Ruler Of Sharjah Opens New Photography Gallery Showcasing Historical Narratives And Cultural Encounters

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, officially opened the Photography Gallery on Saturday. This new cultural venue is located in a renovated former telecommunications building in the Al Manakh district near Kuwait Square. The gallery features two exhibitions: Photographic Encounters along the Gulf Coasts and Image Keepers, both organised by the Sharjah Art Foundation.

The opening ceremony was attended by Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, President and Director of Sharjah Art Foundation; Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations; Sheikha Nawar Al Qassimi, Director of Sharjah Art Foundation; Sheikha Hind Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Design Center; Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the President of the UAE; Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director General of ALECSO; along with several senior officials and artists.

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The exhibition Photographic Encounters along the Gulf Coasts is a permanent display featuring 165 photographs and archival documents from His Highness's collection. This exhibition examines photography's influence on historical narratives in the Arabian Gulf, highlighting its role in knowledge production during colonial and postcolonial times.

Visitors can explore rarely seen photographs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These images depict people, places, and activities along the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean coasts. The exhibition portrays this region as a hub for trade and human interaction while exploring themes like power, class, gender, and ethnicity.

The Image Keepers exhibition runs from 8 November 2025 to 26 April 2026. It showcases works from the Sharjah Art Foundation Collection that delve into sociopolitical landscapes over the past six decades amid modernisation and decolonisation processes. The lower floor displays portraits capturing ethnic, civic, and diasporic identities across different regions and eras.

On the upper floor, photography is presented through various materials and methods. This section offers alternative ways to narrate history by showcasing diverse photographic techniques that reveal complex relationships between individuals and their environments.

A Unique Architectural Restoration

The Photography Gallery is notable as it is the first public space in the UAE dedicated solely to photography. It includes two exhibition galleries, a learning area for lectures and workshops, a studio with a darkroom, and a café. This initiative reflects Sharjah Art Foundation’s dedication to revitalising historic buildings into vibrant cultural spaces throughout Sharjah.

The building itself is an example of civic architecture from the 1970s. Its restoration involved an extensive study of its historical phases to blend modernity with functionality while preserving its original aesthetic character.

Technological Innovations in Photography

The Photographic Encounters exhibition also highlights photography as an art form by featuring glass slides and a magic lantern—an early projection device considered a precursor to modern slide projectors—providing insight into technological advancements of that era.

Since details like photographer names or image locations remain uncertain for many photos, they are presented as found artefacts. Some images have 'titles,' but their origins are unclear. Over time, associations between texts and images may evolve due to layers of reproduction and interpretation.

This new gallery underscores Sharjah's commitment to cultural enrichment through art preservation while offering visitors insights into historical narratives shaped by photography across different periods.

With inputs from WAM