Sharjah is set to welcome a new dedicated Arab art museum in January 2028. The Barjeel Art Foundation, founded by Emirati art collector Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, is developing a 4,000-square-metre cultural space along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. The museum will house more than 2,200 artworks, including pieces that have never been publicly displayed. The project will give Arab artists a permanent platform while offering residents and visitors a closer look at the region’s artistic heritage.
- Location: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Sharjah
- Organisation: Barjeel Art Foundation
- Expected opening: January 2028
- Who is affected: Art lovers, residents, tourists, artists and researchers
- Cultural impact: A permanent home for more than 2,200 Arab artworks
- What’s next: Museum development and preparations for its first exhibitions
Sharjah is getting a new museum dedicated to modern and contemporary Arab art, with the Barjeel Art Foundation expected to open its permanent space in January 2028. Founded by Emirati researcher and art collector Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, the foundation is developing the museum along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.
The upcoming Barjeel Art Foundation Museum will bring together more than 2,200 artworks from across the Arab world, giving visitors an opportunity to explore the region’s artistic history under one roof. It will also provide a permanent space for works that have travelled between international exhibitions over the years.
For Sharjah, which already has a strong reputation for arts, museums and cultural initiatives, the project adds another major destination to its growing cultural landscape.
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What Is the Barjeel Art Foundation Museum?
The Barjeel Art Foundation is an independent collecting institution established in Sharjah in 2010 by Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi. Its main aim has been to make modern and contemporary Arab art accessible to a wider audience.
What started as Al Qassemi’s personal art collection gradually developed into an institution supporting artists, researchers and people interested in Arab artistic heritage.
Over the years, the foundation has built an extensive collection representing different countries, artistic movements and periods across the Arab world. Its artworks have appeared in more than 40 exhibitions internationally and have been loaned to over 170 institutions, according to recent reporting.
The new museum will give this collection a permanent home rather than relying primarily on temporary exhibitions and loans to other cultural institutions.
Inside the New Sharjah Museum: What Can Visitors Expect?
The upcoming museum will cover approximately 4,000 square metres and display more than 2,200 artworks. The collection includes paintings, sculptures and other forms of modern and contemporary art.
Visitors can expect to see works from different generations of Arab artists, with some pieces dating back several decades. These artworks reflect the region’s changing social, political and cultural experiences.
The collection includes works by well-known artists such as Egyptian painter Mahmoud Said, Iraqi artist Jewad Selim, Palestinian artist Samia Halaby and Algerian artist Baya.
Some of the notable pieces include Mahmoud Said’s Girl in a Printed Dress from 1938, Inji Efflatoun’s Dreams of the Detainee from 1961 and Samia Halaby’s Two Diagonals from 1968.
Several artworks have not previously been shown publicly, making the museum’s opening an opportunity for audiences to discover pieces that have remained outside public exhibitions.
Rather than focusing only on individual countries, the curatorial approach will explore connections between artists, movements and shared themes across the Arab world.
Who Designed the Barjeel Art Foundation Museum?
The museum’s architectural concept began with sketches by Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, who wanted to create a space that reflected the character and history of Sharjah.
Architect Mohamed Essa of Architecture Corner Consultants developed the design based on this original vision.
The project draws inspiration from residential architecture in Sharjah, combining traditional influences with a contemporary approach to museum design.
Construction began in April 2026, with the building planned along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. The location will make the museum accessible to visitors travelling from different parts of Sharjah and neighbouring emirates.
The idea is to create more than a conventional exhibition building. The museum is intended to become a place where art can be preserved, studied and experienced by different generations.
A Strong Focus on Arab Women Artists
One of the notable aspects of the Barjeel Art Foundation’s collection is its approach to representation.
The foundation has placed greater emphasis on showcasing women artists, with its exhibition policy prioritising gender balance since 2019.
According to curator Rémi Homs, the museum aims to ensure that at least half of the displayed artworks are by women artists.
This approach will give visitors an opportunity to explore contributions from female artists who have played an important role in shaping modern and contemporary art across the Arab world.
It also adds another dimension to the museum’s collection, allowing audiences to discover different artistic perspectives rather than focusing on a limited group of established names.
How Will the Museum Add to Sharjah’s Cultural Scene?
Sharjah has spent decades building its position as an important cultural destination in the UAE. The emirate is home to institutions such as Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization and the Sharjah Art Foundation, alongside its annual exhibitions and cultural events.
The Barjeel Art Foundation has already worked with the Sharjah Museums Authority. Their partnership dates back to 2018, when they agreed to present a long-term exhibition of works from the foundation’s collection at Sharjah Art Museum.
The new museum takes this relationship further by creating a dedicated space for the foundation’s wider collection.
It could also offer new opportunities for researchers, students, art professionals and cultural organisations through exhibitions, educational activities and future collaborations.
For visitors, it will add another cultural stop to Sharjah’s attractions, particularly those interested in Arab history, painting, sculpture and contemporary creative movements.
The Barjeel Art Foundation Museum is significant because it gives Arab art a permanent exhibition space in the region where much of this artistic heritage originated.
For UAE residents, it offers a chance to explore the work of artists from across the Arab world without having to travel internationally to see their collections.
Artists and researchers could also benefit from greater access to important artworks, while Sharjah’s cultural and tourism sectors gain another attraction to include in the emirate’s wider arts offering.
The project also supports the preservation of artworks that reflect the region’s history, identity and changing cultural landscape.
With the opening expected in January 2028, visitors will have to wait a little longer before exploring the collection inside the new building.
FAQs
1. When will the Barjeel Art Foundation Museum open?
The Barjeel Art Foundation’s permanent museum in Sharjah is expected to open in January 2028.
2. Where is the new Barjeel Art Foundation Museum located?
The museum is being developed along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in Sharjah.
3. Who founded the Barjeel Art Foundation?
Emirati researcher, columnist and art collector Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi founded the Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah in 2010.
4. How many artworks will the new museum feature?
The museum is expected to house more than 2,200 artworks from across the Arab world, including paintings, sculptures and previously unseen pieces.
5. Which artists will be represented at the museum?
The collection includes works by artists such as Mahmoud Said, Inji Efflatoun, Baya, Samia Halaby, Jewad Selim and Shakir Hassan Al Said.
Sharjah’s upcoming Barjeel Art Foundation Museum will give more than 2,200 Arab artworks a permanent home when it opens in 2028. With its diverse collection, focus on women artists and plans to make Arab artistic heritage more accessible, the museum is set to become another important cultural destination in the UAE.
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