Her Highness Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, a leading voice in the art world, has been named Ambassador Extraordinary for Arab Culture for 2025–2026 by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (ALECSO).
The appointment celebrates her transformative role in advancing contemporary art and fostering cultural exchange across the region and internationally.
The announcement was made during a ceremony held on 10 November 2025 in Africa Hall, Al Manakh, Sharjah, in the presence of government officials, leaders, and directors from various cultural institutions across Sharjah.
Speaking about her appointment, Her Highness Sheikha Hoor said: ‘I am deeply honoured to be appointed ALECSO Ambassador Extraordinary for Arab Culture. This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of many individuals and institutions dedicated to nurturing, promoting and preserving our shared cultural heritage. I look forward to working closely with ALECSO to strengthen cultural dialogue and foster deeper understanding across the region and beyond.’
Since its launch, ALECSO’s Ambassadors for Arab Culture Programme has honoured prominent individuals whose work in culture and the arts supports the organisation’s mission and showcases the richness and diversity of Arab heritage.
Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, a pioneering figure in the art world who recently topped ArtReview’s Power 100, is a visionary whose influence extends far beyond borders. Her journey began at the age of 22, when she took on the role of directing the Sharjah Biennial. Through her work developing pioneering institutions like the Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah Architecture Triennial, and the Africa Institute, she’s championed artists from both the Gulf region and further afield, revitalised heritage areas, and turned neglected spaces across Sharjah into hubs of artistic innovation and dialogue.
Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi’s influence did not stop at the art scene in Sharjah or even the UAE—it reached far beyond. In 2015, she was named curator of the UAE’s national pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale. In 2020, she curated the Lahore Biennale, and in 2023, she developed the 15th edition of the landmark Sharjah Biennale, a project originally initiated by the late Enwezor. Looking ahead, Al Qasimi has been appointed artistic director for the 2026 Biennale of Sydney, becoming the first Arab curator to hold the role, and will also lead the 2025 Aichi Triennale in Japan.
Sheikha Hoor is undoubtedly one of the busiest figures in the art world. Beyond her curatorial and cultural work, she also oversees her late twin brother’s fashion label, Al Qasimi.
Back in 2019, Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi said in an interview, “My goal is specifically to bring important art to the region and not to make Sharjah a destination for the global art jet set.” Today, it’s clear that Sheikha Hoor has made that goal a reality.
