Sharjah 24: The 12th edition of Dibba Al Hisn Al Maleh and Fishing Festival, organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Dibba Al Hisn Municipality, concluded on Sunday, with remarkable public turnout and economic boost. Large numbers of visitors from across the UAE continued to flock to Al Hisn Island to enjoy the lively heritage atmosphere that exudes authenticity from the East Coast.
Well organised event
Many visitors and participants praised the event's organising efforts, noting that the integrated services provided visitors with an interactive experience at the various pavilions, including the central "Al Maleh Market," a popular dining area, and local agricultural produce pavilions. This edition was marked by exceptional growth in the number of participants, which reached more than 100 exhibitors from government agencies concerned with maritime affairs, private sector companies, leading brands, and a select group of entrepreneurs and productive families.
Heritage with economic dimensions
His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadhi, Director General of SCCI, emphasised that the festival has become a leading economic platform for the people of the Eastern Region. By opening its doors annually to exhibitors, it presents to the community in Dibba Al Hisn the success stories of productive families and entrepreneurs who have been able to invest in a traditional craft related to food security: salt-making, in addition to traditional maritime crafts.
Al Awadhi explained that SCCI supports local industries, whose products are in high demand, and opens new marketing channels that support the local community's economic system. He noted that the event contributes to empowering entrepreneurs and transforming traditional crafts into sustainable projects. Over four days filled with displays, commercial activities, workshops, and various events, the festival succeeded in leaving a positive impact on visitors, providing direct support to the economy of productive families and cementing its position as a strategic event on the national events map. It clearly demonstrated that heritage, in addition to being a cultural legacy, also has economic dimensions that stimulate innovation in several commercial and industrial activities.
Empowering the local economy
His Excellency Talib Abdullah Al Yahyai, Director of Dibba Al Hisn Municipality, highlighted the festival's role in empowering the local economy, supporting small businesses, and promoting economic growth in Dibba Al Hisn and the Eastern Region through sustainable economic practices. He praised the integrated efforts to ensure the festival's success, attracting the public, entrepreneurs, and productive families, enhancing the event's economic value, and increasing demand for the products showcased at the "Al Maleh Market" and local products pavilions. This demonstrates the growing demand for high-quality heritage products and encourages producers and practitioners of these crafts to transform them into sustainable industries throughout the year. This is part of a comprehensive development vision that contributes to intensifying efforts to revive and protect marine and agricultural heritage, which represents a pillar of food security.
Praise from visitors and productive families
The "Al Maleh Market," one of the festival's sections, received continued interest from visitors, who flocked to purchase traditional salted products, popular foods, and handicrafts. Productive families praised the demand, which exceeded expectations, emphasising that the festival opened new sales channels and provided integrated display platforms that contributed to increasing sales and building confidence in their small businesses.
Since its launch on Thursday, the festival's halls have been transformed daily into a live theatre celebrating marine heritage. The "Al Maleh Market" is crowded with shoppers, and the public interacts with folkloric performances that simulate traditional fishing arts. The festival also contributes to the transfer of knowledge across generations through specialised workshops and practical sessions on the methods and basics of fish processing, salting, and canning, in addition to awareness seminars on sustainable fishing, with the goal of ensuring the continuity of this traditional craft, which is a fundamental pillar of Emirati heritage. The festival will continue to welcome visitors from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, concluding its activities after its remarkable growth in fostering community engagement with the event. It also attracted those interested in the marine fishing profession and kept abreast of the latest innovations in fishing equipment and boats. This enhances opportunities for partnerships between heritage and technology, opens horizons for innovation in the marine sector, and supports the transition towards sustainable marine industries.
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