Sharjah Food Festival
March 31-April 9; Al Qasba, Al Montazah, Al Majaz Waterfront and the Heart of Sharjah
Known earlier as the Al Qasba Food Festival, the 11-day event hosts a group of celebrated chefs and features a rich line-up of competitions and activities, including demonstrations, food trucks, fruit carving, entertainment and much more. It is organised by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority.
Electric Run
March 25; Sharjah Waterfront
The world-renowned night-time 5km run/walk adventure that combines light, music and exercise makes its debut in the emirate this year. Dress up in vivid clothing and get ready to run or walk your way through multicoloured neon lighting to lively beats. The event culminates in a DJ concert. Organised by international sports marketing agency Fast Track, tickets are on sale online and at selected outlets in Sharjah and Dubai.
Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial
April 6-June 6; multiple venues
Acclaimed as an event to commemorate Arabic calligraphy and its creators, the biennial has repeatedly proven that the power of the letter can bring cultures together. Combining traditional and contemporary art trends, the biennial has given rise to new notions for the development of modern calligraphy in the region. Hosted by the Sharjah Art Foundation, the seventh edition will also offer a variety of special exhibitions and other events.
Sharjah International Book Fair
November 2-12; Expo Centre Sharjah
Among the world’s largest book fairs and the Arab world’s most prestigious, Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is regarded as one of the pillars that elevated the emirate to the cultural capital of the region in 2014. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, the annual literary carnival hosts some of the biggest names in publishing as well as the cultural sphere along with a multitude of events. It also offers great discounts on books. Initiated in 1982, SIBF was named among the world’s top four book exhibitions for 2013 by the UK-based industry magazine The Bookseller. The fair won the Market Focus Achievement Award as part of last year’s International Excellence Awards at the London Book Fair in April.
Sharjah Water Festival
December; Al Majaz Waterfront
A highlight of the UAE’s annual entertainment calendar, the festival presents an array of recreational activities, including dazzling water shows, sand sculpture competitions, water skiing events, fireworks, carnival circus and the F1H2O World Championships and Grand Prix of Sharjah. It is hosted by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority.
Sharjah International Showjumping Championship
March; Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club
This top-class sporting event, hosted annually by the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club (SERC) — the first equestrian club in the UAE established in 1982 — sees international as well as Emirati participation, placing Sharjah firmly on the global equestrian map.
Sharjah Light Festival
February; across the emirate
The first and largest of its kind in the Middle East, the show combines advanced graphics and 3D lighting techniques along with music to focus on the Islamic architectural splendour of the emirate’s famous landmarks as well as historic and cultural heritage. A nine-day event organised annually by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, it’s a spectacle not to be missed. The recent sixth edition of the festival covered more than 23 locations across the emirate.
