Sharjah is preparing to spotlight Al Hamriyah’s waterfront Heritage Village as one of the key stages of the 54th Eid Al Etihad programme, with three days of heritage focused celebrations from Thursday 20 November to Saturday 22 November 2025. The village, located by the creek, will host traditional songs, crafts, sports activities and classic car displays as part of the emirate wide National Day schedule. Organisers position the venue as a space where residents and visitors can experience coastal community life rather than only watch formal parades. At the same time, the programme aims to keep the atmosphere accessible for families, youth groups and solo visitors from across the UAE. These Al Hamriyah celebrations are officially listed as part of Sharjah’s main Union Day calendar for 2025.
National spirit on the creek in Sharjah
Along the banks of the creek, Heritage Village will operate as a compact open air festival ground throughout the three day period. Traditional music performances by folk groups and local school ensembles will highlight patriotic songs and sea heritage rhythms closely associated with this coastal area. Meanwhile, cultural committees plan competitions and community segments to encourage participation from different generations rather than only presenting stage shows. The focus aligns with the wider Sharjah Eid Al Etihad committee’s aim to combine heritage displays with inclusive public activities across the emirate. For visitors, the Al Hamriyah stop offers a more intimate alternative to the huge park based celebrations inside Sharjah city.
Traditional songs and heritage stages through the evenings
From Thursday 20 November to Saturday 22 November, the Heritage Village stages will host recurring slots of traditional songs, national anthems and poetry style recitations. Although exact start times are still to be finalised, similar past programmes at the same venue usually begin in the late afternoon and continue into the late evening, especially on Thursday and Friday. As a result, you can expect an early segment geared toward families with children, followed by later performances that appeal to youth audiences and choirs. In addition, visiting folk groups from other Sharjah regions may appear on certain nights as part of exchange programmes. These evening stages are strongly positioned as free community performances rather than ticketed concerts (children/family friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Crafts market and hands on activities for families
Heritage themed craft stalls will line parts of the creek side, showcasing weaving, palm frond work, pottery, traditional perfumes and simple children’s art workshops. In past National Day editions, similar stalls at Sharjah heritage venues have sold small souvenir items and snacks, usually starting from approximately 10 to 30 AED, with many hands on activities offered at no extra cost. Therefore parents can let children try basic craft activities while also browsing products from productive families and local artisans. Moreover, the open layout makes it easy to move between stalls, food kiosks and performance areas without feeling locked into a single programme. Families looking for low cost activities can treat this village as an almost entirely free evening out, aside from food and optional purchases (children/family friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Sports events and waterfront competitions
Sports and games form a core part of the Al Hamriyah schedule, reflecting the town’s tradition of community tournaments and beachside gatherings. The official programme highlights sports events and competitions, which may include tug of war, simple running contests and ball games adapted for different age groups. These activities often run in parallel with the cultural stage rather than on a formal stadium timetable, so you can expect fluid participation as families arrive and leave. Organisers generally use symbolic gifts and medals instead of high value prizes, keeping the focus on participation and national pride. Because these games are designed for community involvement, they are suitable for children, families, and mixed age groups rather than professional athletes (children/family friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Classic car displays and photography opportunities
One of the key attractions in Al Hamriyah during Eid Al Etihad will be the line up of classic and customised cars parked near the Heritage Village. These displays, highlighted in official summaries of the programme, are expected to bring together UAE based enthusiasts showcasing vintage sedans, off road vehicles and locally loved models from earlier decades. For visitors, the combination of decorated cars and national flags along the creek creates strong photography opportunities, especially around sunset when light reflects off the water. In addition, car owners often stay near their vehicles and chat with guests about restoration stories and rare details. The classic car section is ideal for enthusiasts and photographers, yet remains relaxed enough for families with children who simply want to look around (children/family friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Daily options from 20 to 22 November
Each of the three days offers a slightly different mood, even though core elements repeat. Thursday 20 November 2025 is expected to feel like an opening evening, with many local residents visiting after work and school before the long weekend builds. Friday 21 November 2025 will likely be the busiest day, as Sharjah, Ajman and Dubai families use the public holiday atmosphere to plan group visits, especially after late afternoon. Meanwhile, Saturday 22 November 2025 could attract more relaxed visitors, including couples and solo guests who prefer lighter crowds before the working week resumes. Because the official schedule does not yet list detailed hourly breakdowns, it is sensible to check local announcements closer to the date. If you prefer quieter moments, consider visiting earlier on Thursday or Saturday rather than at peak Friday hours (children/family friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Getting to Heritage Village by the creek
Al Hamriyah lies along the northern Sharjah coast, between Sharjah city and Umm Al Quwain, with Heritage Village located close to the creek and traditional harbour area. Drivers coming from central Sharjah can usually reach the venue within 25 to 35 minutes in light traffic by following the E11 and local coastal roads. From Dubai, journey times vary between approximately 45 and 70 minutes depending on departure point and congestion at the Dubai Sharjah boundary. Meanwhile, visitors from Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah can treat Al Hamriyah as a midway stop, often reaching the area in 15 to 45 minutes. Because public transport to the exact village gate is limited, many visitors will rely on private cars or taxis, with shared rides helping to reduce cost and parking pressure (children/family friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Traffic, parking and peak periods
The streets around Heritage Village are smaller than major city avenues, so traffic patterns depend heavily on arrival peaks. On the National Day weekend, you can expect congestion mainly just before sunset and again around the end of the main evening shows, especially on Friday 21 November. Parking is usually organised in open lots and roadside spaces near the village, with marshals guiding cars to available areas. However, these spaces can fill quickly when classic car owners, performers and visitors arrive at similar times. Consequently, arriving earlier in the afternoon or later in the evening often leads to a calmer parking experience. Drivers should assume that parking capacity is limited at peak hours and allow extra walking time from their car to the creek side.
Food, facilities and accessibility
Heritage Village normally offers a mix of traditional food stalls, snack kiosks and basic café style options during major celebrations, and Eid Al Etihad is expected to follow the same pattern. You can usually find Emirati dishes, grilled snacks, sweets and hot and cold drinks, with prices starting from approximately 10 to 15 AED for simple items and rising for fuller meals. Toilets, handwashing facilities and prayer areas are typically arranged near the main gathering points to support families staying for several hours. Moreover, the main pathways tend to be reasonably flat and compacted, though visitors using wheelchairs or strollers may still encounter some uneven or sandy sections. Families who plan to stay all evening may want to pack water, light snacks and a small mat for children, even though food and seating are available on site (children/family friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Warnings, weather and closing practical tips
Forecasts for the northern Sharjah coast, including the Al Hamriyah area, indicate hazy sunshine and dry conditions for Thursday 20 November, Friday 21 November and Saturday 22 November 2025, with daytime highs near 34 degrees and evening lows around 18 to 20 degrees, and no significant rain expected. Light, breathable clothing, a modest layer for cooler late evenings, comfortable closed shoes and a hat make sense for walking between stages and the car areas, while a small shawl or light jacket helps once the breeze picks up by the creek after dark. Traffic from Dubai and central Sharjah will likely be heaviest around late afternoon on Friday, so leaving earlier or planning a later visit can reduce delays, while parking near the village should remain free but may shift to overflow areas as crowds increase. Public buses can bring you as far as main highway stops near Al Hamriyah, yet you should expect to rely on taxis or ride hailing for the last stretch, and any small paid activities or food purchases on site should be treated as approximately priced and subject to change. According to recent guidance shared by editors who follow Sharjah event planning closely, including the team behind the guide platform www.few.ae, informed visitors who check timings, pack for warm days and cooler evenings, and allow generous travel time tend to enjoy these heritage nights far more. Above all, plan to arrive early in the evening and keep both your schedule and your budget flexible, because timings, traffic conditions and on site prices can change at short notice.
then "Add to Home Screen"