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Organised by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage under the theme "Roots," the event saw broad participation from local, Arab, and international communities.
Upon His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah's arrival in the Heart of Sharjah, he was warmly welcomed by lively performances from various folklore bands. The groups celebrated His Highness’s arrival with traditional chants, including Al Nadba, Al Ayala, Al Harbiya, and Al Habban.
His Highness was updated on the activities and events of Sharjah Heritage Days, which showcase the emirate's long-standing celebration of folk heritage. With over two decades of continuity, the event plays a significant role in enriching Sharjah's cultural landscape, helping position the emirate as a global leader in thought, civilisation, and fostering meaningful dialogue between different cultures and heritages.
Sharjah Heritage Days features three main exhibitions. The first, the "Roots" Exhibition, highlights the historical and cultural aspects of Sharjah, showcasing milestones from its ancient past, particularly related to daily life, livelihoods, customs, and culture. The second exhibition, "The Journey of Perfumes (Through the Ages)," traces the history and significance of the perfume industry, from ancient Egypt to the most renowned modern European fragrances. The third exhibition, "A Century of Libraries," focuses on the history of the Al Qasimia Library in Sharjah Fort, covering its evolution from the era of Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr bin Khalid Al Qasimi to that of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. This exhibition also includes displays on the Western House Library, personal collections, specialised libraries such as Al-Taymiyah and Al-Mahmoud, and features rare books from Sharjah's libraries, alongside representations of Sharjah’s key libraries.
This year's activities are spread across seven cities in the Emirate of Sharjah: Sharjah City, Khorfakkan, Mleiha, Al Dhaid, Kalba, Dibba Al Hisn, and Al Hamriyah. Each location will host a variety of live artistic performances, theatre workshops, folk craft demonstrations, and educational entertainment activities.
Sharjah Heritage Days introduces several exciting new activities, including the opening of an additional events square, the centennial celebration of Sharjah's first library, established in 1925, and the Booksellers Market, featuring over 12 libraries and six publishing houses. Additionally, 150 craftsmen from around the world will showcase their skills. The event will also host the largest Al-Ayala band performance in the UAE, with more than 300 folk artists participating.
The event grounds will feature platforms showcasing folk arts, the Palm Symphony operetta, a camel and horse caravan procession, the play Arqoub Dates, and the children’s play Island of Wishes. Additionally, there will be a cinema of the days, the Roots exhibition, and various artistic performances. The event will also include the opening of the Al Ayala art memorial and the World Heritage Kitchen events as part of the Sharjah Heritage Days celebrations.
This year’s cultural café activities will present a range of in-depth discussions and diverse perspectives on various aspects of Emirati heritage. An esteemed group of Emirati researchers and writers will participate, exploring different elements and knowledge of the heritage. The programme will feature 14 sessions, 15 book signing events, new releases, and the launch of 15 new publications.
The Sharjah Institute for Heritage has curated four heritage programmes for this year’s edition, offering a well-rounded blend of cognitive, artistic, educational, and entertainment formats. Notable highlights include a series of workshops by the Manuscripts Department, such as Diwani calligraphy, manual restoration, traditional Chinese and Arabic paper cutting, wrapping and binding techniques, Ebru art, and ornamentation.
The Arab Heritage programme will feature a roundtable discussion with nine UNESCO experts, alongside the participation of six craftsmen showcasing crafts recognised on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Additionally, the programme will include a dialect lab, an art initiative titled "Fashion Roots," and a presentation of the "Heritage Preservation Pledge" certificate.
The Emirati Crafts Centre programme will feature 150 craftsmen from various countries, displaying 33 different crafts and professions. Additionally, 12 heritage training workshops will be organised, along with 11 competitions for employees of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage. The International Storytelling School programme will present a variety of engaging activities, workshops, and performances, including expressive and theatrical storytelling arts, such as the "Box of Wonders," "Sugar Dolls," and the "House of Wisdom Map."
The event schedule offers a range of interactive activities and programmes, allowing audiences to engage with different Emirati environments. The theatre platform will host two performances, while the Juzur educational corners for children and young people will showcase their activities at the Creators' Store, along with the Painters' Hall and the Important Corner. Other highlights include the two thrones, the workshops corner, the youth council, the sand square, public programmes, traditional craft training courses, and the House of Popular Games, which will unite the audience for a variety of interactive experiences.
Sharjah Heritage Days will showcase a diverse array of traditional folk arts and dances from various cultures, with performances by numerous folklore groups, Arab community ensembles, and international participants. The Sharjah National Band, along with several local folk groups, will present a variety of artistic expressions, including Al Ayala, Nuban, Andima, Harbiya, Liwa, Rawah, Dan, Habban, Razif, Al Nadba, Al Naham, Al Aza, and sea hymns.
The participating community groups will also present performances showcasing Gulf arts, including the Saudi Ardah, the Iraqi and Yemeni Jalsah, the Emirati Caravan, as well as national band performances from Georgia and Russia, along with various artistic expressions from Arab communities.
This year's Sharjah Heritage Days will feature participation from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Additionally, several Arab countries will be represented, including Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Tunisia, Algeria, and Lebanon.
Alongside His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, the opening ceremony was attended by Sheikha Hoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the Sharjah Art Foundation; Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Office; Sheikh Khalid bin Issam Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation; Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations; Sheikh Majid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Districts Affairs; Sheikha Nawar bint Ahmed Al Qasimi, Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation; Sheikh Salem bin Mohammed bin Salem Al Qasimi, Director of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; along with numerous sheikhs, senior officials, official guests, and a group of experts and stakeholders involved in the event.
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