Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) has opened participation in the third edition of its student photography competition and exhibition, “I Am at Sharjah Museums – Through Their Lens: Traditional Emirati Ornaments.”

Starting Monday, August 31, 2026, Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 students from public and private schools across the UAE can submit photographs exploring traditional Emirati ornaments displayed across SMA museums in Sharjah, Khorfakkan and Kalba.

The competition aims to combine creativity with museum-based learning while encouraging young people to engage with Emirati heritage and view museums as spaces for cultural discovery and artistic expression.

Students are invited to photograph ornaments and decorative elements found in traditional architecture, clothing, textiles, furniture, household objects and crafts, with a focus on geometric and floral motifs.

The winning photographs will be displayed at Taymiyyah School, with the exhibition opening on 28 January 2027, when winners will also be announced.

Cash prizes will be awarded to winners in both categories.

Entries must be original photographs taken at an SMA museum during 2026 and submitted as a single JPG image without digital manipulation.

The deadline for submissions is 25 October 2026.

The initiative follows two editions, with the previous competition receiving more than 547 entries from students across the UAE. -TradeArabia News Service