All lit up: 27 striking photos of the Sharjah Light Festival

The annual event is now in its 10th year and runs until Saturday, February 15

The Sharjah City Municipality building during the Shajrah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

Peacock feathers light up across the Sharjah City Municipality building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National Section:

An illuminated Al Noor Mosque during the Sharjah Light Festival. EPA

An astronaut floats into space during the Sharjah City Municipality building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

The Sharjah City Municipality building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

A falcon takes over the Sharjah City Municipality building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

Fern patterns across the Sharjah City Municipality building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

A desert scene on the Sharjah City Municipality building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

An underwater scene on the Sharjah City Municipality building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

Boats dance across a building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

Clouds as part of the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

Animals on the Sharjah City Municipality building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

The Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

A moment featuring traditional calligraphy and art during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

Fireworks during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

Fireworks during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

The Al Noor Mosque during the Sharjah Light Festival. EPA

A detail during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

The Sharjah City Municipality building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National:

The Al Noor Mosque during the Sharjah Light Festival. EPA

A general view of the Al Noor Mosque (Front) during the Sharjah Light Festival. EPA

The Sharjah City Municipality building during the 10th annual Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National:

The Sharjah City Municipality building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National:

The Sharjah City Municipality building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

A band plays during the Sharjah City Municipality building during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National:

Visitors look on during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

A detail during the Sharjah Light Festival's opening night. Reem Mohammed / The National

This weekend, take a wander around Sharjah after dark, and you'll find a city of lights.

Until Saturday, February 15, buildings across the emirate of Sharjah will be lit up at night for the 10th annual Sharjah Light Festival, which began on Wednesday night and runs for a total of 11 nights.

While it would be hard to count precisely because the event is spread all across the city, organisations say that last year's event attracted more than 1.2 million visitors over the 11 days.

Buildings painted with light shows this year include the House of Justice Khorfakkan, the Kalba building at the University of Sharjah, the Sharjah Mosque, the Sharjah Municipality building, Al Qasba and Masjid Al Noor.

The different light shows paint pictures of many different things, including illuminated pages of the Quran, the planets, moments from the Jungle Book and the UAE's space race.

Two of the shows this year are in collaboration with the city's university students: the American University of Sharjah, for instance, is lit up with a series of images that tell the story of a trip to America from the perspective of students from Sharjah.

The light shows run from 6pm to 11pm on weekdays, and 6pm to midnight on weekends: you can find full details about which buildings will light up with which shows here.

While the event is now a decade old, in recent years, there has been a focus on sustainability, with all projectors and lights used having passed certification for environmental compliance. Also, surrounding lights are switched off, and organisers say the net result is that "50 to 60 per cent of the power in that area is saved".