Sharjah: With the 9th Edition of the “Al Maleh and Fishing” Festival coming into its conclusion, the event has attracted massive footfall which has arrived from Dibba Al Hisn and other Emirates to be part of the festival’s events and activities that reflect the country’s cultural heritage and tell the tale of the ancestors’ customs and traditions.
Apart from the display of traditional fishing tools and methods, the festival features special corners for modern fishing tools, including boats and engines.
The event, with its series of interesting cultural contests and cooking competitions, has continued to entertain visitors. The festival also has dedicated special corners for productive families, dried fish shops, salted fish, and marine products, as well as for traditional food, craftsmen, shipbuilding, and other professions.
Speaking about the Festival, Mr. Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), emphasized that all organizers, including the chamber, are keen to deliver an exceptional event that will enrich the UAE’s heritage and help preserve the ancient legacy of Dibba Al Hisn, while continuing to inspire the economic and commercial sectors and supporting the handicraft and food industries in the eastern region.
DELIGHT FOR EVERYONE
Several fishermen and owners of shops with expertise in Al Maleh and its derivatives expressed their overjoy to see the event coming back again for the 9th time, adding that Al Maleh and Fishing Festival provided them with an annual opportunity to exchange knowledge and improve their sales of salted fish, as well as introduce younger Emirati generations to the heritage of their fathers and grandfathers.
A fisherman with a specialty in salted fish, Ali Hamid Al Dhahouri, remarked that he was keen to take part in the festival in order to familiarize younger generations with the professions of their grandparents, particularly Al Malih, which is very popular among locals living near the coast, including in Dibba Al Hisn.
For his part, Mr. Mohammad Suleiman Abdullah, who is also specialized in Al Maleh industry, spoke highly of the festival’s organizers for their great efforts being made to preserve the Al Maleh industry.
Mr. Abdullah highlighted that Al Maleh industry is thriving year on year thanks to Sharjah government’s ongoing efforts to regulate it.
As a result, it is now directly under direct supervision of the municipality, which provided all necessary facilities to enhance the skills of workers in this profession.