The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry together with Dibba Al Hisn City Municipality opened the 13th edition of the Al Maleh and Fishing Festival on Al Hisn Island on August 27, drawing more than 80 exhibitors that included around 20 government and private entities along with over 50 productive families. The four-day event running through August 30 and operating daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. showcases traditional boats, nets, fishing tools and handicrafts while integrating displays of modern marine engines and equipment. According to the Emirates News Agency, the gathering aims to preserve the UAE’s maritime legacy by passing accumulated knowledge of fishing and Al Maleh production to younger participants and supporting its place in the national food industry.
Daily workshops on fish salting, preservation and canning techniques allow children and families to practice methods inherited from previous generations, a programme element highlighted across multiple local reports. Live demonstrations of net-making and boatbuilding take place alongside awareness sessions that cover fisheries conservation and sustainable fishing practices to promote environmental responsibility. Cultural and heritage competitions enrich the visitor experience while additional activities such as rowing exercises on land before transitioning to water and first aid instruction help participants view Sharjah’s coastal environment in new ways.
Hessa Alhosani, marketing and communication director of the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, told Gulf News that the festival displays different types of boats, traditional handicrafts and sea creatures with the goal of helping younger visitors understand the skills and people behind them. “We have competitions that we are hosting including the rowing competition, showing how children learn how to row on land and then move to the sea. We also have workshops such as teaching children first aid and showing diving sites in Sharjah, letting them see Sharjah in a different way,” Alhosani said. The interactive format reinforces the transfer of knowledge that has defined coastal communities for generations.
Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that the festival has developed from a heritage event into a strategic economic platform contributing to Sharjah’s broader development agenda. More than 50 productive families and home-based businesses use the venue to present handcrafted items and traditional cuisine, thereby expanding their commercial reach and market visibility. Around 10 specialised companies and fishermen participate by exhibiting equipment and exploring partnerships that blend traditional practices with contemporary innovation.
Organizers have expanded exhibition spaces and logistical services for this edition to accommodate growing attendance and to strengthen the festival’s role as a hub for both cultural education and local entrepreneurship, according to statements from Dibba Al Hisn Municipality officials carried by Sharjah24. Mohammed Abdullah Al Dhahouri, Director of the Government Communication Department at the municipality, noted the involvement of productive families from Dibba Al Hisn, Khorfakkan and Kalba in addition to government entities. The combination of heritage displays, educational workshops and business opportunities underscores the event’s dual focus on cultural continuity and economic vitality in the eastern region.
The programme further incorporates exhibitions of agricultural goods and areas serving authentic Emirati dishes, creating an immersive environment that connects visitors to the full scope of maritime-related traditions. Similar festivals in prior years have sustained interest in these practices by highlighting their relevance to contemporary life and environmental stewardship. Participation figures for the current edition reflect continued community engagement with UAE maritime heritage across all age groups.
