SMA celebrates Eid Al Etihad 54, free entry to museums on Dec 2–3

Held under the theme “United,” the events that come as part of the national festivities marking this important occasion will take place from 21 November to 3 December 2025.

In honor of the Eid Al Etihad spirit, SMA offers free entry to all of its museums across Sharjah, Kalba, and Khorfakkan on 2 and 3 December, providing visitors with expanded access to cultural and educational experiences.

The celebrations unfold with a rich blend of authenticity and innovation, set against a distinctly national atmosphere that embraces all areas of the emirate. Through a diverse programme of live heritage performances, educational workshops, and interactive experiences, visitors are offered the chance to connect with the nation’s history, heritage and explore the beauty of local Emirati culture.

SMA launched its celebrations on Friday, 21 November 2025, at Bait Sheikh Saeed Bin Hamad Al Qasimi in Kalba, parallel with the city’s official Eid Al Etihad festivities. The Kalba programme was dedicated to honouring this historic landmark, which hosted a wide spectrum of national and heritage-themed activities. These included a maritime heritage corner showcasing traditional diving and ship-building tools, a traditional doll-making station, and a photography corner inspired by the maritime heritage by Bait Al Naboodah.

The event also featured a series of performances, beginning with a military show, followed by the popular arts troupe presenting the traditional Emirati sea chants Nihamat. Audiences enjoyed the operetta “From Wave to Glory,” which vividly portrayed the enduring bond between the Emirati people and the sea.

The programme continued with a marine parade organised in collaboration with the Kalba Fishermen’s Cooperative Society, alongside traditional Emirati games, the “Museums Express” initiative, educational workshops presented in partnership with Sharjah Museums, and a special culinary corner serving Emirati dishes that embodied the authentic spirit of the coastal environment.

On Thursday, 27 November 2025, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Sharjah Fort will host a national celebration that will include traditional performances of Al Ayala and Al Razfa, as well as interactive stations featuring traditional games, Emirati clothing, a heritage photo studio, various corners and a community mural titled “Your Message to the UAE.”

The program also includes workshops and competitions such as pottery painting, doll-making, UAE flag challenges, Emirati dialect contests, and heritage riddles. The evening will conclude with the reading of selected national messages and a group photo.

The celebrations continue at Hisn Khorfakkan on Saturday, 29 November 2025, where visitors will be welcomed with a full program beginning with a military performance by Sharjah Police Sciences Academy, followed by a horse show by Al Rayan Stables, and a student dance reflecting intergenerational participation.

A sand-art performance presented by a specialized artist will also take place, along with a traditional Al Ayala performance. The program will culminate in a national operetta presented in collaboration with senior citizens, offering tribute to the nation’s unity.

The celebrations coincide with extended opening hours at Hisn Khorfakkan from 29 November to 2 December 2025, with the site open until 10:00 p.m. Visitors can enjoy guided tours, continuous workshops, and the participation of productive families throughout the extended hours, with speciality coffee operating on-site.

Interactive elements include educational workshops conducted with Sharjah Museums, traditional games delivered in partnership with the Sharjah Institute for Heritage – Dibba Al Hisn, as well as a community mural titled “Love for the UAE,” where visitors can express their patriotic sentiments.

From 1 to 3 December 2025 from 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM, the Sharjah Maritime Museum will host a program celebrating the emirate’s strong maritime heritage through traditional performances such as Al Harbiya and Al Madeema, educational workshops for children and families, a heritage photo station, and a corner dedicated to Emirati cuisine.

The museum will also feature demonstrations of traditional maritime crafts, including shipbuilding, fishing tools, and rope-making, in addition to oud performances and carnival-style shows staged daily.

Visitors are additionally offered the opportunity to explore a wide selection of SMA’s ongoing exhibitions across its museums, benefiting from free entry including the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization’s latest exhibition “Cultural Landscapes of Al-Andalus”, showcasing more than 60 artistic and historical pieces that highlight the agricultural and cultural legacy of Andalusia.

The exhibitions also include the second edition of “I Am at Sharjah Museums” running at Al Qasimia School – Museum of Education in Sharjah, featuring award-winning photographs by school students that capture heritage and identity through artistic expression as well as “Native Plants of the UAE: From Roots of the Past to Shades of the Present” exhibition at the Sharjah Heritage Museum which highlights 46 native plant species and their environmental and cultural significance.

Visitors can also explore the “Shaped by Stones: The Tools that Made Prehistoric Qatar” exhibition at the Sharjah Archaeology Museum, presenting more than 110 artifacts documenting human settlement in Qatar from the Stone Age to pre-Islamic periods.

Meanwhile, Bait Sheikh Saeed Bin Hamad Al Qasimi in Kalba is exhibiting “Spectra of the Beautiful Past”, showcasing newly commissioned works by Emirati artists Abdulrahim Salem and Najat Makki.

Bait Al Naboodah also presents the interactive exhibition “From Oyster to Crown,” marking the house’s 30th anniversary and offering an engaging educational experience on the formation and cultural significance of pearls.

Sharjah Museums Authority museums welcome visitors daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and on Fridays from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, noting that hours may vary depending on each site’s programming.