourism authorities, businessmen and media representatives.
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