Sharjah Light Festival Dazzles with New Venues
Sharjah Light Festival Returns: 4 New Venues, a Year in the Making
This year, the Sharjah Light Festival returns with stunning light displays and spectacular installations, and it’s set to be bigger than ever before. Running from February 5th to 23rd, the festival will illuminate Sharjah’s iconic sites for the 14th time, and this year, it has expanded to include four new venues. Nearly a year of preparation went into organizing this event, but the result surpasses all expectations.
The festival not only attracts visitors in huge numbers annually but also provides an outstanding platform for small businesses, giving them the opportunity to showcase their products and services. This year, the festival will be held at 12 venues, four of which are completely new. According to previous years’ data, more than 100,000 visitors attended the event, promoting not only local businesses but also showcasing Sharjah’s cultural and architectural beauty to the world.
The Festival of Lights: Spectacle and Experiences
The Light Village, located opposite University City Hall, is one of the festival’s central locations. Visitors can enjoy the stunning light installations and shows daily from 5:00 PM to midnight, and until 1:00 AM on weekends. Each venue at the festival features a unique theme, allowing visitors to embark on a true visual journey as they explore different parts of Sharjah.
In addition to the light displays, the festival offers numerous interactive experiences that not only entertain but also inspire. The installations at the venues not only showcase the wonders of technology but also carry deeper messages reflecting a blend of culture, history, and modernity.
Supporting Small Businesses: More Than Just a Festival
The Sharjah Light Festival is not only a spectacular event but also a platform that offers small and medium enterprises (SMEs) the opportunity to present themselves to a wider audience. The Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority highlighted that the Light Village plays a significant role within the festival, as it gives SMEs the chance to gain greater visibility.
“Sales are important, but those entrepreneurs with long-term goals recognize that participating in such platforms is not just about sales, but also about visibility and networking,” he said. This year, 60 small businesses were selected from 300 applications to participate in the festival, demonstrating the popularity and value of this opportunity for local entrepreneurs.
Based on past experiences, the organizers decided to make the Light Village's entry fee-based for certain visitors. This step is necessary to ensure that participation is profitable for small businesses as well. “We wanted to create a place where people could not only enjoy light shows but also buy food and drink or pay for other experiences,” he explained.
Enhancing Sharjah's Reputation
The Sharjah Light Festival not only supports the local economy but also contributes to the broader goals of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), aiming to transform the country into one of the world’s leading tourism hubs. The festival receives massive international acclaim, providing Sharjah an opportunity to present itself as the cultural capital of the Arab world.
“We are very pleased with the diversity of the event and the strong impact it has on Sharjah’s reputation and perception,” he said. The festival is not just a spectacular show but an event that brings together culture, technology, and the economy while showcasing Sharjah's unique character.
Summary
This year's Sharjah Light Festival once again proves to be a unique event that not only entertains visitors but also contributes to the development of the local economy and strengthens Sharjah's international reputation. The festival’s mesmerizing light displays, interactive installations, and the opportunities it provides for small businesses all demonstrate that this event is much more than a simple festival—it's a platform that unites the community, culture, and innovation.
