The Dkakeen Festival is an extension of the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to initiate a number of development projects in the east coast city of Khorfakkan and help create a qualitative leap in sustainable urban reconstruction and development. These efforts have helped Khorfakkan, feted as the bride of the east coast, keep pace with the impressive ongoing development of the Emirate of Sharjah, and become an ideal destination for investments in economic and tourism development and family entertainment, stressed HE Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of Sharjah Government Media Bureau.
The Dkakeen Festival will have its activities divided into three categories. The first is hosting a Ramadan market to display the products of local families and entrepreneurs through 35 stands. The second involves hosting a number of games and sports to motivate society to follow a healthy lifestyle in the holy month. The third part features hosting a number of child-focused recreational activities through play areas.
The Khorfakkan Ramadan festival opens its doors to visitors, shoppers and families from Sunday to Thursday, from 8pm until midnight. On Fridays and Saturdays, the festival will be open from 8pm to 1am. The festival’s objectives are to strengthen the community bonds and institutional partnership between the government and the people for the advancement of families and individuals, pointed out Allay.
After inspecting the arrangements for the festival, the SGMB Director General said, "The SGMB is keen to adopt initiatives that are in the interest of society and serve the Emirate's humanitarian, economic, tourism, social agenda and policies."
Allay added, "Through the Dkakeen Festival, we are looking to encourage families and entrepreneurs in and around Khorfakkan and enable them to showcase their best products and creativity in promoting their projects. This will help them enter and consolidate themselves in the labour market and become self-reliant in generating and expanding their financial income."
A number of entrepreneurs specialising in popular local food, sweets, hot bewerages and juices as well as pastries, dry fruits, dates and honey are participating in the first Dkakeen festival in Khorfakkan.
Besides, there will be outlets promoting the best of fashion in clothing, including abayas and perfumes. There are a number of projects that showcase the best of Emirati creativity and traditional handicrafts, prized antiques and local art. The festival has also allocated spaces for games, fun and sports for young people.
Allay said, "The ‘Sports Space’ section of the Dkakeen Festival will allow families and visitors to have a good time in a lively atmosphere. We are keen to promote sports awareness and the importance of pursuing healthy lifestyles. We urge the community to practise healthy sports and make it a way of life, especially in the holy month of Ramadan, so the Sports Space will be available to the festivalgoers before and after the Iftar. It will be open to the public from 5pm to 6pm, and from 8pm to midnight.”
The Dkakeen Festival will see the participation of a number of entities in order to support its community mission, namely the Sharjah Police General Command represented by the Eastern Region Police Department, the National Ambulance, Khorfakkan Municipality, Bee’ah, the Department of Social Services, the Sharjah Civil Defence Authority - Eastern Region, and the Sharjah Old Cars Club.