Ramadan Fair opens at Expo Centre Sharjah

Middle East's most popular multi-product consumer event to run till Oct. 14.

The Ramadan Fair, an annual event, is held in conjunction with the Sharjah Ramadan Festival, and is an integral part of the emirate's grand celebrations of Eid Al Fitr or the festival of breaking the fast.

The Fair was officially opened by Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). Also present at the opening ceremony were Board members of the SCCI and Expo Centre Sharjah, directors of various government departments, and members of the diplomatic corps and trade associations.

'Over the years, the Ramadan Fair has come to be considered as one of the region's most popular and widely visited consumer events,' said Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa, after inaugurating the Fair.

'The fact that the Fair attracts large numbers of visitors not only from the UAE but also from the neighbouring countries, points towards the event's immense popularity in the region. The large visitor turnout, year after year, may be attributed to the Fair's varied exhibit profile and its offers of attractive bargains coupled with an exciting mix of entertainment programmes held alongside for the entire family. I am confident that this year's Ramadan Fair will be as exciting and successful an event as its previous editions,' he added.

Immediately after the inauguration ceremony, the Ramadan Fair witnessed a significant rush of visitors consisting of people of different nationalities and wide-ranging age brackets.

With Eid Al Fitr just weeks away, the visitor numbers are expected to swell considerably in the coming days, especially during the weekends.

The ongoing Ramadan Fair is spread over a total area of 20,000 sq. m., both indoor and outdoor. More than 200 exhibitors are displaying a fascinating range of consumer goods and services from China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Singapore, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, and the UAE.

Displays comprise of an extremely varied product range including gifts and novelties, textile and readymade garments, perfumes and cosmetics, stationery items and toys, home furniture and handicrafts, carpets and rugs, home appliances, sports equipment and wear, food items, electronics and electrical goods, household items, and leather garments.

Some of the major exhibitors at the Fair are Otazu - the famous fashion jewellery brand, Damas, Arabian Automobile, Air Arabia, Chen One, Modern Emirates Poultry, Taher & Sons, Al Mandoos, Embee Garments Factory, Ajmal's Perfumes, and Mecca Cola, among others.

Besides an interesting range of products and services at highly competitive prices, what makes this year's Ramadan Fair more attractive for both adults and children alike are the host of entertainment programmes alongside.

More than 12,000 sq. m. of indoor and outdoor space has been dedicated at the venue to exclusively feature several exciting and fun-filled game shows and rides including pony and camel rides. The rides particularly are aimed at keeping the children playfully occupied while their parents shop for some of the season's best bargains.

For food connoisseurs too, there are various treats on offer at the Fair venue. A host of exclusive restaurants and cafeterias have been specially set up to ensure that the appetites of visitors are kept adequately satisfied with some of the choicest mouth watering dishes.

All visitors to the Ramadan Fair are eligible to participate in the daily raffle draws and win fabulous prizes.

'The holy month of Ramadan, which ends with the Eid Al Fitr festival, is one of the most important Islamic celebrations,' said Mr. Saif Al Midfa, Director General of Expo Centre Sharjah.

'The Ramadan Fair is intended at reflecting the joyous spirit that is synonymous with celebrations in Islamic countries during this festive season. The Fair is the season's most comprehensive multi-product consumer exhibition and family entertainment event in the region. This year, the event is showcasing a vast collection of affordable consumer goods and services along with a variety of exciting entertainment programmes which are aimed at presenting fun and frolic filled evenings for the entire family,' added Mr. Saif Al Midfa.

Mr. Saif Al Midfa further said: 'Considering the wide product profile, it is expected that this year too the Ramadan Fair will attract visitors in large numbers not only from across the UAE including its far flung areas but also from other countries in the region, particularly the GCC States. In fact, we anticipate a 15% rise in visitor turnout over the 2006 edition.'

The 2006 edition of the Ramadan Fair had attracted 117,128 visitors from across the region.

The Ramadan Fair is open till October 14, from 8.30 pm till 12.30 am during the Ramadan period, and from 4.30 pm till 11 pm during Eid holidays.

The Fair is an initiative of Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.