SHARJAH: The 8th Sharjah Water Festival kicked off on a spectacular note on Saturday.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, from December 17 to 20 at Al Majaz Waterfront and Khalid Lagoon, the Sharjah Water Festival flooded the emirate with waves of fun and featured a number of never-before seen attractions, internationally acclaimed shows, breathtaking performances and fireworks, bringing lots of joy and fun to families and visitors of all age groups.
The SWF 2014 was formally opened on Wednesday by His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Corporation and Sharjah Media Centre in the presence of HE Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director General, SCTDA. Brigadier Abdullah Mubarak Al Dukhan, Deputy General Commander of Sharjah Police, and a number of dignitaries, senior government officials and a throng of media representatives.
Expressing his satisfaction over yet another successful Sharjah Water Festival, HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director General, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority said that over the past eight years, the Sharjah Water Festival has come to enjoy a special place in the region and in the hearts of residents and visitors to the emirate. The Festival attracts thousands of families who look forward to new surprises, attractions and performances in December every year.
Al Midfa said the Authority is committed to striving for excellence and offering something new and outstanding in all its events and activities held throughout the year.
He added that this year has been special in many ways as Sharjah is celebrating 15 years of successful hosting of the UIM F1 H20 World Powerboat Championship, the Sharjah Grand Prix, which sees the crowning of the final World Champion in Formula One powerboat racing.
The Sharjah Water Festival once again attracted thousands of families from across the UAE and the region that enjoyed world-class shows and stunning presentations, especially Extreme Water Sport Shows in the Khalid Lagoon.
The shows featured 16 highly skilled performers who combined their amazing skills and prowess with Jet skis, kiteboards, flyboards and speedboats, they created a breathtaking spectacle in the waters of Khalid Lagoon every evening at 5pm and 8pm, leaving the spectators spell-bound.
The festival visitors also demonstrated a keen interest in the Heritage Village celebrating the best of Emirati traditions and heritage. Divided into three sections, the Heritage Village helped visitors discover the rich heritage, customs and traditions of the ancestors of the UAE. The three sections included “Heritage Majlis”, “Modern Age” and “Get a Taste of It”. The visitors also got a peek into traditional handicraft techniques.
The Sand Sculptures section was another special attraction at Al Majaz Waterfront attracting a large number of families and children. The visitors got an opportunity to see international artists at work creating amazing sculptures and forms out of sand. Children had a rare opportunity to join in the fun by creating their own sculptures and photographing them to post on our social networking sites. Best pictures entered a contest every night to win prizes.
The Sharjah Water Festival would not be complete without the Carnival and Roaming Musicians Shows that added to the celebrations and festive atmosphere keeping everyone, especially children, entertained. Children await every year for the opportunity to meet and cuddle their special friend, Mouj, the SWF mascot, and take pictures for their album.