Tourism & Hospitality | Tuesday 22 November, 2016 3:05 pm |

The Higher Committee of National Day Celebrations in Sharjah has approved more than 40 national events and heritage-related activities to mark the UAE’s 45th National Day across the emirate. Themed ‘Accomplishments Of A Country … Rise Of A Nation’’, the celebration programme will feature a line-up that involves key landmark venues in Sharjah, namely Flag Island, Sharjah National Park, Mega Mall, Khorfakkan, Al Hamriya, Al Dhaid, Kalba and Dibba Al Hisn.

 

HE Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), and Chairman of the Higher Committee of National Day Celebrations in Sharjah, said: "Celebrating National Day is a very special occasion for both Emiratis and residents. We celebrate not only the birth of the UAE, we also celebrate its success as a nation and the progress it has made and continues to make with each anniversary. Every year we try to ensure the celebrations reflect that dynamic development in a new and innovative manner that lives up to the tremendous achievements and milestones made by our country and the national identity and cultural values we all hold so dear."

Al Midfa added: "Celebrating National Day carries numerous meanings and connotations that require us to contemplate the sacrifices, the loyalty and the faith of those who have helped to secure a place for our country on a global stage. This great national occasion should not be confined to symbolic gestures, it must respect and value the significance of the event. It is important for us to draw lessons that will help us design our future and follow in the footsteps of those who served the nation to ensure a better and brighter future for generations to come."

 

The Flag Island will host a national operetta, whose details will be revealed in the coming days, while the Sharjah National Park will stage 20 events, featuring an array of activities taking place in a marquis within the park. The event will highlight the momentous achievements made by the UAE throughout various historical periods and its wise leadership. All these events will be presented in an innovative and artistic manner.

 

The programme will also involve the setting up of a unique attraction called ‘We Build with Our Hands’, alongside the ‘Oasis of Creativity’ corner, folk bands and dances, art workshops, theatrical shows and mural painting. Other events include tours within the park, a designated area for children's traditional games, competitions, daily draws and much more.

 

On November 29, Mega Mall will host three events featuring music and international folk stories with bands from various countries performing traditional songs and dances. The event will be organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development in collaboration with other overseas embassies.

 

On December 1, a carnival parade will include folk musicians wearing national costumes playing cultural pieces, and on December 4, Shaabiat Al Cartoon will perform theatrical scenes with popular characters from animated TV series for children

On National Day, the Khorfakkan Municipality will organise a programme that will be filled with exciting activities and shows on the new corniche where residents and visitors can take part in the celebration.

 

An air show will be one of the highlights, along with skydiving shows performed by parachutists from the Emirates Skydiving Group and maritime shows by the Sharjah Marine Sports Club. A number of schools, including the Abdullah bin Mubarak School, Omaima Bint Abi Talib School for Girls, Khorffakan School and the Children's Center in Khorffakan will be participating in the festivities.

 

The programme will also include poetry recitals by Ahmed Al Zarooni and Ahmed Salim Al Kaabi, plus events and activities designed for children which will take place in Children's City.

 

In Kalba, the celebration will include a wide range of events and activities in addition to corners for display, educational workshops for children, theatrical performances and folklore shows.

Other events will include a maritime and boat parade which will be hosted in collaboration with the Marine Club on the Kalba Beach, on December 2.

 

Celebrations will take place at Al Hamriya on November 28 at the indoor gymnasium in Al Hamriya Sports Club, where the programme includes a documentary chronicling the creation of the UAE, from its beginnings through the most important historical phases of the country. The film will highlight the achievements made under the nation’s wise leadership.

 

The rundown also includes a range of performances by military bands and theatrical performances, plus other special events run by government departments. There will also be dedicated areas for reading in line with the country's Year of Reading 2016, folk art and popular delicacies and educational and artistic workshops for children.

 

Taking place on November 29, Al Dhaid will see a mass rally that will begin at the Great Mosque Square heading to the Al Dhaid Sports and Cultural Club. The rally will involve federal and local government organisations, school students and citizens and residents in the city.

 

On Thursday, November 24, Dibba Al Hisn will host a national parade that will kick off from the Cultural Centre heading toward the Water Canal, which will see air shows, parachuting shows and folklore activities.

 

On Friday, November 25, the Dibba Al Hisn Fishermen Cooperative Society will organise a maritime parade from the city’s port, while the Water Canal will see Al Shash Boat Race organised by the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club. The events will culminate in the Flagpole area with activities organized by the Department of Culture and Information.

 

From 30 November to 2 December, grand National Day celebrations will be held at the Heritage Village in Al Dhaid, featuring cultural songs and dances, traditional Emirati cuisine and souqs that will engage and entertain people of all ages from across the region and from private, public and commercial sectors.