Sharjah is getting ready to rewind the clock — and not just a little. This February, the emirate will host what’s being described as the region’s biggest 90s-themed vintage festival, turning a modern venue into a full nostalgia playground.
Called The 90s by RBO, the festival runs from February 12 to March 1 at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park. For two and a half weeks, the space will transform into a throwback zone inspired by the decade that shaped pop culture, fashion, music and everyday life for an entire generation.
It’s not just about entertainment. It’s about memory. Familiar sounds. Old habits. Shared experiences. The kind that instantly sparks conversations like, “Do you remember this?”
For many UAE residents — especially millennials who grew up between cassette tapes and early internet cafés — this festival hits a very personal note. It’s nostalgia, but done at scale.
A full-scale throwback, not just a themed event
This isn’t a small retro corner or a pop-up installation. Organisers are building a full immersive experience that mirrors the rhythm of the 90s — from visuals and sounds to activities and spaces.
Expect retro gaming zones filled with old-school consoles, cartridge games and arcade-style setups. The kind of games many people in Dubai and Sharjah remember playing in neighbourhood shops, malls, or even at home after school.
There’s also an outdoor cinema experience, showcasing classic 90s films and iconic TV moments. Think weekend movie nights, family favourites, cult classics and scenes people still quote today. It’s designed for relaxed evenings — the kind where you sit, snack, talk, laugh and stay longer than planned.
A memory wall will display vintage objects from the era. VHS tapes. Old mobile phones. Cassette players. Magazines. Fashion pieces. The small things that defined daily life before everything went digital.
And of course, music plays a big role. The soundtrack of the festival brings together chart-toppers, boyband anthems, pop classics and global hits that once ruled radios, Walkmans and CD players.
It’s the type of environment that doesn’t feel forced. It feels familiar.
Food, comfort, and casual hangouts
The food concept is built around comfort and familiarity. Think diner-style burgers, milkshakes, easy bites, desserts and classic festival snacks. Nothing complicated. Nothing overly curated. Just simple, satisfying food that fits the vibe.
This makes the festival easy to enjoy, whether you’re coming for an hour or staying all evening.
Families can walk around comfortably. Friends can meet after work. Couples can treat it like a casual date night. Groups can turn it into a weekend plan.
For Dubai residents, it’s also a perfect excuse for a short Sharjah trip — the kind many people already do for cafés, cultural spots and winter events. Drive in, spend the evening, enjoy something different, and head back.
It fits naturally into the UAE’s lifestyle rhythm.
The festival connects with the UAE culture
Nostalgia works differently in the UAE. People here come from different countries, backgrounds and cultures — but the 90s created shared global references. Music. Movies. Games. Fashion. TV shows. Pop icons.
That’s what makes this festival powerful. It’s not limited to one culture. It’s collective memory.
For Emiratis, expats, long-time residents and even younger Gen Z visitors, the 90s is a common language. Everyone recognises something. Everyone relates to something.
It’s also part of a bigger shift in UAE entertainment — moving beyond concerts and malls into experience-based festivals. Events that focus on emotion, memory, community and connection.
Sharjah hosting something like this also reflects how the emirate is expanding its cultural and lifestyle offerings, balancing heritage with modern, global experiences.
More than nostalgia — it’s a social experience
What makes The 90s by RBO different is that it’s not designed as a “museum” experience. It’s not about looking at the past from a distance. It’s about living inside it for a few hours.
People don’t just visit. They interact. They play. They sit. They talk. They share stories. They laugh at old trends. They remember school days, childhood games, early friendships, and the first songs they loved.
It becomes social without trying to be.
And in a city culture like Dubai — where people are always looking for new things to do, new experiences, and new ways to spend their evenings — that matters.
This festival isn’t loud marketing. It’s a quiet connection.
When and where?
Location: Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park
Dates: February 12 to March 1
Time: Afternoon to late night daily
It’s positioned perfectly for winter evenings, weekend plans, and casual weekday visits.
The 90s vintage festival in Sharjah isn’t just another themed event. It’s a full experience built around memory, emotion and shared culture. It brings together music, food, games, cinema and social space in a way that feels natural, not forced.
For anyone living in Dubai or across the UAE, it’s the kind of event that fits easily into real life — a place to go after work, on weekends, with friends, with family, or just for a relaxed evening out.
Simple. Familiar. Fun.
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