Sharjah24: The 12th edition of the Al Maleh and Fishing Festival was officially inaugurated yesterday, Thursday, at Dibba Al Hisn and will run until August 31.
Organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in cooperation with the Dibba Al Hisn Municipality, the four-day event features extensive participation from more than 100 exhibitors, including retailers, craftsmen, and local families involved in the Al Maleh (salted fish) industry, in addition to maritime-focused private sector companies and government entities.
It aims to promote the economic and cultural significance of marine fishing while preserving the UAE’s age-old maritime crafts and heritage-based industries.
The 12th Al Maleh and Fishing Festival was inaugurated by His Excellency Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI. The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Ahmed bin Yarouf Al Naqbi, Chairman of the Municipal Council of Dibba Al-Hisn; His Excellency Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of SCCI; and His Excellency Talib Abdullah Al Yahyai, Director of Dibba Al Hisn City Municipality.
Also present were senior officials, including heads of government departments and agencies, chairmen and members of municipal councils in Sharjah, along with directors and representatives from federal and local ministries, authorities, and institutions, in addition to representatives of the economic community in the Eastern Region of the emirate.
The attendees toured the festival, held at Al Hisn Island, explored its different pavilions and stands, and engaged with visitors in an authentic cultural setting that showcased the heritage of the eastern coast.
The ceremony featured traditional folkloric performances highlighting traditional fishing practices and heritage scenes that reflected the seafaring legacy of the ancestors.
Meanwhile, attendees explored the festival’s central Al Maleh Market, dining area serving authentic traditional cuisine, and pavilions showcasing handcrafted marine products, where they praised the wide variety of exhibits and the strong turnout of both participants and visitors.
The festival continues to maintain its position as one of the region’s most prominent heritage events dedicated to the Al Maleh industry. It offers an interactive platform to celebrate marine fishing, traditional techniques of fish drying and canning, and related cultural practices.
In addition, it features educational sessions and awareness seminars on sustainable fishing, hands-on workshops on fish salting, and a variety of competitions and live showcases of maritime artisanal handicrafts.
Supporting economic and commercial activity in the Eastern Region
In his remarks, His Excellency Abdallah Sultan Al Owais stated that inaugurating the Al Maleh and Fishing Festival in Dibba Al Hisn, the historic heartbeat of the Eastern Coast, underscores the Sharjah Chamber’s commitment to advancing economic and commercial momentum in the Eastern Region.
He noted that this vision stems from the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who views heritage as both an inspiration and a catalyst for development.
“By blending the UAE’s rich maritime legacy with authentic cultural heritage, the festival has evolved into a multidimensional strategic landmark that honours one of the forefathers’ most vital professions, servs as a living educational forum transferring maritime knowledge to new generations, and provides economic support to the community of Dibba Al Hisn and the wider Eastern Region,” Al Owais added.
A model of success in turning heritage into an economic asset
For his part, His Excellency Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi emphasised that the Chamber is committed to positioning the festival as a successful practical model for converting heritage-driven and tradition-based capital into tangible economic value.
He highlighted the event’s notable growth in exhibitor numbers and exhibition space, underscoring the richness of the local community that actively engages with the festival. This engagement has turned the festival into a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs and a primary gateway for productive families, whose creative products merit support and empowerment to become active contributors to the local economy.
Al Awadi further commended the consistent success of the festival, attributing it to the strategic partnership between the Sharjah Chamber, the Dibba Al Hisn Municipality and the city’s Municipal Council.
Community engagement strengthening Dibba Al Hisn’s position
Meanwhile, His Excellency Talib Abdullah Al Yahyai stated that the festival has established itself as a landmark event that highlights the significance of maritime professions while reinforcing Dibba Al Hisn’s standing as sustainable heritage and tourism hub.
He pointed out that the remarkable growth in participants and exhibition space reflects strong community engagement and demonstrates Dibba Al Hisn’s capacity to host world-class events that blend heritage with forward-looking vision.
He added that the Dibba Al Hisn City Municipality has upgraded the venue’s infrastructure, expanded parking facilities, and ensured comprehensive services to provide a safe and seamless experience. In doing so, the festival directly contributes to stimulating economic activity, supporting productive families, and promoting local tourism.
Various pavilions and booths
Key attractions of this year’s festival include the central "Al Maleh Market", showcasing premium salted products, alongside dedicated pavilions for local agricultural produce and exhibition platforms for advanced fishing gear, engines, and boats. Visitors can also enjoy a dining area offering authentic traditional Emirati dishes.
The 12th Al Maleh and Fishing Festival continues to fulfill one of its core objectives of transferring knowledge across generations by offering a series of specialised training courses and workshops on the fundamentals of salted fish (Al Maleh) production, salting, and canning.
These programmes aim to revive heritage and teach younger generations the practical skills mastered by their forefathers, ensuring the sustainability of this traditional craft, which remains a cornerstone of the UAE’s authentic cultural heritage.
The Al Maleh industry is one of the oldest food industries practiced in the UAE. It was once a primary profession for ensuring year-round food supplies, as communities relied on traditional methods of preserving and storing salted fish. This underscores the industry’s historical value and significance as an integral part of the UAE’s cultural identity and legacy.
The Sharjah Chamber and Dibba Al Hisn Municipality invited Sharjah’s residents and visitors alike to attend the festival and enjoy an enriching experience that combines the authenticity of the past with a vision for the future. The event strongly embodies the UAE’s commitment to preserving its heritage while consolidating Sharjah’s position as a leading center for culture, heritage, and high-profile events.
The exhibition space of this year’s festival increased by 140 percent, from 2,000 to 4,800 square meters, reflecting growth in the number of exhibitors and enhancement of the event’s infrastructure.
Hosted daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., the festival serves as an integrated heritage, social, and economic event. It offers a leading model of sustainable development anchored in cultural identity, while promoting community cohesion, enabling local producers, and creating new opportunities for innovation in traditional food industries.
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