Events to showcase Khorfakkan

Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, said at a press conference on Wednesday that a series of cultural events along with the Nation Cup will unveil Khorfakkan as Sharjah’s “hidden treasure”.

Families, particularly children, will be entertained with exciting fair and activities during the four-day event. Fire and light shows, horse parade, archery, stilts and clowns, magic shows, human table football, air soft shooting, wall climbing, night bazaar, mini zoo, camel rides, fun fair, arts and crafts, potato heads, virtual games, redemption games, trampoline, inflatable balloon and much more await them.

He said the twin events are expected to create a massive response from both sport enthusiasts and the general public, particularly families. “We also hope this would attract more domestic and international visitors to Khorfakkan and the east coast,” said the SCTDA chairman.

He said this is the first-of-its-kind sporting spectacle in the port city and in the entire GCC region. “It will complement the potential of Khorfakkan to draw tourists, which are now realised this year when several cruise liners chose Khorfakkan Port as their regular port of call weekly.

“This event is also a celebration of our heritage, culture and our family values. This is why alongside the Motorboat Championship, the cultural activities have been set to lure more families and tourists to the east coast and even tourism facilities to sprout in the area.”

Though there is a lack of hotel rooms in the area, the tourists do not stay overnight as they go back to the cruise liners on anchor and then sail. “Other tourists can drive to Sharjah or Dubai or to Fujairah for hotel rooms.

“Shurooq has unveiled its programmes in Khofakkan, including a hotel to be built on a mountain.”

Al Noman said between 3,000 and 4,000 tourists from the cruise liners have basked in the natural scenery of Khorfakkan, who have gone for dune bashing, guided tours, shore excursions, off-road trips to the Hajjar mountains and wadis.

lily@khaleejtimes.com