His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, attended the opening of the 12th Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial on Wednesday evening. Organised by the Department of Culture, the Biennial runs until 15 November and is being held at Calligraphy Square in the Heart of Sharjah.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah honoured the winners of the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial Awards. The Grand Prize was awarded to artist Farhad Yasin from Iraq for his work “Surah Ar-Rahman complete in five pages.” The Authentic Trend Award was presented to Abdul Baki Bin Abu Bakar from Malaysia for his work “The Reformer’s Covenant,” Ahmed Jalaluddin from Indonesia for his work “The Farewell Sermon (Khutbatul Wada),” and Mahfouz Ameen Al Dhnoon from Iraq for his work “Calligraphy artwork featuring Ayat al-Kursi (The Verse of the Throne) and Qasidat al-Burda.”

His Highness also honoured the winners of the Modern and Contemporary Calligraphic Arts Award: artist Shaimaa Hitou from Germany for her work “So race to do good deeds,” artist Naamiya Nizar from India for her work “Pleasing to the Observers,” and artist Hussein Al Mohasen from Saudi Arabia for his work “Blue Letter Space with Saduo.” The Special Jury Award was presented to Emirati calligrapher and artist Mahmood Al Abadi for his work “The Best of You Are Those Who Are Best to Their Families.”

His Highness also honoured three prominent figures who have contributed to enriching the field of Arabic calligraphy, in recognition of their artistic careers and contributions to developing the aesthetics of Arabic lettering. They were Emirati calligrapher Ali Al Hammadi, Moroccan academic and Arabic calligraphy specialist Belaid Hamidi, and Egyptian calligrapher and visual artist Khalifa Al Shimi. This recognition reflects continued support for Arabic calligraphy artists and the preservation of the art form’s aesthetic and cultural heritage.

During the opening ceremony, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial, delivered a speech in which he emphasised that the Biennial was established 20 years ago under the directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, reflecting His Highness’s belief in the importance of Arabic calligraphy as a vital part of Arab culture.

He noted that the Biennial, now in its 12th edition, has become an important reference in the field of Arabic calligraphy, supporting creative artists and encouraging the exploration of new horizons for this art form within the contemporary art scene.

Al Qaseer explained that, for more than two decades, the Biennial has continued its mission to restore the status of Arabic calligraphy, strengthen its presence, support its development and encourage its interaction with various art forms. Through the creative spaces it provides, the Biennial highlights the beauty of Arabic lettering and its artistic potential. He also outlined the highlights of the current edition, which features 90 events, including exhibitions, art workshops, lectures and seminars, alongside 681 artistic and calligraphic works by 272 artists and calligraphers from around the world.

The Director of the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial noted that the current edition honours three prominent artists whose creative experiences have contributed to enriching Arabic calligraphy and strengthening its cultural and artistic presence. He emphasised that the Biennial reinforces Sharjah’s position as an international destination for culture, art and beauty, and as a hub for creative talents and artists from around the world.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah toured the participating exhibitions, which celebrate the artistic experiences of 145 artists from around the world. The exhibitions bring together diverse artistic visions and styles, highlighting the beauty of Arabic calligraphy and its wide range of expressive possibilities. His Highness listened to explanations about the participating works, which reflect various artistic approaches and draw inspiration from Arabic lettering as a visual and cultural element capable of transforming writing into visual art and words into images.

His Highness explored the diversity of the artworks and the different approaches to Arabic calligraphy, ranging from preserving its artistic heritage to exploring contemporary forms that present it through a new artistic language. During his tour, His Highness viewed an exhibition that offers visitors an opportunity to appreciate the richness of the participating artistic experiences and discover how Arabic calligraphy continues to maintain its presence in the global visual arts scene.

His Highness also visited the exhibition “My Family, My Paradise,” organised by the Emirates Society for Arabic Calligraphy and Islamic Ornamentation. The exhibition celebrates the importance of family and its central role in building a cohesive society, strengthening national identity and preserving traditional values. Inspired by Islamic principles of love, affection, mercy and family unity, the exhibition features works by 11 male and female artists from the UAE. His Highness viewed the exhibition’s highlights, which include artworks inspired by Quranic verses, Prophetic Hadiths, poetry and words of wisdom. Through the beauty of Arabic calligraphy and Islamic ornamentation, the artists express these values, reflecting the warmth of family life, its deep-rooted traditions and its role in preserving and passing down values from one generation to the next.

Yas Island will become the official experiences partner of the Abu Dhabi T10 for its 2026 edition, under a new partnership between Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (ADCSH) and Miral.

Under the agreement, all six Abu Dhabi T10 franchises will be based on Yas Island during the tournament, while a number of events linked to the competition will also be held across the destination.

The partnership will include the tournament’s Trophy Launch, Opening Party and Closing Party, with Yas Island’s attractions and venues forming part of the wider Abu Dhabi T10 experience for players, teams, partners and fans.

“We are thrilled to welcome Yas Island as the Official Experiences Partner of the 2026 Abu Dhabi T10,” said Matthew Boucher, CEO of Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub and Abu Dhabi T10.

“The island is an unbelievable destination which will provide an exceptional setting for our teams, our players and for many of the tournament experiences.”

Leon Marsh, Miral’s director of events, said the partnership reflected a shared aim of creating experiences for “fans, teams and families alike”.

“Yas Island is the ideal setting for the key moments and flagship events taking place during this year’s Abu Dhabi T10,” he said.

The 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 Draft, held at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, saw 108 players selected by six franchises: Arabian Aces, Emirates Eagles, Royal Desert Champions, UAE Bulls, United Tigers and Yas Lions.

The tournament will take place at Zayed Cricket Stadium from 7 to 20 November, bringing together international players for the 10-over competition.

The partnership is also intended to promote Abu Dhabi as a destination combining international sport, leisure and entertainment, with Yas Island providing the base for the teams throughout the tournament.

The 12th Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial will open on October 7 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, bringing together 272 Arab and international artists and featuring 681 artworks across a programme of 93 events.

Running through November 15, the Biennial will transform venues across Sharjah into spaces dedicated to Arabic calligraphy, contemporary art and cultural dialogue. Locations include Calligraphy Square, Sharjah Art Museum, House of Wisdom, University of the Arts Sharjah and 1971 – Design Space.

The programme was announced by Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Directorate of Cultural Affairs at Sharjah’s Department of Culture and Director of the Biennial, during a press conference attended by Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah’s Department of Culture, participating artists and media representatives.

(Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Directorate of Cultural Affairs at Sharjah’s Department of Culture and Director of the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial, speaks during the press conference announcing the 12th Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial. Photos by Muhammad Sajjad)

Balance takes centre stage

Held under the theme Balance, the 12th edition explores one of the fundamental principles of Arabic calligraphy: harmony between proportion, precision, letters and space.

Al Qaseer said the Biennial’s continued development has helped strengthen the international presence of Arabic calligraphy, while creating new opportunities for artists to connect the traditional art form with contemporary artistic practices.

The Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial was established in 2004 under the patronage and support of the Ruler of Sharjah and has since developed into an international platform for calligraphers, artists and researchers. Sharjah’s Department of Culture says the 12th edition will feature local, Arab and international participation.

26 exhibitions, 61 workshops

The Biennial programme includes 26 exhibitions and 61 art workshops, alongside lectures, seminars and visual presentations.

The participating artists represent countries across the Arab world, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain, Oman, Libya, Yemen and Tunisia. International participation includes artists from Italy, Sweden, China, Canada, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Germany, Turkey, Indonesia and other countries.

The 681 works span traditional calligraphy, modern and contemporary lettering, installations, murals and Islamic ornamentation.

Major exhibitions include Hilya Sharifa, Balance and Pioneers at Sharjah Art Museum. The museum will also host photography exhibitions exploring the relationship between the Arabic letter, visual culture and photography.

At House of Wisdom, Bymizan: From the Dot to the Meaning will examine the journey of the Arabic letter from its foundational dot to its completed visual and semantic form.

Other exhibitions will be presented at Emirates Society for Arabic Calligraphy and Islamic Ornamentation, Emirates Fine Arts Society, 1971 – Design Space and University of the Arts Sharjah.

International seminar on Arabic calligraphy

House of Wisdom will also host an international seminar titled Arabic Calligraphy Between Authenticity and Global Pioneering. The programme will bring together researchers, academics and artists to discuss the evolution of Arabic calligraphy and its place within contemporary global art.

The Biennial is expected to welcome around 100 guests, including media professionals, lecturers, calligraphers and workshop facilitators.

Three calligraphers to be honoured

The 12th edition will honour three prominent figures in Arabic calligraphy: Khalifa Elshimy of Egypt, Belaid Hamidi of Morocco and Ali Al Hammadi of the UAE. The three artists were previously announced among the honourees for the 2026 edition.

The Biennial will also present awards for outstanding works in its General Exhibition, including the Grand Prize, awards for traditional calligraphy, modern and contemporary calligraphic arts, and a special jury award for an Emirati calligrapher.

The General Exhibition itself reflects the Biennial’s focus on both heritage and innovation, bringing together traditional approaches alongside modern lettering and installation-based works.

With its international participation and extensive exhibition and educational programme, the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial 2026 aims to reaffirm Arabic calligraphy as a living art form—rooted in heritage while continuing to evolve within the global contemporary art scene.