The Sir Bu Nair Festival brings one of Sharjah’s most remote nature reserves to a public beach in the city. The 2026 edition runs from 7 to 18 October at Al Heera Beach, according to the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA). Here is what the organisers have announced, what we could not confirm, and some background on the island behind the festival.
Sir Bu Nair Festival 2026 at a glance
- Dates: 7 to 18 October 2026 (the festival opens on Wednesday 7 October).
- Venue: Al Heera Beach, Sharjah.
- Organiser: the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA), whose chairperson, Her Excellency Aisha Rashid Deemas, also chairs the festival’s higher organising committee.
- What it covers: environmental awareness, education, entertainment, community engagement and sport.
- 2026 focus: coral reefs and their role in supporting biodiversity and keeping the marine environment in balance.
What is on the programme
According to the announcement, the festival village will include educational workshops, environmental activities and mini exhibitions. One named exhibit is “Discover Sir Bu Nair Island Reserve”, which shows photographs and samples from the island with information about its history, coral reefs and cultivation methods. The village will also host dedicated zones and stands from participating entities.
The announcement does not give a day-by-day timetable, opening hours or an entry price. We have not published any, because we cannot confirm them. Check the festival pages on Visit Sharjah and the EPAA’s official channels for the latest schedule.
The Sir Bu Nair dhow sailing race (10 October)
The festival coincides with the second Sir Bu Nair 60-foot Traditional Dhow Sailing Race on 10 October 2026. Organisers say it will start from Al Hamriyah and finish at Al Heera Beach, with prizes of about AED 3 million. The Sharjah Broadcasting Authority (through Sharjah Sports Channel) organises it with the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club.
Sharjah24 reports the club’s director-general saying that 71 dhows will take part, that the start is scheduled between 10:30 am and 11 am, and that the route depends on wind and current. Different official announcements give slightly different figures for the course length and the number of sailors, so we do not repeat those numbers here. If you plan to watch from the beach, confirm the timing on race day. Marine conditions can change it.
A team event called the Sir Bu Nair Challenge (8–10 October, Al Heera Beach) is also planned. The organisers describe it as an obstacle-course challenge for employees of Sharjah government departments, so it is not framed as a public event.
About Sir Bu Nair Island
Visit Sharjah’s festival site describes Sir Bu Nair as an island in the southern Arabian Gulf, roughly 110 km west of the emirate of Sharjah and about 85 km from the northern coast of Abu Dhabi, covering around 13 square kilometres. Key facts from that page:
- It was declared a protected area in 2000 by an Emiri Decree.
- It was listed on UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List in 2012 and designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 2013.
- In 2025 it was recognised on the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.
- Its reefs host around 40 coral species and about 70 fish species. It is a nesting site for hawksbill turtles, with more than 300 nests recorded annually, and a habitat for seabirds such as sooty gulls.
About Al Heera Beach
Al Heera Beach is described by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) as the longest beach in the city, at 3.5 km along the Arabian Gulf. Listed features include jogging and cycling tracks, children’s play areas, sports courts, prayer rooms, restrooms and changing rooms, a marina for more than 100 yachts and boats, and restaurants and cafés. It also has Sharjah’s first professional skate park, Kota Skate Park. See Al Heera Beach on Visit Sharjah.
Practical tips
- Verify before you go. Dates were confirmed on 2 October 2026, but daily hours, parking arrangements and any ticketing are not in the sources we reviewed.
- Plan for the weather. Early October can still be hot in Sharjah, so many visitors prefer the evening. This is general advice, not an organiser statement.
- Make it a beach day. Al Heera’s tracks, play areas and cafés (see above) suit a longer visit. If you are weighing up life near Sharjah’s waterfront, our guide to the best areas to live in Sharjah for families is a useful companion.
- Respect the environment. The festival’s message is protection of marine habitats. Take litter home.
Frequently asked questions
When is Sir Bu Nair Festival 2026?
7 to 18 October 2026, at Al Heera Beach, according to the EPAA announcement reported on 2 October 2026.
When is the Sir Bu Nair dhow race?
10 October 2026, from Al Hamriyah to Al Heera Beach, according to the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority and the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club.
Is the festival free?
We could not confirm an entry price or ticketing policy from the official announcements. Check the official channels.
Where is Sir Bu Nair Island?
In the southern Arabian Gulf, around 110 km west of Sharjah, according to Visit Sharjah.
General information only. Event details can change; confirm dates, times and any ticketing with the organisers. Information checked 2 October 2026.