Sharjah Heritage Days Concludes Its 23rd Edition with a Vibrant Finale and Notable Achievements
Sharjah, 16 February 2026
The curtain has fallen on the 23rd edition of Sharjah Heritage Days after a series of vibrant days marked by strong cultural presence and community engagement. Through the event, Sharjah presented a renewed model for celebrating heritage as a living memory and an enduring identity. This year’s edition featured a rich array of programs and activities that moved across the emirate’s cities, evoking the details of Emirati life and its folk legacy, while reaffirming the event’s status as a unifying platform for storytelling, art, and knowledge.
Land and Sea Transport Enhancing Visitor Experience
The current edition stood out through the activation of an integrated land and sea transport system, enabling visitors to reach event venues with ease via buses and water transport between marinas. This seamless mobility connected the event’s various stations and added vitality to the overall scene, reflecting the organizers’ commitment to delivering an accessible and inclusive cultural experience.
Distinct Initiatives and Remarkable Events
This edition witnessed the launch of the first commemorative postage stamp documenting Sharjah Heritage Days — a symbolic step affirming the event’s presence in the national memory as a firmly established cultural occasion. The Traditional Water Carrying Championship also drew strong public interest, alongside horse and camel caravans that toured the Heritage Square, presenting vivid tableaux evoking scenes of old life and reviving its details in a festive atmosphere.
The participation of Portugal as Guest of Honour added a notable dimension through artistic performances and heritage workshops reflecting the depth of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Portugal over fifty years, while highlighting similarities between Arab and Portuguese heritage in lifestyle, arts, and architecture.
Meanwhile, China took part as a distinguished guest at the heart of the festivities, presenting elements of its arts, literature, museums, and culture, thereby adding a human and cultural dimension that reinforces the concept of heritage as an open bridge between peoples.
Heritage as a Bridge Between Generations and Cultures
His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, affirmed that the 23rd edition continues a well-established journey in safeguarding heritage and strengthening its presence in society, noting that the diversity of programs and initiatives reflects Sharjah’s vision of making heritage a bridge connecting generations and cultures.
For his part, His Excellency Abubakar Al Kindi, Director of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, expressed pride in the efforts of the organizing committees and working teams, praising the role of partners, sponsors, and supporting entities in ensuring the event’s success. He emphasized that the achievements realized are the result of institutional cooperation and integration that contributed to delivering an exceptional edition by all standards.
Honouring Partners and Supporting Entities
The closing ceremony included the recognition of partners, sponsors, supporting entities, organizing committees, and volunteers in appreciation of their contributions to the success and enrichment of this edition — a scene reflecting the spirit of teamwork and gratitude to all who helped achieve this cultural accomplishment.
With this conclusion, Sharjah Heritage Days turns the page on an exceptional edition, leaving its glow alive in memory and reaffirming the continuity of its mission to preserve heritage, safeguard identity, and illuminate it for future generations.