Sultan Bin Ahmed Attends Closing Ceremony As Xposure Marks 10th Edition

The 10th Xposure International Photography Festival closed with a ceremony attended by H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council. The event, held at the Photography Gallery in Al Manakh area, concluded a programme that drew 34,000 visitors, including photographers, filmmakers, visual artists and audiences interested in photography.

During the closing evening, H.H. Sheikh Sultan honoured key partners and sponsors from government bodies and private companies. The recognition highlighted their role in supporting the festival’s activities, helping its programmes run smoothly, and reinforcing Xposure’s profile as a global meeting point for photography and visual content creation within the UAE and wider Middle East region.

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A major focus of this edition was the launch of the Xposure Legacy Awards, presented for the first time in the festival’s history. The awards are limited to exhibitions shown in the 10th edition and underline Xposure’s strategy to treat the photographic image as a lasting source of knowledge, extending beyond visual appeal into cultural, social and educational influence.

The Xposure Legacy Awards are organised in three primary categories and use a dual assessment system. Exhibitions are evaluated through public engagement measures and expert critical review, bringing together audience response and specialist perspectives. The initiative recognises visual storytelling projects that contribute to long-term understanding, presenting photographs as references that document human experience over time.

The Noor Ali Rashid Legacy Award for Documentary Vision went to photographer Giles Clarke for the exhibition ‘A Decade Documenting Humanitarian Crises’. The award highlights documentary work that handles humanitarian and social themes with integrity and responsibility, aligning with the festival’s broader interest in visual narratives that address real-world issues and vulnerable communities.

Artistic experimentation was recognised through the Saleh Al Ustad Legacy Award for Creative Photography, also presented by H.H. Sheikh Sultan. This award, which celebrates creativity and innovation in photographic expression, was given to Dmitry Ersler for the exhibition ‘Russia at Dusk’. The decision reflected the jury’s appreciation of both conceptual vision and technical execution within the presented body of work.

Xposure International Photography Festival environmental focus and partnerships

Environmental themes were highlighted through the BEEAH Award for Environmental and Conservation Photography, sponsored by BEEAH. This award was presented to Greg Lecoeur for the exhibition ‘A Vibrant Sea’. The winning project drew attention to marine life and ecological balance, supporting Xposure’s effort to engage audiences with climate, biodiversity and conservation issues through visual media.

This year’s closing ceremony came at the end of a programme that positioned Xposure as more than an exhibition platform. Through panel discussions, film screenings and varied visual storytelling experiences, the festival acted as a space for debate on humanitarian, environmental and social challenges. It offered photographers and filmmakers opportunities to share real-world stories using a cross-cultural visual language.

Xposure International Photography Festival education, dialogue and future outlook

Educational programming formed a significant part of the 10th edition. Specialised workshops and training sessions supported students, amateurs and enthusiasts of photography and filmmaking. Participants engaged directly with international experts, gaining practical skills and theoretical insight that help them move from interest to professional practice, and building a new generation of visual storytellers within and beyond the region.

Alongside showcasing international work, the festival created an environment that encouraged continuous learning and exchange of experiences. Discussions explored how images can influence public awareness, while technical sessions examined methods, tools and narrative approaches. This structure helped participants understand photography as both a craft and a medium for communication across cultures, societies and disciplines.

With the completion of its 10th edition, Xposure closes a decade marked by foundation and growth and starts planning for its next stage. The festival is positioning itself as a global forum for visual dialogue, a venue for contemporary human narratives, and a platform that treats images as a form of soft power that can shape understanding of events and how stories about the world are presented.

Xposure International Photography Festival special exhibition and attendees

On the sidelines of the closing ceremony, H.H. Sheikh Sultan visited the exhibition Photographic Encounters Along the Gulf Coasts. The exhibition includes 165 photographs and archival documents from the collection of H.H. Sheikh Sultan Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and offers a starting point for examining how photography contributes to reading and interpreting historical transformations.

The ceremony was attended by several senior figures and institutional representatives. Present were Khaled Al Huraimel, CEO of BEEAH; Idris Mohammed Al Rafi, CEO of Invest bank; Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of Sharjah Government Media Bureau; Hassan Yaqoub Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Media Council; Abdullah Abdulrahman Al Shamsi, Director General of Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority; along with officials, partners, photographers and visual arts enthusiasts.

The 10th Xposure International Photography Festival therefore closed with a focus on legacy, education and dialogue. Through its awards, workshops, exhibitions and collaborations, the festival strengthened connections between creative practice and social issues, emphasised photography’s role as a knowledge resource, and reinforced Sharjah’s position as a regional and international hub for visual storytelling and cultural engagement.

With inputs from WAM