The Sharjah Biennial has come a long way since it was launched in 1993.
It is the UAE’s longest-running art event and, over the past 30 years has grown into a sprawling, city-wide phenomenon bringing some of the most cutting-edge contemporary artists to Sharjah.
The event this year will feature artworks from more than 150 artists and collectives, representing more than 70 countries.
While the first Sharjah Biennial underlined the beginning of the emirate’s long-running drive to becoming a regional arts hub, it was in 2003, when Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi took over as curator and artistic director, that the programming expanded to look at more contemporary and international artists. It also began featuring themes that seemed to have a finger on the pulse of topical issues.
For instance, its seventh edition, in 2005, revolved around issues of belonging and identity. It was curated by Palestinian-Armenian artist Jack Persekian, Canadian-American academic and artist Ken Lum, and Swiss-Iranian-American art expert Tirdad Zolghadr. In 2007 was held under the theme Still Life and explored ecology and the politics of change. The event was curated by contemporary Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem, English curator Jonathan Watkins, and art historian Eva Scharrer. It significantly expanded that year, being held at Sharjah Art Museum, Expo Centre Sharjah, Heritage Area and the American University of Sharjah, as well as several outdoor locations in the emirate.
The biennial grew exponentially after the establishment of the Sharjah Art Foundation in 2009 as the institution made the event one of its core initiatives. Its exhibition programme for the ninth year was titled Provisions for the Future and was curated by art critic Isabel Carlos. Its performance and film programme, Past of the Coming Days, meanwhile, was curated by Tarek Abou El Fetouh, who last year was appointed as SAF’s director of performance and senior curator for the visual arts.
In 2011, the biennial explored the uprisings taking place in the Middle East at the time. Held under the theme, Plot for a Biennial, it was curated by British art historian Suzanne Cotter and Canadian-Lebanese art academic Rasha Salti, alongside Lebanese-Armenian artist Haig Aivazian.
Yuko Hasegawa, chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, took over the curatorial helm in 2013. The event was held under the title Re:emerge: Towards a New Cultural Cartography. It featured more than 100 participants from 41 countries showing new commissions, music, films, performances and talks as well as the annual March Meeting. The event re-examined the westerncentrism of knowledge in modern times and explored the relationship between the Arab world, Asia, the Far East, North Africa and Latin America.
The 12th biennial in 2015 was curated by the US curator of contemporary art at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Eungie Joo. The event was held under the title The past, the present, the possible, and it grew to include the city of Kalba on the Gulf of Oman as an exhibition site.
Tamawuj was the theme of the biennal's 13th run. The theme was derived from the Arabic noun, which is defined as a rising and falling in waves. The event was curated by Lebanese curator Christine Tohme, who is also the founder of Ashkal Alwan — the Lebanese Association for Plastic Arts. It took place over five segments, running from October 2016 to January 2018. The event encompassed exhibitions in Sharjah, alongside projects in Beirut, Dakar, Ramallah and Istanbul. It also had an online publishing platform.
The 14th event, themed Leaving the Echo Chamber, explored the possibilities and purpose of producing art in the face of news that is derived from a monopoly of sources. It included more than 80 established and emerging artists as well as 60 new commissions. It was co-curated by Vietnamese art writer Zoe Butt, Egyptian art historian Omar Kholeif and Guadeloupe-born art critic Claire Tancons.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Results
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if you go
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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The details
Colette
Director: Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Keira Knightley, Dominic West
Our take: 3/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
