Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 17 February 2019: The ninth edition of the famed Sharjah Light Festival, organized by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), ended yesterday (Saturday, February 16, 2019). Held under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, prestigious architectural landmarks of Sharjah were adorned with enthralling light shows to the delight of spectators, once again highlighting the richness of the emirates culture and its ancient civilization. The 2019 edition of the event attracted a remarkable turnout of visitors and tourists, who gathered to be mesmerized by dazzling light shows by renowned international artists under the theme Culture and Family over the last 11 days.

Since its inception, the Sharjah Light Festival has evolved to become one of the most popular spectacles of the emirates festivals and events sector and has played a significant role in driving tourism growth, thereby supporting economic diversification. The 2019 edition attracted more than 1,200,000 visitors, recording a growth of 20 per cent compared to 1 million visitors in 2018, to witness 20 light shows that encapsulated the significance of familial ties and reflected the cultural values and traditions of the emirate of Sharjah across 17 different locations.

The latest edition of the festival featured a series of light shows that demonstrated the creativity of international artists using modern photovoltaic technology in innovative ways to symbolize cultural and civilizational abundance through graphic designs, Arabic calligraphy, and a mix of vibrant colors in addition to the laser techniques All these elements together transformed these architectural landmarks into unique artistic creations, accompanied by music tracks by international musicians.

H. E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, affirmed that the great turnout witnessed by Sharjah Light Festival 2019 represents the success of previous editions in highlighting the distinctive status of the emirate of Sharjah as a cultural and civilizational inspiration, under the vision and wise guidance of H.H Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who places utmost importance on culture as a means of human advancement. Al Midfa added that the ninth editions success is a fitting culmination of the efforts of all the teams and departments in the Authority, the participating artists, supporters, strategic partners and the media. The series of creative light shows themed Culture and Family added a new artistic dimension to the distinctive architectural and heritage edifices throughout Sharjah.

The emirates annual light festival 2019 was held with the support of a number of government and private entities, including: Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Police Headquarters, Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA), Beeah, Department of Civil Aviation, Sharjah International Airport, Al Majaz Amphitheatre. Sahara Centre and Zero 6 are mall partners, Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, Al Khaleej Newspaper and Euronews are among the events media supporters, and Nomada is the official partner.