Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi inaugurates Ras Al Khaimah Art 2026 festival

His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, a member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, affirmed that investing in culture and arts solidifies awareness of national and historical identity, enhances understanding and rapprochement among peoples, and supports economic diversification paths by developing the cultural and creative industries sector, which in turn reflects on Ras Al Khaimah's attractiveness in various sectors and its competitiveness as a hub for distinctive events.

This came during the inauguration of the 14th edition of the «Ras Al Khaimah Art 2026» festival, organized by the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Public Policy Research under the slogan «Civilizations.» The festival was inaugurated in the historic Al Jazeera Al Hamra Village in the presence of several accredited ambassadors to the state, senior officials, and with the participation of more than 100 artists from 49 countries, presenting artworks and artistic experiences within events that will continue until February 8th.

His Highness the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah stated that «Ras Al Khaimah Art 2026» embodies the emirate's historical cultural and artistic legacy, reflects its directions in establishing the values and aesthetics of arts and culture as pillars of development, and enhances Ras Al Khaimah's status as an effective regional center for arts and creative industries, explaining that the event celebrates creators and talented individuals from the state and around the world, and encourages elevating various forms of creative arts that reflect the civilizations of peoples and their rich heritage of human values and intellectual thought.

His Highness welcomed the participating artists from countries worldwide, appreciating the efforts of the organizing bodies and supporting partners, and their role in enhancing the quality of the cultural experience and expanding community participation, which supports the sustainability of the artistic movement in the emirate. His Highness then toured the festival's sections, where he viewed a number of artworks, listened to explanations from artists about the content of their works, their methods and techniques, and what they reflect as visual readings of the «Civilizations» slogan as a space for convergence and dialogue between memory and reality.

His Highness also reviewed the festival's program, which includes interactive workshops, live performances, educational experiences, in addition to discussion sessions and artistic and craft workshops, offering a comprehensive cultural experience that combines the cognitive dimension with the direct artistic experience and targets different segments of society.

The «Ras Al Khaimah Art» festival is a cultural platform that contributes to deepening the presence of art in the emirate's cultural scene, activating heritage and historical sites as incubators for knowledge, and attracting a wide spectrum of creative practices that enhance Ras Al Khaimah's position on the cultural map of the United Arab Emirates and the region.

Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah: The festival embodies the emirate's historical cultural and artistic legacy, reflects its directions in establishing the values and aesthetics of arts and culture as pillars of development. 100 artists from 49 countries are participating in the festival.