Sharjah - UAE
The activities of the first session of the “Kalba Festival for Al-Shasha’ and Al-Sahnah” will begin Thursday in the city of Kalba in Sharjah, and will continue until September 27 in the Al-Samar neighborhood in the Al-Ghail suburb, in an event that opens its doors free of charge to visitors daily and targets families and tourists alike.

An interactive tourism experience on an area of 4,800 square metres

The festival is held on a covered exhibition area of 4,800 square metres, and provides the visitor with a live experience of watching the stages of making “Al-Jashaa” from small awmah fish and the methods of drying it under the sun, all the way to preparing the “Sahnah” powder with its various flavours, with opportunities to purchase directly from more than 85 producing families specializing in traditional seafood foods and products.

Daily competitions enrich the visit

The festival activities are divided into three main competitions: The first is Thursday for the best type of jasha or sahana, the second is Friday for the best innovative dish for families, and the third is Saturday for children from 7 to 15 years old, which gives the visitor a reason to return more than once during the days of the event.

Accompanying activities suitable for all family members
The festival is accompanied by a daily program of educational workshops and cultural presentations that introduce visitors to rational fishing practices and preserving the marine environment, in addition to platforms displaying boats and modern fishing techniques, and recreational and educational spaces suitable for children and adults.

A station worth stopping for Arab tourists

For the Arab tourist, the festival represents a different station than the usual destinations. It combines the authentic maritime heritage of the eastern coast and a direct marketing experience with productive families, and it can be easily integrated into a short family tourism program in Sharjah, especially with the appropriate evening visit timing and the availability of activities for children, which makes it a suitable option for visitors from inside and outside the Emirates during this period.