Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority launches Sharjah- Etisalat Water Festival 2008

The second Sharjah Water Festival will take place from 2 to 13 December 2008, and will include entertainment activities, water shows, and acts by performers from around the world, as well as the 9th Sharjah Grand Prix - which forms the final round of the U.I.M. F1 World Powerboat Championship, taking place from 11 to 12 December 2008.

In his speech, Al Qassimi said that hosting top entertainment, cultural, scientific, commercial and sports events every year promotes the touristic value of the emirate of Sharjah. He also confirmed the emirate's pride in playing host to such events, which prove its value as a tourist destination again and again.

Speaking of the upcoming event, Al Qassimi said, "According to the directive of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and under the sponsorship of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Sharjah's Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler, the SCTDA has developed a family, entertainment, tourist and sports festival that concentrates on promoting the emirate's heritage, history and culture."

Widely acknowledged as the capital of Arabic culture, Sharjah has successfully hosted the F1 Powerboat Championship for the past eight years, and the SCTDA expects that these previous successes to be mirrored in this year's event, in line with the second phase of the SCTDA's strategy for determining a tourism identity for the emirate.

"The Sharjah-Etisalat Water Festival is a huge annual event that brings happiness and entertainment for all family members. The festival will promote water sports within the emirate, and complement the Sharjah Grand Prix, while paying tribute to the emirate's ancient sea heritage," said Al Qassimi. "The SCTDA's work team created a character called 'Mouj' for this festival to embody the joy that we wish to share with families and children, specifically."

"Since 2000, Sharjah has had the distinction of hosting a round of the U.I.M. F1 World Powerboat Championship, and was named best international event organizer in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007. It is our intention as the SCTDA to ensure that Sharjah continues to impress, and we consider this just one more step in our plan to promote Sharjah as a world-class tourism destination," he added.

The Etisalat Sharjah Water Festival will be held on the banks of Khaled Lagoon and at Al Majaz Park, where Mouj Land will be situated, and the pace of work in these areas has increased to ensure that the final touches to the venues will be in place before the event is scheduled to begin. Mouj Land will form the centre of many of the festival's activities, including enchanting children's show, stilt walkers, puppet shows, a dance of the light flame, hot air ballooning. The activities taking place at Khaled Lagoon include Aquafantasia, Stars of Florida Water Ski and F1 Power Boat World Championship - Sharjah Grand Prix 2008.

"I would like to announce, at this well-attended gathering of local, Gulf and Arab media, a strategic joint venture between Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority and Etisalat, to launch the Sharjah-Etisalat Water Festival 2008. We cherish this venture because it really represents the collaboration between government and the private sector in the UAE to support the country regionally and internationally by launching important and distinct festivals and events. This harmony between the authority and Etisalat marks Etisalat's confidence in the Sharjah emirate, and Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority's ability to launch quality events in support of tourist attractions in the emirate of Sharjah, in particular, and in the UAE in general. Due to Etisalat's distinguished reputation, both regionally and internationally, there's no doubt that naming this year's event the 'Sharjah-Etisalat Water Festival' reinforces the importance of the event. We are extremely proud of this partnership, and we hope that it will continue for years to come in the form of the Sharjah Water Festival. We hope that we will be partners in success, bringing the UAE to the fore, for the whole world to admire,"

said Al Qassimi

Al Qassimi also took advantage of the event to announce sponsors, praising their role and contribution to making both the event and the emirate a success. "The support of all levels of sponsors of the Etisalat Sharjah Water Festival is very important in making the festival a success and ensuring its popularity in the years to come. We appreciate all the support we have received from the sponsors, and applaud their role in promoting the emirate of Sharjah as a top international tourist destination," he said.

In addition to the title sponsor of the event, Etisalat, other sponsors include SNASCO, Sharjah Museums Department and Al Qasba as the main sponsors; Bukhatir Group, Dana Gas, Adnoc, ENSHAA and Crescent Petroleum as the co-sponsors; Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Police, Sharjah Sea Ports, Sharjah TV channel 2, Al Khaleej newspaper, channel 4 radio network , Al Zahra Hospital, Zulal, Holiday Inn, Premier Hotel, Golden Tulip Hotel, and Millennium Hotel as partners.

Their big support of the festival and making it an international event popular among the categories of society throughout the world reconfirms the important position of Sharjah on the world tourism map.

The final preparations for the 2008 Etisalat Sharjah Water Festival are underway, and in a short time the event will be the centre of attention for the world's water sports devotees. The event attracts annually more than 50, 000 people who meet on the banks of Khaled Lagoon to have the biggest share of entertainment and enjoyment in an ancient city.