Sharjah , February 6 , 2026 : His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, attended on Wednesday evening the closing ceremony of the 10th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival, marking the conclusion of a landmark edition that attracted more than 34,000 visitors from around the world.
Held at the Photography Gallery in Al Manakh, the ceremony brought together photographers, filmmakers, visual arts professionals, and enthusiasts representing a wide range of creative disciplines, reaffirming Xposure’s growing stature as a leading global platform for visual storytelling.
During the ceremony, His Highness honoured the winners of the Xposure Legacy Awards, launched for the first time as part of the festival’s 10th anniversary. The awards reflect Xposure’s evolving vision of the image as a sustainable knowledge asset that transcends aesthetic value to engage cultural, humanitarian, and environmental dimensions.
The Noor Ali Rashid Legacy Award for Documentary Vision, which recognises documentary exhibitions that address humanitarian and social issues with integrity and responsibility, was awarded to Giles Clarke for his exhibition “A Decade Documenting Humanitarian Crises.”
The Saleh Al Ustad Legacy Award for Creative Photography, celebrating artistic innovation and creative excellence, was presented to Dmitry Ersler for his exhibition “Russia at Dusk.” Meanwhile, the BEEAH Award for Environmental and Conservation Photography, sponsored by BEEAH, was awarded to Greg Lecoeur for his exhibition “A Vibrant Sea.”
The newly introduced Xposure Legacy Awards are granted exclusively to exhibitions participating in this edition of the festival. Divided into three main categories, the awards adopt a dual evaluation model that combines public engagement with expert critical assessment, recognising visual storytelling as a long-term cultural and educational resource.
His Highness also honoured the festival’s partners and sponsors from government entities and private companies, acknowledging their vital role in supporting Xposure’s programmes and activities and strengthening its position as a global hub for photography and visual content creation.
The closing ceremony marked the culmination of an exceptional edition that reinforced Xposure’s role beyond that of a traditional festival. Through panel discussions, film screenings, and immersive visual experiences, the event served as a dynamic platform for raising global awareness of pressing humanitarian, environmental, and social issues, while fostering cross-cultural dialogue through the universal language of images.
In addition to showcasing international experiences, Xposure provided a rich educational environment through specialised workshops designed to develop the skills of students, amateurs, and emerging professionals. These sessions enabled the next generation of visual storytellers to transform passion into professionalism through direct engagement with leading international experts.
With the conclusion of its 10th edition, Xposure closes a chapter of foundation and growth while opening a new horizon for its future role as a global platform for visual dialogue, an incubator for contemporary human narratives, and a space that recognises the image as a form of soft power capable of shaping understanding and influencing how the world’s stories are told.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, His Highness toured the exhibition “Photographic Encounters Along the Gulf Coasts,” featuring 165 photographs and archival documents from the collection of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The exhibition highlights photography’s role in documenting history and interpreting cultural transformation.
The ceremony was attended by a number of senior officials, including 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; alongside representatives of sponsoring entities, partners, and a large gathering of photographers and visual arts enthusiasts.
