Sharjah, August 30, 2026 : Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) has announced the opening of
participation for the third edition of its student photography competition and
exhibition, “I Am at Sharjah Museums – Through Their Lens: Traditional
Emirati Ornaments,” inviting Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 students from public and
private schools across the United Arab Emirates to submit their entries
starting from Monday, 31 August 2026.
Designed to combine visual creativity with museum-based learning, this
year’s competition theme, “Traditional Emirati Ornaments,” encourages
students to explore and document the beauty of traditional Emirati
ornaments found across various museums under Sharjah Museums
Authority, fostering a deeper appreciation of the nation’s cultural heritage
while strengthening young people’s connection with museums as inspiring
spaces for learning, creativity, and cultural discovery.
The competition invites students to discover traditional Emirati ornaments
across the Authority’s various museums, spanning art, heritage,
archaeology, Islamic civilisation, science, and maritime history in Sharjah,
Khorfakkan, and Kalba.
The third edition of the exhibition will be hosted at Taymiyyah School,
where the winning photographs will be showcased. The exhibition will
officially open on Thursday, 28 January 2027, during a ceremony that will
also announce the competition winners, continuing the initiative’s mission
of celebrating young talent and showcasing students’ artistic interpretations
of Emirati heritage through photography.
Building on the success of its previous editions, the competition has
established itself as a platform for nurturing young creative talent. The
inaugural exhibition was held at Bait Al Naboodah, while the second edition
took place at Al Qasimia School – Museum of Education in Sharjah,
attracting more than 547 submissions from students representing public
and private schools across the UAE. The initiative has played an important
role in reinforcing museums as educational and cultural institutions that
inspire creativity while encouraging students to express their perspectives
on heritage and national identity.
This year’s competition focuses on Traditional Emirati Ornaments, one of
the most distinctive expressions of the UAE’s cultural identity. Students are
invited to capture ornaments found throughout Sharjah Museums
Authority’s museums, including decorative elements featured in traditional
architecture, clothing and textiles, furniture, household objects, and
traditional crafts, with particular emphasis on geometric patterns, floral
motifs, and heritage-inspired decorative designs that reflect the richness
and diversity of Emirati culture.
The competition is open to Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 students enrolled in public
and private schools across the UAE. Winners from both categories will
receive cash prizes, while their photographs will be featured in the
accompanying exhibition, providing participants with an opportunity to
present their work to the public and to photography, heritage, and culture
enthusiasts.
SMA has encouraged students wishing to participate to carefully follow the
competition guidelines. Entries must be original photographs taken during
2026 at one of the Authority’s museums, must not have been submitted to
any previous competition or earlier edition of “I Am at Sharjah Museums,”
and should be submitted as a single JPG image with a minimum resolution
of 300 dpi and without digital manipulation. Photographs will be evaluated
based on their relevance to the competition theme, creativity, originality,
composition, and technical quality.
The Authority noted that the deadline for submissions is Sunday, 25
October 2026. Entries should be submitted via the competition’s
designated email together with the official application form and all required
supporting documents. Winners will be announced during the exhibition
opening ceremony on 28 January 2027.
Through this initiative, Sharjah Museums Authority continues to reinforce its
vision of positioning museums as dynamic educational environments that
nurture creativity, observation, visual storytelling, and critical thinking
among young learners.
At the same time, the competition strengthens appreciation for Emirati
heritage and national identity while encouraging students to reinterpret
traditional cultural elements through a contemporary artistic perspective,
contributing to a lasting relationship between young generations, museums,
and culture.
