Business & Money | Wednesday 22 March, 2017 4:10 pm |

‘Evenings at The Flag Island’ will mark its debut in Sharjah, raising the curtain to visitors of all ages on some of the most popular UAE traditions and pastimes. Taking place from March 30 until April 1 at The Flag Island - one of Sharjah’s premier tourist destinations and an iconic UAE landmark - the event will host numerous Emirati activities and provide Sharjah government entities with a platform where they can interact with the public.

Established as an initiative to support local and national ventures, including small and medium sized businesses, the three-day event will introduce to visitors a diverse array of activities that are Emirati-inspired. Included will be a mobile farm where UAE farmers will teach horticultural skills, handicraft stalls, a children’s section, restaurants, food stations, traditional souqs and more. Evenings at Flag Island will showcase live cooking and allow the audience to take part in preparing dishes, with all businesses taking part in the event UAE-based.

“By hosting an event of this nature in one of the UAE’s most symbolic landmarks, we are aiming to integrate core aspects of Emirati SMEs with the values of the 2017 UAE Year of Giving, as declared by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. We want to create an environment where small business can highlight their products and services to appreciative audiences and where families can be entertained. The Flag Island is also providing free spaces for government entities to promote their activities, with their presence located at the ‘National Initiatives Corner’ of the venue,” said Khulood Al Junaibi, The Flag Island Manager

Evenings at The Flag Island’s ‘Handmade in the UAE’ section will host traditional Emirati art and fashion craftwork and feature original and exclusive locally made items. There will be a traditional souk, with vendors selling a variety of contemporary items, while little ones will be well catered for at the children’s section, which will see traditional games such as ‘carom’ set up for guests to play.

Evenings at The Flag Island is set to evoke a sense of communal nostalgia through musical performances and storytelling inspired by life in the UAE. There will also be an artisan craft making workshop where locals will demonstrate how to create a range of beautifully designed products using ‘khoos’ thereby showcasing key elements of traditional Emirati culture. A henna station will also reinforce the Emirati identity of the event.

“Evenings at The Flag Island will be a celebration of UAE culture and the spirit of goodwill. We believe strongly in supporting and cherishing the UAE’s national heritage and this event will provide an excellent opportunity for citizens, residents, visitors and tourists to witness this first hand. As well as offering first-class entertainment for families, we want to make it as easy as possible for smaller businesses to promote themselves and for that reason we have lowered the rent fees by a considerable amount.” Al Junaibi added:
Individuals or businesses who would like to take part in Evenings at The Flag Island should call the organisers to reserve a space on: Tel: 06 528 4644.