Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on a tour of the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on a tour of the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on a tour of the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on a tour of the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
The Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre is temperature controlled, meaning it can host events all year round. Wam
The Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre is temperature controlled, meaning it can host events all year round. Wam
The Waterfall is situated 43 metres above sea level and sits inside a natural mountain cave. Wam
The Waterfall is situated 43 metres above sea level and sits inside a natural mountain cave. Wam
The Waterfall attraction is adjacent to the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
The Waterfall attraction is adjacent to the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on a tour of the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on a tour of the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on a tour of the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on a tour of the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, at the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, at the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on a tour of the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on a tour of the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Wam
The Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre can hold up to 3,600 spectators. Wam
The Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre can hold up to 3,600 spectators. Wam

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Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre: Sharjah Ruler attends screening of film adapted from his book during inauguration

The historical drama 'Khorfakkan' is based on a book written by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi

Evelyn Lau
Evelyn Lau
Abu Dhabi

December 15, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, officially inaugurated the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre on Monday.

He also inaugurated the Waterfall, another new attraction adjacent to the amphitheatre, while attending the first screening of the film Khorfakkan, based on one of his books.

The amphitheatre, a vast open-air venue that can accommodate up to 3,600 spectators, is a prominent addition to the cultural scene in Sharjah. It is located at the foot of Al Sayed mountain and overlooks the corniche.

The semicircular space has a stone facade that includes 234 arches and 295 columns. The amphitheatre, constructed in an area spanning 37,000 square metres, also has a unique temperature control system that will allow for activities to be held all year round.

The Waterfall, meanwhile, is situated inside a natural mountain cave that is 45 metres long and 11 metres wide. It has several openings that overlook a waterfall descending from the mountain. It houses a restaurant, cafe and service room, and features outdoor seating.

It can be accessed from the amphitheatre by lifts, as well as a walkway.

The Ruler of Sharjah has led efforts to unlock the potential of Khor Fakkan as a vibrant tourist attraction in recent years.

In October, he inspected the development of a new heritage area encompassing a canal, hotel and traditional souq. Old markets have been restored, shops rejuvenated and visitors will soon be able to stay in boutique heritage accommodations in the town.

'Khorfakkan' the film

During his visit on Monday, Sheikh Dr Sultan attended a screening of the historical drama Khorfakkan, based on his own book Khorfakkan's Resistance Against the Portuguese Invasion of September 1507.

The film is set in the early 16th century and chronicles the resistance staged by local tribes against colonising Portuguese troops in what is today known as the Sharjah coastal city of Khor Fakkan.

Produced by Sharjah Broadcasting Authority and developed by Get Go Films Ltd, the film boasts a seasoned list of cast and crew including stars Emirati actors Ahmed Al Jassmi, Khalifa Albhri and Abdullah Almaqbali. It is helmed by US and Irish filmmakers Ben Mole and Maurice Sweeney.

Khorfakkan will release in cinemas on Thursday, December 17.

Scroll through the gallery below to see more photos from Sheikh Dr Sultan's visit to the Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre in November:

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, inspects the new Khor Fakkan amphitheatre. All pictures courtesy Sharjah Government Media Office
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, inspects the new Khor Fakkan amphitheatre. All pictures courtesy Sharjah Government Media Office
The new ampitheatre is part of ongoing regeneration of the town
The new ampitheatre is part of ongoing regeneration of the town
The open-air venue looks set to be a tourist attraction
The open-air venue looks set to be a tourist attraction
The vast venue will open soon with a screening of the film telling the story of Khor Fakkan's intriguing past
The vast venue will open soon with a screening of the film telling the story of Khor Fakkan's intriguing past
The Ruler of Sharjah toured new projects in the area
The Ruler of Sharjah toured new projects in the area
The Ruler of Sharjah has championed efforts to rejuvenate Khor Fakkan
The Ruler of Sharjah has championed efforts to rejuvenate Khor Fakkan
The Ruler of Sharjah has paid a number of visits to Khor Fakkan as its redevelopment gathers pace
The Ruler of Sharjah has paid a number of visits to Khor Fakkan as its redevelopment gathers pace
Sheikh Dr Sultan inspects plans for a prosperous future in Khor Fakkan
Sheikh Dr Sultan inspects plans for a prosperous future in Khor Fakkan
The Ruler of Sharjah toured new projects in the area.
The Ruler of Sharjah toured new projects in the area.
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
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How Tesla’s price correction has hit fund managers

Investing in disruptive technology can be a bumpy ride, as investors in Tesla were reminded on Friday, when its stock dropped 7.5 per cent in early trading to $575.

It recovered slightly but still ended the week 15 per cent lower and is down a third from its all-time high of $883 on January 26. The electric car maker’s market cap fell from $834 billion to about $567bn in that time, a drop of an astonishing $267bn, and a blow for those who bought Tesla stock late.

The collapse also hit fund managers that have gone big on Tesla, notably the UK-based Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and Cathie Wood’s ARK Innovation ETF.

Tesla is the top holding in both funds, making up a hefty 10 per cent of total assets under management. Both funds have fallen by a quarter in the past month.

Matt Weller, global head of market research at GAIN Capital, recently warned that Tesla founder Elon Musk had “flown a bit too close to the sun”, after getting carried away by investing $1.5bn of the company’s money in Bitcoin.

He also predicted Tesla’s sales could struggle as traditional auto manufacturers ramp up electric car production, destroying its first mover advantage.

AJ Bell’s Russ Mould warns that many investors buy tech stocks when earnings forecasts are rising, almost regardless of valuation. “When it works, it really works. But when it goes wrong, elevated valuations leave little or no downside protection.”

A Tesla correction was probably baked in after last year’s astonishing share price surge, and many investors will see this as an opportunity to load up at a reduced price.

Dramatic swings are to be expected when investing in disruptive technology, as Ms Wood at ARK makes clear.

Every week, she sends subscribers a commentary listing “stocks in our strategies that have appreciated or dropped more than 15 per cent in a day” during the week.

Her latest commentary, issued on Friday, showed seven stocks displaying extreme volatility, led by ExOne, a leader in binder jetting 3D printing technology. It jumped 24 per cent, boosted by news that fellow 3D printing specialist Stratasys had beaten fourth-quarter revenues and earnings expectations, seen as good news for the sector.

By contrast, computational drug and material discovery company Schrödinger fell 27 per cent after quarterly and full-year results showed its core software sales and drug development pipeline slowing.

Despite that setback, Ms Wood remains positive, arguing that its “medicinal chemistry platform offers a powerful and unique view into chemical space”.

In her weekly video view, she remains bullish, stating that: “We are on the right side of change, and disruptive innovation is going to deliver exponential growth trajectories for many of our companies, in fact, most of them.”

Ms Wood remains committed to Tesla as she expects global electric car sales to compound at an average annual rate of 82 per cent for the next five years.

She said these are so “enormous that some people find them unbelievable”, and argues that this scepticism, especially among institutional investors, “festers” and creates a great opportunity for ARK.

Only you can decide whether you are a believer or a festering sceptic. If it’s the former, then buckle up.

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While you're here
OIL PLEDGE

At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.

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