Sharjah Light Festival kicks off with dazzling display


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A dazzling display of luminosity has marked the return of the Sharjah Light Festival.

The 12th event kicked off on Wednesday evening with a show called Chasing the Lights, a "story of finding that flicker of light in the shadows" and keeping "the flame of curiousity high".

The opening ceremony lit up the emirate's University City Hall with a fireworks display serving as the backdrop. The festival, which runs until February 19, is organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority.

Fireworks display at University City Hall during the opening ceremony of the Sharjah Light Festival. Photo: Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority
Fireworks display at University City Hall during the opening ceremony of the Sharjah Light Festival. Photo: Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority

This year, the authority promises a "reinvented" programme, "all in an effort to highlight the latest destinations and landmarks in the emirate of Sharjah and provide more services to the public at each of the festival’s locations", its chairman, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, said.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, attended the opening night, which has become an event that showcases the emirate's architectural prowess.

Over the course of 12 days, several landmarks around the emirate will light up, including University City Hall, Al Noor Mosque, Khalid Lagoon Corniche, Sharjah Mosque, Al Majaz Waterfront and Sharjah Fort.

Each of these landmarks will have daily light shows from Sunday to Wednesday, 6pm to 11pm, and from Thursday to Saturday, 6pm to midnight.

"The Sharjah Light Festival has become a leading event that the public looks forward to every year to create unforgettable memories, immortalised in thousands of posts on various social media platforms that travel across borders and bring joy to millions of followers," Al Midfa said.

"Here in Sharjah, we take pride in all our achievements, and celebrate the festival’s popularity and good reputation, which had a tangible positive impact on the domestic and international tourism sector in the emirate."

Aside from the shows, there is also the Light Village, a 19,000-square-metre open market-style venue that hosts dozens of Emirati-owned businesses, from burger shacks to speciality coffee kiosks. It is located on the grounds of the University City Hall.

The Light Village with dozens of food and drinks stalls. Photo: Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority
The Light Village with dozens of food and drinks stalls. Photo: Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority

The pop-up village houses a Light Museum, as well as several areas for games, live shows and other activities. It will be open throughout the festival from Sunday to Wednesday, 4pm to midnight and from Thursday to Saturday, 4pm to 1am.

The festival is expected to attract more than 60,000 visitors.

Sharjah Light Festival runs until February 19. More information is available at sharjahlightfestival.ae

Scroll through the gallery below for images from Sharjah Light Festival 2022

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Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

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Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
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Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
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Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

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Price: From Dh149,900

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4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)

5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud

7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel

7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard

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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

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Wed Aug 29 – Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
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Transmission: nine-speed automatic

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Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh

Based: Abu Dhabi

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Number of staff: 4

Funding to date: Bootstrapped

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if you go

Getting there

Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.

Staying there

On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.

More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr

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Updated: February 09, 2023, 2:35 PM`