Al Noor Mosque
Photo: Instagram/@shreyaroy94
Like its sister emirate Dubai, Sharjah is bent on doing things bigger, better—and brighter. The Sharjah Light Festival is back with its sixth addition and this time around, the vivid colors and psychedelic patterns have taken over more structures in the emirate under the theme, “Travel Across Time.” Running until February 13th, the festival features 10 new shows, including one at the recently opened Souq Al Jubail. A video mapping projection titled “Deep Down Under,” is showcased on the grand structure of the market daily, transforming the building into an underwater treasure trove.
Other venues include Al Qasba, the Cultural Palace at Cultural Square, and the iconic Supreme Council for Family Affairs building.
Sharjah Cultural Palace
Photo: Instagram/@poulyak
While the new shows help pull more crowds, the main attraction of the annual festival remains the brightly lit up colorful mosques. Sharjah’s famous five mosques—Masjid Al Noor (Khalid Lagoon), Masjid Al Taqwa (Al Majaz Waterfront), Masjid Al Maghfira (Sharjah Corniche Street), Masjid Al Qasimia University, and Masjid Ammar Bin Yasser (Al Dhaid)—which are renowned for their striking architecture, are covered in fluorescent colors and three-dimensional designs. Seek out Maghfira Mosque to see the show “Original Maps” where light graphics inspired by old world maps developed by Arab geographers from the Middle Ages transform the structure every evening until February 13th.
Al Qasimia University Mosque
Photo: Instagram/@richardjsimonsen
The shows run from 6pm to midnight.
