Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi to lead the newly formed University of the Arts Sharjah, consolidating performing and visual arts academies under a single institution.
SHARJAH — His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Supreme Council Member, has announced the creation of the University of the Arts Sharjah, marking a significant restructuring of higher education in the creative fields within the emirate.
The announcement was made on Monday, December 15, 2025, as the Ruler chaired a meeting of the Sharjah Council of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The council emphasized the strategic importance of unifying arts disciplines to enhance academic and creative outcomes.
Leading this new initiative will be Sheikha Hoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the Ruler’s daughter and a renowned figure in the art world, who has been appointed as the university’s President. As part of the consolidation, the existing Board of Trustees for the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy will be dissolved and replaced by a new board for the University of the Arts Sharjah, which Sheikha Hoor will also chair.
The university will encompass dedicated academies, with key leadership appointments confirmed. Dr. Peter Barlow has been named Director of the Academy of Performing Arts, and Dr. Nadia Mahdi Al Hassni will serve as Director of the Academy of Visual Arts.
This establishment represents a major step in centralizing Sharjah’s robust arts education framework, aiming to strengthen its regional and international cultural profile.
