Under the umbrella of Sharjah Lights Festival 2026 and in collaboration with Sharjah Tourism Sharjah Sports Council Concludes the “Sharjah Lights Run” Initiative

Sharjah, 15 February 2026:

Sharjah Sports Council, in collaboration with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), concluded the “Sharjah Lights Run”, a community sports event held in the evening under the umbrella of the 15th edition of Sharjah Lights Festival 2026, themed “Reflections of Belonging” The event saw broad participation from community members of all ages and nationalities, in a positive atmosphere that reflected the Emirate of Sharjah’s commitment to promoting community sport and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

The event started from the “Lights Village” opposite the University City Hall building in Sharjah. Race routes were set within the walls of University City over multiple distances1 km, 2.5 km, 5 km, and 10 km, enabling participation across different categories and abilities, from families and beginners to more experienced runners, in a community experience that combined physical activity with a spirit of togetherness.

Organizing the “Sharjah Lights Run” under the umbrella of the Sharjah Lights Festival reflected the festival’s community dimension, transforming engagement with it from a purely visual and artistic experience into an interactive platform that helps strengthen social bonds and encourage healthy practices. This aligns with the Emirate’s vision of leveraging major events as spaces that bring together culture, art, sport, and social responsibility.

His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, said:

“ Sharjah Lights Run initiative is an extension of Sharjah Lights Festival’s vision of delivering an integrated experience that goes beyond the artistic dimension, contributing to enhancing quality of life and reinforcing concepts of community participation and healthy lifestyles. The festival serves as a strategic platform that reflects the Emirate of Sharjah’s standing as a world-class leading cultural and tourism destination, by leveraging major events to enhance community engagement and support cultural and tourism activity in the Emirate. Through these initiatives, we are keen to expand the festival’s positive impact to include social and humanitarian aspects, in line with Sharjah’s development vision based on investing in people and sustaining quality of life.”

The initiative also highlighted Sharjah’s sporting profile and urban landmarks, while promoting University City as a destination that hosts community and sports events, strengthening its position as a vibrant hub for activities that combine knowledge, sport, and community life.

For his part, His Excellency Mohammed Obaid Al Hosan, Secretary General of the Sharjah Sports Council, noted that “holding the community sports event in conjunction with this year’s festival represented a wonderful addition to the community occasion and underscored the value of sport in the lives of people of all ages. He also affirmed the Sharjah Sports Council’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with various entities to spread sports culture and motivate individuals to make sport a daily part of life. He added that the strong turnout had a positive impact on the event’s distinction and enrichment, and that competition among participants across the different race categories was outstanding. His Excellency extended his thanks to the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority for the fruitful cooperation between the two sides in organizing the community sports event, which was a distinctive part of the 15th edition of the festival, where everyone enjoyed participating in the event”.

Participants enjoyed a fully integrated organizational experience, including an accurate electronic timing system, support and water stations along the route, participation medals at the finish line, as well as honoring the top three winners in each category, in a festive atmosphere that reflected a spirit of positive competition.

The event was strongly supported by a number of strategic partners from both the government and private sectors in the Emirate of Sharjah, clearly embodying the Emirate’s approach to institutional integration in organizing major events and enhancing their community impact.

The “Sharjah Lights Run” initiative represents one of the models reflecting Sharjah Lights Festival’s direction toward expanding its impact to include cultural, community, and sports dimensions enhancing Sharjah’s position as a leading destination for events with sustainable impact, and reflecting the festival’s role in strengthening community engagement within an integrated cultural and creative experience.