An impressive turnout of visitors flocked in from Dibba Al-Hisn and other emirates of the UAE to attend the 9th edition of “Al-Maleh and Fishing Festival,” the events and activities of which reflect the country’s cultural heritage and tell the tale of the ancestors’ customs and traditions.
In addition to displaying traditional fishing tools and methods, the festival featured special corners for modern fishing tools, including boats and engines. The event concluded on Sept. 11.
The event enthralled visitors with a series of cultural contests and cooking competitions. It also 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.
Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al-Awadi, director general of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said 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 also stimulating the economic and commercial sectors and supporting the handicraft and food industries in the eastern region.
Several fishermen and owners of shops with expertise in Al-Maleh (salted fish) and its derivatives expressed their joy to see the event coming back again for the ninth time, adding that the 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, said that he was keen to take part in the festival in order to familiarize younger generations with the professions of their grandparents, particularly Al-Maleh, which is very popular among locals living near the coast, including in Dibba Al-Hisn.
Mohammad Suleiman Abdullah, who is also specialized in Al-Maleh industry, spoke highly of the festival’s organizers for their great efforts to preserve the Al-Maleh industry.
He noted that the 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 is providing all necessary facilities to enhance the skills of workers in this profession.
