Sharjah’s Sir Bu Nair Festival celebrated its 25th year with dhow races, cultural exhibits, and environmental initiatives led by H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed.
SIR BU NAIR ISLAND: H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, led the closing ceremony of the Silver Jubilee edition of the Sir Bu Nair Festival, marking 25 years of celebrating the UAE’s marine heritage and ecological richness. Held on Sir Bu Nair Island, the festival concluded with vibrant performances, exhibitions, and the traditional 60-foot Dhow Sailing Race.
Organised by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, this year’s edition brought together over 1,200 sailors and captains across more than 60 dhows, competing for a total prize purse of AED 2.8 million. The final day’s highlights included the inauguration of a new eco-tourism activity zone and the launch of a new vessel to support marine conservation.
The festival showcased Sharjah’s environmental leadership through exhibitions on coral reef restoration, geological diversity, and astronomy. The island, recognised as a UNESCO tentative World Heritage site and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, also earned praise as a Dark Sky Reserve, highlighting its pristine conditions for stargazing and research.
H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed toured the site’s key attractions, including the Pearl Exhibition featuring traditional diving demonstrations by researcher Mustafa Al Fardan, the Green List Exhibition emphasising protected area management, and an astrophotography display curated by the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy and Space Sciences.
The newly opened tourist area features restaurants, seating lounges, a performance theatre, a modern meeting hall and a padel court—positioning Sir Bu Nair as a premier eco-tourism destination.
In recognition of his leadership, H.H. received a replica of an ancient jar discovered on the island, dating back to the 1st millennium BC. He also honoured winners of the dhow race, with Al Dhafra dhow captained by Mohammed Abdullah Al Marzouqi taking first place.
The Sir Bu Nair Festival remains a beacon of Sharjah’s dedication to environmental conservation, maritime heritage, and sustainable tourism—bringing together nature, culture and community over an unforgettable three-day celebration.
