Kalba prepares to host its first Jashe and Sahnah Festival

The Kalba Jashe and Sahnah Festival will run from September 24 to 27, combining traditional Emirati food, fishing heritage, workshops and family activities.

KALBA: The Kalba Jashe and Sahnah Festival will make its debut this September, offering residents and visitors a closer look at traditional foods, fishing practices and maritime customs that have shaped life along the UAE’s east coast for generations.

The inaugural festival will take place from September 24 to 27, 2026, organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with Kalba City Municipality. Government bodies, fishing-supply companies, fish-processing businesses, productive families and home-based businesses will participate.

What are Jashe and Sahnah?

Food sits at the heart of the new festival.

Jashe is traditionally prepared using sun-dried fish, while Sahnah is a fermented fish condiment. Both reflect coastal food-preservation traditions developed by communities that relied heavily on the sea.

Visitors will be able to discover different varieties and traditional recipes while purchasing locally made products directly from participating producers.

The programme will also explain how Al Ouma fish is caught and dried and how Sahnah is prepared using traditional spices, giving younger generations and tourists an opportunity to understand the techniques behind these distinctive foods.

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What can visitors expect at the festival?

The four-day Kalba Jashe and Sahnah Festival will combine heritage with entertainment and education.

Competitions, educational workshops and awareness sessions will focus on marine sustainability and responsible fishing. Dedicated displays will showcase fishing technologies and boats, while a marketplace will give productive families a platform to present and sell their products.

Six government and community entities are participating, including the Sharjah Fish Resources Authority, Sharjah Museums Authority, Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah Institute for Heritage and Kalba Cooperative Society for Fishermen.

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Why is Kalba hosting the event?

Kalba’s location on Sharjah’s east coast makes its maritime traditions central to the city’s cultural identity.

The festival is designed not only to preserve that heritage but also to show how traditional coastal products can support modern businesses and create additional economic opportunities.

Organisers expect the inaugural event to become a family and tourism attraction capable of drawing visitors from elsewhere in the UAE as well as international tourists.

That combination of food, culture and community could give travellers another reason to explore Kalba beyond its established natural attractions.

For local producers, meanwhile, the Kalba Jashe and Sahnah Festival creates a dedicated platform for turning traditional knowledge and recipes into marketable products while keeping their cultural origins visible.

Impact to expect

Tourism. The new festival could strengthen Kalba’s appeal as a cultural destination while giving productive families and coastal businesses greater exposure to visitors from across the UAE.