Sharjah Light Festival (9th - 17th February 2012)

For the second year running, Sharjah held a Light Festival from 9th to 17th February 2012, where various buildings and locatins were transformed with the most spectacular light shows using still and video projected images, including 3D and laser light effects.

This photograph of the House Of Justice was published in Gulf News on 23rd September 2012 !!

Another view of the changing light show on the House Of Justice.

This is part of the video light show on Al Hisn Fort depicting the history of Sharjah.

Along the Al Majaz waterfront on the Buheira Corniche, these giant tulip-like lampshades changed colour every few seconds ....

.... and in the background is ....

.... the spectacular Al Majaz mosque.

This is what the Al Majaz mosque looks like when the light show is turned off !!

The Cultural Palace behind the Book Roundabout.

 

Alongside the Kuwait Roundabout.

Some of the rooms in this building in Al Qasba appeared to be popping forwards and backwards in 3D, accompanied to the sounds of drawers being opened quickly and slammed shut .... very realistic, but I'm glad that I was not drunk then !!!

The building now appeared to be opening and closing like the sides of an accordion !!

The other side of this building in Al Qasba had a spectacular laser light show.

Balls of fire outside the Central Souk in Sharjah.

A one-man-band plays his music outside the Central Souk.

Welcome to Sharjah Alive !!

Thank you for visiting this blog site, which is intended to show you more about the activities and events going on in the lively Emirate of Sharjah.

Sharjah is the third largest of the seven United Arab Emirates (or States) and covers an area of 2,590 square kilometers (1,003 square miles) with a population of over 890,000 (2008). The Federation was formed on 2nd December 1971 and comprises the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. The President is His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan who is also the ruler of the Emirates’ capital, Abu Dhabi.

Sharjah is the only Emirate to have land on both the Persian Gulf (west coast) and the Gulf of Oman (east coast). The Emirate of Sharjah comprises the city of Sharjah (the seat of the Emirate), and other minor towns and enclaves such as Kalba, Dibba Al-Hisn and Khor Fakkan. The Emirate of Sharjah is also the Cultural Capital of the U.A.E.

The city of Sharjah, which overlooks the Persian Gulf, has a population of 519,000 (2003). It contains the main administrative and commercial centres together with an especially impressive array of cultural and traditional projects, including several museums. Distinctive landmarks are the two major covered souks, reflecting Islamic design; a number of recreational areas and public parks such as Al Jazeirah Fun Park and Al Buheirah Corniche. The city is also notable for its numerous elegant mosques.

Sharjah borders Dubai to its south and Ajman to its north. These three urban areas have now expanded up to each others' borders, so that as you drive from Dubai into Sharjah and on to Ajman, if it were not for the road signs, you would never notice that you had left one Emirate and entered another. Sharjah is about 170 kilometers north of the U.A.E. capital city, Abu Dhabi.

Sharjah is the only Emirate in which the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol is banned. It also maintains the strictest decency laws in the UAE, introduced in 2001, with a conservative dress code required for both men and women. Mixing between unmarried men and women is illegal under Sharia law.

So, enough of the background information (if you are interested, there is more available on Wikipedia) .... and I hope that you enjoy reading about some of the recent events and activities in Sharjah that I attended. I will update this blog as frequently as possible with items on the sights and attractions plus restaurant reviews in Sharjah, in the hope that this will inspire and encourage you to make a visit to this fascinating Emirate.

Please click on any of the photographs to view a larger version of them.