Sharjah Wraps Up The 9-day Light Festival On A High Note

SLF attracts more than 200,000 visitors

Curtains came down on the Sharjah Light Festival 2012 in a spectacular ceremony on Friday night at the Central Souk overlooking the picturesque Khalid Lagoon. The 9-day long lights and colours extravaganza in its second edition attracted more than 200,000 visitors.

The closing ceremony was attended and watched by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Media Corporation, Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority and a select gathering of the festival partners, sponsors, guests and members of the media.

Speaking on the occasion, SCTDA Chairman Al Noman said that with the SLF 2012, Sharjah has added another success to its list of accomplishments, realising its goal to become the Emirate of Festivals all year around. “Sharjah shone and shone over the past nine days, with 12 of its landmarks coming alive in dazzling colours and designs. The 12 SLF locations, like rare jewels, illuminated the emirate and its magical nights, attracting tens of thousands of visitors every day,” he said.

The SCTDA is sparing no effort to promote Sharjah by hosting world-class events and festivals throughout the year, he emphasised.

“Besides, we take part in international tourism and travel exhibitions and road shows to boost the emirate’s position as the world’s favourite tourism destination and attract more visitors and investors from around the world,” he said. “We hope we have managed to do some justice to this beautiful emirate by highlighting its heritage, its culture and its magnificent architecture during the Sharjah Light Festival.”

Al Noman thanked Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah for his continuous patronage to the SCTDA’s efforts and his presence at the opening ceremony of the SLF 2012.

The SCTDA Chairman also thanked the SLF 2012 event partners, artists and members of the media for their contribution and support for the success of the festival that has become a source of pride for the emirate. Al Noman then presented a memento to Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qassimi for his constant support to the Authority, in addition to feting government

The landmark Central Souk, popularly also known as the Gold Souk, provided the backdrop for the rich closing ceremony. The Central Souk was lit with an installation of thousands of candles and torches on its façade and between the two wings of the building.

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