Barjeel Art Foundation to Open a Museum in Sharjah

The Barjeel Art Foundation has officially announced plans for its new permanent museum in Sharjah, scheduled to open in early 2028. The facility will serve as a dedicated home for the foundation's extensive collection of modern and contemporary art from the Arab world, marking a significant milestone in the institution's 14-year history.

The museum will be constructed on a plot of land provided by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. The building's design draws inspiration from the architecture of modern residential buildings in the surrounding Sharjah area, based on a sketch by foundation founder Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi. Mohammed Essa of Architecture Corner Consultants has been commissioned to design the structure.

"This permanent home reflects our commitment to preserving and narrating the history of art from the Arab World," said Rémi Homs, curator of the Barjeel Art Foundation. "It is conceived as a space for future generations from diverse horizons to discover, study, and draw inspiration from our shared cultural heritage."

Since its founding in 2010 by Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, the Barjeel Art Foundation has operated as an itinerant collection, temporarily housed at the Maraya Art Centre from 2010 to 2018 and later at the Sharjah Art Museum from 2018 to 2025. The establishment of a permanent space represents a pivotal moment for the collection.

"Barjeel Art Foundation's collection has, for many years, existed as an itinerant one," said Suheyla Takesh, Director of the Barjeel Art Foundation. "This gave us an opportunity to collaborate with numerous institutions and experience the collection across different contexts. Now, we are looking forward to it having a home, and to so many works by artists from across the Arab World to be on view together in one place."

The museum will feature several thematic sections mapping the evolution of art in the region, along with two central galleries designated for temporary exhibitions. In keeping with the foundation's ongoing mission, the museum will commit to a gender-balanced display of artwork, continuing to showcase the work of female artists from the region. Additionally, a number of previously unseen pieces will be unveiled to the public for the first time.

"We are deeply grateful to the government of Sharjah for granting us this land on such a significant site," Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi said. "Establishing a permanent home for the collection has long been a dream."

The opening of the Barjeel Art Museum is expected to further cement Sharjah's position as a cultural hub in the United Arab Emirates, offering visitors a comprehensive view of the region's artistic legacy and contemporary innovations.