Bouquet Of International Shows Opens At Sharjah’s Al Majaz Park

Several New Attractions In Water Festival This Year: Noman

The Sharjah Water Festival 2012 got off to a sensational start today (Wednesday) with HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Corporation, formally opening the sixth edition of the popular festival in the presence of HE Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority and a number of senior officials and dignitaries and visitors at Al Majaz Park.

The 10-day festival, organised by the SCTDA for the sixth year and featuring popular entertainment and amusement activities sourced from around the world, will run until December 21 .

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qassimi said that with festivals and events like the Sharjah Water Festival, the emirate has proven its excellence in tourism industry which is considered one of the main drivers of the economy. He said that it is because of such world-class popular festivals and activities that Sharjah has earned itself the accolades as being the Capital of Arab Tourism.

He said that the Sharjah Water Festival, celebrating the theme of water and related activities, has always attracted families from across the country and beyond. Al Qassimi praised the SCTDA’s efforts in putting together a number of International events to attract international visitors and investors to the emirate directly boosting the tourism sector and contributing to the economy.

“With successful events and activities like the SWF, Sharjah Grand Prix--held last week--and Sharjah Light Festival, the Authority has positioned Sharjah as a complete tourism destination for families locally, regionally and internationally,” emphasised Al Qassimi.

SCTDA Chairman Mohamed Ali Al Noman, on the other hand, said that the Authority was keen to host the Water Festival in December every year to flood the emirate with waves of fun and attract thousands of visitors from around the world when holiday season peaks.

“We have been making continuous efforts to make the Water Festival more exciting and interesting by bringing performances and shows by internationally acclaimed artists and professionals. So this year, as in the past, we will be having several new shows and artists performing for the first time in the region. So this festival gets more interesting and successful year after year. It has emerged as one of the best in the region and as a family event that combines pure entertainment with cultural and social shows in fun atmosphere,” said Al Noman.

He emphasised that all this is part of the Authority’s efforts to promote its tourism product and to provide the best facilities and services to the emirate’s visitors from the region and world. “The Sharjah Water Festival is our biggest and most popular event, celebrating the emirate as a key festival tourism destination and helping increase the tourist inflow,” added the SCTDA Chairman.

Underscoring the success of the Water Festival which is seen in the growing number of visitors in the past few years, he said: “Last year more than 180,000 people visited Al Majaz Park during ten days of the Festival. This year the number is expected to exceed 200,000 visitors, which will help the tourism sector and the economy.”

Al Noman stressed that Sharjah is registering steady progress and development with its unique tourism product, Arab-Islamic heritage and modern infrastructure reflecting themselves in world-class festivals and events held throughout the year.”

This year, the Magic of Water, or the Russian Circus on Water, tops the diverse fun and entertainment on the offer at the Water Festival. The show mixes impossible combinations of fire and water, taking viewers to a fantasy world filled with acrobats, equilibrists and gymnasts. Besides, children can meet their hero Sinbad the Sailor in a voyage across seas and discovery of magical places and cultures.

Another important show is the Ohmies American Musical, which will get the young and old sing along. The SWF mascot Mouj will meet all his friends once again in the Mouj Fantasy Show taking his friends on a magical journey. Then there are Burmese and Poland puppet shows, Toy Box show from the US and Arlecchino and the Witch from Italy etc.

The SCTDA has been promoting the Sharjah Water Festival all around the year in its participations in international travel and tourism exhibitions and events. The Authority also showcased the festival in the road shows it organized in GCC and European capitals. Besides, the promotional campaign has targeted schools, colleges, malls and tourist haunts with special kiosks offering fliers and festival information.

A special show was hosted by Mouj for thousands of school students at Cultural Palace.

The SCTDA formally announced the Sharjah Water Festival at a press conference last month at a press conference attended by a number of dignitaries and participating sponsors that included Sharjah Media Corporation, Sharjah Police, Civil Defense, Sharjah Municipality, SEWA, Public Works Department, Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Seaports and Customs Authority, Department of Culture and Information, Sharjah Transport, Sharjah Call Centre, Mega Mall, Sahara Centre, Panasonic, Air Arabia, Al Zahra Hospital, Zulal Water, Hilton Sharjah, Golden Tulip, Al Khaleej newspaper and Al Hayat FM.

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