The 12th edition of the “Dibba Al-Hisn Salt and Marine Fishing Festival,” organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Dibba Al-Hisn Municipality, concluded on Sunday after attracting a large audience from various Emirates of the UAE and the Sultanate of Oman, achieving significant economic momentum.

Many visitors and participants praised the event’s organization, noting that the availability of integrated services enabled an interactive experience with diverse pavilions including the central “Salt Market,” the traditional restaurants area, and local agricultural product pavilions. This edition saw exceptional growth with over 100 exhibitors from government maritime authorities, private sector companies, leading brands, entrepreneurs, and productive families.

Mohamed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director General of the Chamber, affirmed that “the festival has become a leading economic platform for the people of the Eastern Region. By opening its doors annually to exhibitors, it presents success stories of productive families and entrepreneurs who have invested in a heritage craft related to food security — salt production — in addition to traditional marine crafts.”

He explained that the Sharjah Chamber supports local industries with high demand for their products and opens new marketing channels that support the local community’s economic system, noting that the event contributes to empowering entrepreneurs and transforming traditional crafts into sustainable projects.

He added that over four eventful days filled with shows, commercial activities, workshops, and various events, the festival left a positive impact on visitors, directly supporting the economy of productive families and establishing itself as a strategic event on the national events map. It clearly demonstrated that heritage, besides being a cultural legacy, has economic dimensions that stimulate innovation in various commercial and industrial activities.

Integrated Efforts

Talib Abdullah Al Yahyai, Director of Dibba Al-Hisn Municipality, highlighted the festival’s role in empowering the local economy, supporting small projects, and enhancing economic growth in Dibba Al-Hisn and the Eastern Region through sustainable economic practices. He praised the integrated efforts to make the festival successful, attract the public, entrepreneurs, and productive families, and enhance the economic value of the event while increasing demand for products displayed at the “Salt Market” and local product pavilions. This reflects the growing demand for high-quality heritage products and motivates producers and craftsmen to transform them into sustainable industries year-round, within a comprehensive developmental vision that intensifies efforts to revive and protect marine and agricultural heritage, representing a pillar of food security.

Visitor Turnout

The “Salt Market” section of the festival enjoyed continuous visitor turnout, with attendees purchasing traditional salt products, popular foods, and handicrafts. Productive families praised the demand, which exceeded expectations, confirming that the festival opened new sales channels and provided integrated display platforms that helped increase sales and build trust in their small projects.