Get ready to liven up your weekends with a healthy dose of humour and some soul-stirring music as the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) announces a packed calendar of events with the launch of ‘The Platform’, a first-of-its-kind comedy and entertainment roadshow in Sharjah, taking place every Thursday and Friday starting from October 31 until November 15, 2019.

With ‘The Platform’, Shurooq is changing the face of entertainment in the emirate, as for a fortnight, more than 20 of the UAE’s finest and most talented comedians and musicians will wow audiences across various Shurooq destinations in Sharjah with high-energy shows.

The event has been designed as a platform for talents, both local and those based in the UAE, to showcase their skills in music and stand-up comedy. Prominent performers confirmed for the comedy acts include Abdullah Al Qassab, an Emirati public speaker, TV presenter, actor, social activist and stand-up comedian who is well-known for his family-friendly content; Emirati Abdullah Ali “Abz” who is not afraid to push the envelope in his routines; Mohammed Aly Momos, an Egyptian with Greek roots who finds an angle of humour in everyday social situations; and Yusuf ElKott, a civil engineer turned comedian with a tongue-in-cheek humour.

Singers who will set the stage alive with their numbers include 18-year-old Brazilian-Jordanian rapper Amin Joumah, popularly known by his stage name ‘Reazon’ and who released his first ever EP titled “In Retrospect” last year. Ahmed Elngome who mixes pop music with rap will delight the audience with his fusion of Western and Arabic music, while visitors will be enthralled by the captivating lyrics of young Chris Ishak, a Lebanese-Filipina pop singer and song-writer who seeks inspiration in the songs of the 70s to 90s era. Singer/songwriter and music producer Shabi Ali who belongs to the sixth generation in a family of musicians and singers will bring the audience to their feet with his pop music and romantic ballads.

A minimum of four English and Arabic based musical performances will be held every Thursday starting from October 31^st across the atmospheric Al Qasba, the buzzing Al Majaz Waterfront and the historic Heart of Sharjah from 8.30pm until 10:30pm, while Fridays are dedicated for stand-up comedy gigs also scheduled to take place from 8:30pm until 10:30pm.

At Al Qasba, Arabic-only stand-up comedy shows are scheduled to take place on Friday November 1^st, while Al Majaz Waterfront will form the backdrop of the English-based comedy shows November 8^th. The Heart of Sharjah is the chosen locale for Arabic comedy shows scheduled for November 15^th, where the platform will also be thrown open to visitors and residents to present their latent musical talent to the public.

Ahead of the launch, Saif Ali Ahmed Al Teneiji, Head of Corporate Events at Shurooq, stated: “Since its inception, Shurooq has consistently worked on its goal to identify and nurture young talent from the UAE and the Arab region. With the launch of ‘The Platform’, we are tapping into local and locally-based talent to promote diverse forms of art and entertainment, and thereby, offer a new hub and a showcase platform for emerging artists”.

“Shurooq’s commitment to deliver unique ‘one-of-a-kind’ experiences to residents and visitors in Sharjah and the UAE continues with ‘The Platform’, and families and the general public can head to several of our attractive destinations for an evening of spectacular entertainment,” he added.

Established in 2009, Shurooq has been the impetus for the transformation of Sharjah and enhancing its appeal as an investment, tourism and business destination. Shurooq undertakes the responsibility to evaluate and follow-up on tourism, investment, and heritage-related infrastructure projects. It also participates in the comprehensive construction and development processes in the emirate of Sharjah and the UAE. Through setting up a comprehensive information centre that highlights investment opportunities in the emirate, Shurooq facilitates investment-related activities in collaboration with other organisations and bodies.