Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi Takes Charge of Sharjah’s Museum Network
Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, the president and director of the Sharjah Art Foundation and a member of the Sharjawi royal family, has been named president of the Sharjah Museums Authority. The appointment places one of the Gulf’s most visible cultural figures at the helm of an institution that oversees 16 museums across Sharjah, spanning Islamic art and culture, archaeology, heritage, science, marine life, and history.
The appointment was issued by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The authority was founded in 2006 as an autonomous government body, and its mission statement describes a goal of strengthening Sharjah’s identity locally and internationally while fostering public understanding of museums as cultural, educational, and enjoyable destinations.
Al Qasimi’s new role adds another layer to an already expansive institutional portfolio. Under her leadership, the Sharjah Art Foundation has become closely associated with the Sharjah Biennial and a broad program of exhibitions, commissions, residencies, publications, performances, screenings, and education initiatives. She also holds affiliations with the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, The Africa Institute, Global Studies University, and University of the Arts Sharjah.
Her influence extends well beyond the emirate. Internationally, she has served as artistic director of Aichi Triennale 2025 in Japan and the 2026 Sydney Biennale in Australia, underscoring the degree to which Sharjah’s cultural leadership now operates on a global stage.
The appointment signals continuity rather than rupture: Sharjah has long used museums, biennials, and educational institutions to shape its cultural identity, and Al Qasimi now sits at the center of that ecosystem. With 16 museums under her oversight, her leadership will help determine how the emirate presents its past, and how it frames its place in contemporary art and public culture.
