Sharjah: In a grand ceremony filled with guests and visitors, Sharjah bid farewell to the 22nd edition of Sharjah Heritage Days, which was held under the theme 'Roots'. Over 11 consecutive days, the festival hosted a range of cultural and heritage activities, attracting 388,851 visitors who witnessed more than 12,000 events across seven cities in the emirate, including Sharjah, Khorfakkan, Mleiha, Al Dhaid, Kalba, Al Hamriyah, and Dibba Al-Hisn.
According to Emirates News Agency, the closing ceremony, held at Heart of Sharjah, featured a documentary film highlighting the efforts behind the festival's success, alongside a performance of the symphonic operetta "The Palm Tree" and various heritage-inspired artistic performances. Additionally, more than 46 supporting entities, including sponsors and government and private institutions, were honoured, along with 27 organising committees and over 100 employees from the Sharjah Institute for Heritage in recognition of their contributions to the event's success.
This year's edition welcomed over 100 distinguished guests from 25 Arab and international countries, including the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Tunisia, Algeria, and Lebanon, alongside China, India, Lithuania, Georgia, France, North Macedonia, Russia, Montenegro, Spain, and Germany.
Reflecting on the event, Dr Abdul Aziz Al-Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, stated that this year's edition was exceptional in every sense. He highlighted the significant expansion, new event spaces, cultural programs, and publications. Such success was attributed to the support and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, ensuring that the emirate's rich heritage remains at the forefront of cultural discourse.
Abu Bakr Mohammed Al-Kindi, General Coordinator of Sharjah Heritage Days, emphasised the commitment to continuous growth and excellence. He noted that the success of this year's edition inspires them to aim higher for the next year. Planning for the upcoming edition has already begun, focusing on gathering insights and ideas to further establish Sharjah as a distinguished heritage destination.
The final day featured a series of cultural and heritage performances held simultaneously across Sharjah, Khorfakkan, and Dibba Al-Hisn. The final cultural session included a panel discussion titled "Inspiring Experiences in Cultural Heritage Preservation," featuring experts from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Turkey.
During the session, Dr Mishari Al-Naim discussed Saudi Arabia's National Memory Project, Talal Al-Rumaihi highlighted the importance of documenting research, and Abdul Wahab Al-Khaja stressed the need for training programs in heritage conservation. Dr Alp Arslan A§ikgen§ presented his book "Islamic Scientific Traditions in History", and Mohammed Ali Abdullah explored the cultural roots of the Arabian Gulf.
Following the panel, the Sharjah Institute for Heritage hosted a book signing event for its latest publication, 'Roots', co-authored by 14 distinguished researchers and academics. As part of its annual tradition, the Sharjah Institute for Heritage releases a book reflecting the themes of Sharjah Heritage Days. This year's publication explores topics like Sharjah Heritage Days: A Legacy of Roots and Emirati Traditions in Majlis Culture.