Before highways and glass towers reshaped the UAE’s skyline, life here revolved around the sea, fishermen reading the water for signs, families salting the day’s catch by hand, and boatbuilders shaping vessels the same way their fathers had. That world came alive again this week at Al Hisn Island in Dibba Al Hisn, where the 13th edition of the Al Maleh and Fishing Festival drew crowds in Sharjah eager to see, taste and touch a heritage.
Boats, Salted Fish & Centuries of Stories: Inside Sharjah’s Al Maleh Festival
Organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) alongside Dibba Al Hisn City Municipality, the festival brought together more than 80 exhibitors, including around 20 government and private entities, over 50 productive families, and 10 companies specialising in fishing equipment. Visitors wandering the grounds watched live demonstrations of boatbuilding and sail-making, browsed traditional fishing tools and handicrafts, and got a rare, up-close look at nets and vessels built using skills passed down through generations rather than picked up in a workshop. It’s the kind of thing that’s genuinely hard to see anywhere else in the country outside this one week a year.
The Taste of Al Maleh
At the heart of the festival is the practice the event is named for, Al Maleh, the traditional method of salting and preserving fish that once kept coastal families fed through lean seasons before refrigeration existed. Exhibitors displayed and sold varieties including Al Qabab, Al Jara, Al Youbal and Al Sahnah, giving visitors a genuine taste of foods tied directly to the UAE’s maritime past. Omar Al Dhahouri, a fisherman from Dibba Al Hisn, spoke about how fishing historically provided a vital source of livelihood for coastal communities, with fishermen relying on accumulated experience and detailed knowledge of the sea, seasons and fishing grounds.
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Passing the Torch to the Next Generation
Beyond the nostalgia, there’s a real economic and educational purpose behind the festival. Mohammad Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of SCCI, said the event gives craftspeople and experienced practitioners a platform to demonstrate their skills and interact directly with visitors, helping keep traditional professions relevant rather than letting them quietly disappear. The festival also included educational, heritage and entertainment activities aimed squarely at younger visitors, rowing competitions, first-aid workshops, and sessions introducing children to Sharjah’s diving sites, alongside folk performances, poetry recitals and maritime songs once sung aboard sailing vessels.
Cover Image Courtesy: Sharjah Chamber Of Commerce & Industry/Website
FAQs
What exactly is Al Maleh?
Al Maleh refers to the traditional Emirati practice of salting and preserving fish, a method coastal communities relied on to keep their catch edible through the year before modern refrigeration was widely available.
Is the festival free to attend?
The festival is open to the general public as a community and heritage event; specific ticketing details for future editions are best confirmed through SCCI's official channels closer to the date, as access has historically been open and free.