While life rushes at a fast pace in Aljada, between the noise of the crowds and the scent of coffee from nearby cafes, a moment of stillness unfolds. For those who carry art within them, a deep sense of peace is felt by the visitors of the 10th edition of Xposure. Here, life moves slowly, making you forget the outside world as you dive into the exhibition’s halls, where photos from around the globe show you how vast the universe truly is.
A young visitor stands silently before a photo, her eyes reflecting its depth. She isn’t just looking; she is traveling through the eyes of a designer. Ghala Al Zarooni, a Digital Design student at the University of Dhaid, visiting Xposure for the first time, said: “As a photographer and a design student, I see living lessons here and scenes I don’t see anywhere else. Being from the Central Region, these angles inspire me deeply. I feel a strong urge to grab my camera and take photos just like these; there is real magic here.”
As she documented the inspiring details with her camera, Ghala added: “I hope in future editions we see more space for professional student participation. We have young talents who deserve support and the chance to show their work alongside these great masters. Supporting students is the real investment in the future of visual arts.”
Building an entire city for art in just 30 days sounds like a dream. But in the 10th edition of Xposure, this dream became a reality. Hassan Al Jasmi, the Events Director, stated: “Moving to Aljada this year was a challenge in itself. While Expo Centre Sharjah provided ready-made halls in the past, working at Aljada meant starting from zero.”
Speaking with pride about what happened behind the scenes, Al Jasmi added: “What happened was a miracle by all standards. We built this hall from nothing in only one month. It required many approvals and coordination with different companies. We were in a race against time, fighting the hours and staying up late to achieve this result. We wanted a strategic location that is easy for the public to reach, and seeing the crowds today is the reward that made us forget all our exhaustion.”
In line with this development, Abdullah Hassan Al Yassi, Head of Media Relations at the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, confirmed that the festival was designed to meet everyone’s expectations. Al Yassi explained: “This year, we structured the festival to include specific paths for students, such as workshops and panel sessions, to help them enter the field even without any prior experience.” He also pointed out that choosing Aljada was due to its high popularity and to make it easier for the public to attend the event. Closing his statement, he invited everyone to benefit from the experience, saying: “In the end, we are all photographers because we all carry smartphones with cameras, and Xposure is a golden opportunity to turn this hobby into real knowledge.”
From the Kingdom of Bahrain, the presenter Ahmed Al Kohaji (owner of ‘Khosh Fikra’ channel) came to Sharjah to find an exceptional journey that brought back a passion he started with the lens in 2013. Al Kohaji described his first visit as “fuel for inspiration,” where he stood for a long time at the Sharjah booth, which beautifully showcased the emirate’s landmarks like Al Noor Island.
In the halls of the exhibition, a photo of space by Emirati photographer Yousif Al Qasmi caught Al Kohaji’s attention. He spent time reflecting on its details, wondering about the moment the photographer woke up and the effort he made to capture this scene. With the eye of an expert, Al Kohaji said: “Photographers live moments that ordinary people don’t see. These photos moved something deep inside me. This exhibition is not just a display of pictures; it is an engine for passion that makes you want to go back and hold your camera again.”
The journey of discovery continued with Emirati photographer Rashid Al Sumaiti, whose work bridges the gap between art and science through microscopic photography. Rashid spent a year and a half of experiments and patience behind the lens of his microscope, driven by curiosity to create something unique that didn’t exist before. It is a great honor for me as an Emirati to participate in Xposure, Rashid shared. “Standing alongside world-class photographers proves to the world that the UAE has creative minds with a unique artistic vision.”
What touched Rashid the most was the audience’s reaction, the look of shock in their eyes when they realized that these stunning landscapes were actually simple substances like salt, sugar, or Vitamin C. “Every person sees the photo through their own lens” he explained with a smile. “In one piece, some see mountains, others see rivers, and one person even saw a fish! This diversity in perspective is what makes the work truly special.” Rashid also praised the professional setup at Aljada, noting that the organization and continuous improvements made this edition an exceptional experience in every way.
As the lights begin to dim at Aljada, a lingering sense of magic remains in the air. Xposure 2026 was never just about cameras or famous names; it was about the silent connection between a viewer and a frame, the feeling of a student finding a path, a professional finding a spark, and a stranger finding a home in a distant world. In this space, the boundaries between art, science, and reality simply melted away, leaving every visitor with a thousand new perspectives. In Sharjah, the image did not just capture time; it captured the soul.
Applied Media News Hub 
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