Sharjah Light Festival

Regular readers will know that magpie has always been a fan of the Sharjah Light Festival, the 13th edition of which runs 7 to 18 February. SLF is being joined by two more light festivals that have emerged in the UAE over the last few months – Manar Abu Dhabi, which runs to the end of the month, and Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival at Expo City Dubai from 26 January to 4 February.

They both look like becoming exceptional additions to the calendar, but they are very different constructions to SLF. Their artworks in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi installations stand alone, even when they are site-specific. By contrast, the Sharjah Light Festival generally takes a more conventional approach – the kind of thing we’re familiar with from some of the European city light festivals, which typically means illuminating iconic cultural (and some natural) landmarks.

This year’s Sharjah Light Festival features light shows crafted by around 15 international artists in a dozen locations – three of them new to the schedule this year: Kalba Waterfront, the General Directorate of Sharjah Police, and the General Souq at Al Hamriyah. They join Khalid Lagoon, Al Majaz Waterfront, BEEAH Group Headquarters, Al Dhaid Fort, Sharjah Mosque, Sheikh Rashid Al Qasimi Mosque, Al Noor Mosque, and Al Rafisah Dam.

There’s also the Light Village in front of the University City Hall building, which will have around 55 F&B and retail vendors plus entertainment and activities. That opens from 1 February.