Xposure 2026 Highlights Emirati Creativity From Night Sky To The Microscopic World

Emirati photographers will take a central role at the 10th Xposure International Photography Festival, using visual storytelling to link heritage, science and emotion. The 2026 edition, themed "A Decade of Visual Storytelling", highlights how photography in the UAE is merging artistic practice with scientific curiosity and personal reflection.

The festival runs from 29th January to 4th February at Aljada, Sharjah, and will host Emirati and international participants. Through exhibitions and public dialogue, Xposure International Photography Festival aims to present photography as a shared language, connecting diverse viewpoints while maintaining a strong focus on local identity and context.

Three Emirati photographers will present work that spans astronomy, microscopic observation and conceptual art. Their practices show how a new generation in the UAE links research, experimentation and culture. Together, their projects reveal how visual storytelling at Xposure International Photography Festival now extends beyond traditional documentary work into more investigative and introspective forms.

In the Nature zone, night-sky specialist Yousuf Al Qasimi, a member of the Emirates Astronomical Society, will show The Sky – Within and Beyond. The exhibition features detailed images of nebulae, galaxies and meteor showers, alongside photographs from Al Qasimi’s pursuit of extreme weather events across different landscapes.

Scientific themes continue in the Fine Art and Creative Expression zone, where Rashed Alsumaiti’s Dancing Crystals uses advanced micro-photography to reveal structures in salt and vitamin C crystals. The work converts microscopic patterns into abstract scenes, inviting viewers to consider how scientific materials can become visually expressive subjects.

Also in the Fine Art and Creative Expression zone, Ghada Ahmed Al Qasimi’s series Silence treats photography as a space for introspection. The work addresses memory, absence and delicate emotional states, encouraging personal interpretation. Across these projects, Emirati photographers at Xposure International Photography Festival demonstrate a cultural movement that links experimentation, science and a clear sense of UAE identity.

With inputs from WAM