From Golden Luqaimat To Dama Boards: How Sharjah Festival Brings Traditions To Life

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The 23rd edition of Sharjah Heritage Days will run until February 15 and is open to anyone looking to explore traditions that still find a place in everyday life

• PUBLISHED: Sat 7 Feb 2026, 2:51 PM

• By:
• Afkar Ali Ahmed

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At the Heart of Sharjah, the smell of freshly fried luqaimat drifts through narrow lanes as visitors move between pavilions, pausing to watch a traditional game or listen to stories from another time. At Sharjah Heritage Days, heritage is not confined to displays - it comes alive through everyday practices that once shaped community life.

The 23rd edition of Sharjah Heritage Days was officially opened Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The festival runs daily at the Heart of Sharjah until February 15, with additional events taking place across several cities in the emirate, including Khorfakkan, Kalba, Dibba Al Hisn, Al Dhaid and Al Hamriyah.

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Scenes along the sidelines

While the festival brings together a wide range of cultural activities, it is the smaller scenes along its sidelines that draw visitors in.

In one corner, women sit inside a traditional arisha, preparing luqaimat exactly as it has been made for generations - mixing dough by hand, allowing it to rise, then frying it until golden before dipping it in syrup. Known across the Arab world by different names, including zalabiya in Egypt, the sweet treat reflects more than a shared recipe. It represents hospitality, patience and the passing down of knowledge through generations.

Nearby, visitors gather around wooden boards to watch the game of dama. Often compared to chess, the game relies on strategy, foresight, and patience. Though known by different names in various parts of the world, dama has long been part of popular culture in the region. Its presence at the festival aims to introduce the game to younger audiences and ensure it remains part of everyday cultural memory.

What visitors to Sharjah Heritage Days can expect

Beyond these individual experiences, Sharjah Heritage Days presents a broader programme that combines performance, education and community participation. Folk shows and artistic competitions feature local troupes, including teams made up of Arab and expatriate communities living in the UAE, reflecting the country's cultural diversity.

Education forms a central pillar of the event. Visitors can attend a wide range of workshops, talks and interactive sessions focused on cultural heritage and dialogue between societies. A dedicated Children's Village offers daily activities, workshops and competitions, giving young visitors hands-on exposure to traditional practices in an engaging setting.

The Sharjah Institute for Heritage has also highlighted the importance of documentation, presenting a selection of specialised publications on folklore and traditional culture, alongside a daily festival bulletin produced on site with the participation of local publishers.

Speaking Khaleej Times on the sideline of event Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, said that the aim of the festival is to move heritage beyond formal presentation. He said the focus is on encouraging participation and learning, while creating spaces where cultures can interact and traditions can be understood in a contemporary context.

Experiencing heritage

Heritage is also explored through discussion. Cultural seminars revisit the role of old markets in shaping social life, with speakers recalling souqs in Kalba and Khorfakkan where craftsmen, traders, and teachers once worked side by side. These sessions highlight the importance of recording disappearing professions and passing their stories on to future generations.

As evening falls over the Heritage Area, activity continues across the site. From food prepared by hand to games played on wooden boards and conversations about markets long gone, Sharjah Heritage Days offers visitors a chance to experience heritage as it was lived.

With events continuing until February 15, the festival remains open to anyone looking to explore traditions that still find a place in everyday life not as memories alone, but as practices that continue to shape identity.

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