Writers and Photographers Unite to Capture Sharjah’s Cultural Soul at SIBF 2025
Dubai — Creativity and culture converged at the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2025 as writers and photographers behind Sarab, the new fine-art imprint of Kalimat Group, shared insights into documenting the emirate’s architectural, intellectual, and spiritual heritage through their debut titles.
Sarab’s first publications — Sharjah from the Sky, Mosques of Sharjah, and Sharjah Libraries — were spotlighted during a dynamic panel featuring contributors Mohammed Mahdi Humaidah, Saeed Saeed, Dany Eid, Diaa Murad, and Majed Al Bastaki. Together, they spoke about how the fusion of text and image forms a multidimensional portrait of Sharjah as a living museum of knowledge and design.
Author Mohammed Mahdi Humaidah, who penned Mosques of Sharjah and Sharjah Libraries, described the collection as an effort to preserve the emirate’s identity by blending literary expression with visual storytelling.
“Photographs carry meaning, and writing evokes imagery,” he said. “It was a creative challenge between writers and photographers — who could best express the spirit of the subject?”
The series also commemorates 100 years since the establishment of Sharjah’s first library, presenting the city’s intellectual evolution through prose that reads like portraiture and imagery that speaks like poetry.
Photographer Dany Eid detailed the demanding process behind Sharjah from the Sky, a 20-day aerial expedition covering over 45 locations in 15-hour shoots. His work offers a rare aerial perspective on the emirate — from the BEEAH headquarters and Al Suhub Rest Area to the ancient deserts of Mleiha — showcasing how heritage, nature, and modernity harmonize.
“From above, you see a clarity in space and design that links history with progress,” Eid reflected.
For Diaa Murad, contributor to Mosques of Sharjah, the project involved a month-long journey to more than 200 sacred spaces. Through detailed images of domes, minarets, and delicate mihrabs, Murad revealed the architectural and spiritual diversity of Sharjah’s mosques.
“Each mosque tells a story of faith, design, and heritage,” he said, calling the experience transformative.
The Sarab panel underscored the imprint’s mission to archive Sharjah’s cultural landscape through fine-art publications that transcend traditional documentary formats. Participants emphasized that these books are not just artistic works, but enduring cultural records.
With its inaugural collection, Sarab establishes itself as a unique voice in the region’s creative scene, reaffirming Sharjah’s place on the global fine-art and publishing map.