Taco Taco is one of the many food stalls at the festival. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Taco Taco is one of the many food stalls at the festival. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Taco Taco is one of the many food stalls at the festival. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Taco Taco is one of the many food stalls at the festival. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Lifestyle

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Sharjah's Al Qasba Food Festival returns for Ramadan

Annual event features celebrity chefs, cooking competitions and more

David Tusing

April 01, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Known for its quaint walkways and bridges, as well as a canal complex, Sharjah's family-friendly Al Qasba neighbourhood is bringing back its popular food festival.

Open every evening until April 8, visitors will not only be treated to daily cooking shows and competitions, but also musical shows and street performances. Organisers said this year's Al Qasba Food Festival is bigger and better than before.

Scroll through the gallery below for more pictures from Al Qasba Food Festival 2023

  • Rajab makes Omani halwa at the annual Al Qasba Food Festival in Sharjah. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Rajab makes Omani halwa at the annual Al Qasba Food Festival in Sharjah. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Sandun from Taco Taco cooks
    Sandun from Taco Taco cooks
  • Traditional Emirati food being prepared
    Traditional Emirati food being prepared
  • Shaida Ibrahim cooks during a competition
    Shaida Ibrahim cooks during a competition
  • Mattu Kumar from Thambapanni cooks chicken kottu
    Mattu Kumar from Thambapanni cooks chicken kottu
  • Al Qasba Food Festival is free to attend
    Al Qasba Food Festival is free to attend
  • Talal Al Baloushi and Khalifa Albahri participate in a cooking competition
    Talal Al Baloushi and Khalifa Albahri participate in a cooking competition
  • Traditional Emirati dessert luqaimat being cooked
    Traditional Emirati dessert luqaimat being cooked
  • Al Qasba neighbourhood in Sharjah is known for its quaint walkways and canal
    Al Qasba neighbourhood in Sharjah is known for its quaint walkways and canal
  • Ice sculpting competition at the festival
    Ice sculpting competition at the festival
  • The festival is open every evening at sunset
    The festival is open every evening at sunset
  • Mattu Kumar from Thambapanni
    Mattu Kumar from Thambapanni
  • Acrobats perform
    Acrobats perform
  • Sanjula from Taco Taco
    Sanjula from Taco Taco
  • The family event has activities and entertainment for all ages
    The family event has activities and entertainment for all ages
  • There are competitions being held daily
    There are competitions being held daily
  • A vendor at the festival
    A vendor at the festival
  • A participant at the cooking competition
    A participant at the cooking competition

Each day of the festival will feature a different celebrity chef giving a full three-hour demonstration. Participating this year are Emirati chef Hanan Al-Dawla and Greek chef Alexandros Pavlopoulos.

There will also be an exhibition of gourmet foods from exhibitors and local talents, while little chefs will get the chance to pick up some culinary tricks at the Young Chef’s Academy.

Foods from around the world will be presented by different chefs at the Ramadan event. Competitions will also be held daily, including a Food Carving Competition where the UAE’s top chefs battle it out and show off their skills.

Al Qasba Food Festival is open daily after Tarawih prayers until 1am, running until April 8. Entry is free.

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Updated: April 01, 2023, 10:09 AM
Sharjah