The fascination of the unknown – this is what the land of Sharjah (pronounced Shardsha), ‘bathed in sunlight’ means to me. Before me lies the third largest Arab emirate with its one million inhabitants – full of promise, waiting for me to discover its secrets. The reason for my trip is the glittering Sharjah Light Festival, which takes place every February – the best possible time of year to visit this region. A breath-taking celebration for the senses, I’m told, an inspiring oriental light festival that you absolutely must see. And yet it’s still a bit of an insider tip.
The Emir of Sharjah, his Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, is clearly putting the Emirate’s rich cultural heritage at the forefront of his country’s development, giving it a key new role to play. The heart of Sharjah city is the historic old town with its shady lanes and traditional buildings dating back to the era before the oil boom. In the oldest parts of the city, you can find merchants’ houses steeped in history and built from coral rock that have now been lovingly restored. The roofs of these buildings are adorned with ‘wind towers’ – the forerunners of modern air-conditioning. Some of these houses, such as the house of al Naboodah which belonged to a family in the 18th century, are open to interested visitors. There are more than twenty museums to explore, including the Islamic Museum, which boasts many rare art works from the ruler of Sharjah’s private collection. In 1998, Sharjah was chosen by UNESCO as the Capital of Culture of the Arab world and in 2014, it was chosen as the Capital of Islamic Culture. Sharjah is not trying to compete with the massive glass palaces reaching for the stars found in other emirates; its plan is to raise its own distinctive profile and emphasise what is special and unique about it. Many of the older high-rise buildings in the centre are due to be removed in the next few years to make room for the further reconstruction of the historic quarter and the traditional souk, the old Arab market. There are plans for boutique hotels with architecture typical of this country, cafes, galleries and theatres that will highlight the authentic flair of the Persian Gulf. At the same time, the GHM Hotel Group has two luxury projects in progress with The Chedi brand. These are expected to open in 2017 (Al Bai Sharjah) and 2018 (The Chedi Khorfakkan). So luxury accommodation will be well catered for too. Or you can come over from Dubai, just a 20-minute drive away, to get a taste of the changes and see how Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi’s intelligent touch and innovative ideas are guiding his country towards modernity and how he has turned Sharjah into an important educational centre with two universities. All this follows in the tradition of his ancestors, who opened the first airport on the Persian Gulf back in 1932, making Sharjah the first emirate accessible to tourists. It will be interesting to see how the face of Sharjah changes in the future, and whether it will succeed in stepping out of the shadow of its more famous neighbour and throwing off the cloak of the hidden beauty. The first step towards this is the Festival of Light, which is captivating and thrilling people from all over the world.
Each February the Emirate of Sharjah falls under the spell of its impressive Light Festival. It’s thrilling to see all the important buildings and historic sites illuminated in different colours. The stories of Sharjah’s varied 6000-year history and its people are projected in colour onto each of more than a dozen key sights. Mosques, museums, palaces and monuments sparkle like jewels beneath the sophisticated lighting effects and colours. In Sharjah Creek and Khalid Lagoon, fountains dance to the beat of famous classics; colourful images of precious exhibits from the Museum of Islamic Civilisation are projected onto huge screens, leaving me overwhelmed by their intensity. The excitement is already mounting about the forthcoming Sharjah Light Festival from 4–13 February 2016. This shimmering metropolis of light will again be expertly staged by the world’s top specialists in lighting design, laser projections and multimedia. The sheik, whose family has ruled the emirate since 1630, will once again be opening the event in person in 2016. Other high points in Sharjah’s calendar of festivals are the internationally respected art biennale, which alternates with the calligraphy biennale, and the annual Water Festival which hosts some exciting Formula 1 power boat races. Sharjah – a destination for connoisseurs.
