The committee reviewed 459 calligraphy works submitted by 182 calligraphers and artists, selecting 297 works by 145 artists from around the world. The selected works span traditional, modern and contemporary calligraphy, as well as decorative art.

The selection committee comprised Fatima Al Hammadi of the UAE, Mamoun Yaghmour of Syria, Munther Al Dulaimi of Iraq, Nour Al Din Shater of Morocco and Yasser Al Ashry of Egypt.

Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, director of the Cultural Affairs Department and of the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial, said the event has become one of the world’s leading destinations for Arabic calligraphy, thanks to the patronage and continued support of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

He said Sheikh Sultan has given exceptional attention to the arts and culture, based on his belief in their role in building bridges between peoples, promoting intercultural dialogue and strengthening the presence of Arab culture on the global creative scene.

Al Qaseer added that the growing international interest in the biennial, reflected in the 459 works submitted by artists and creatives from around the world, confirms its status as a global event celebrating the aesthetics of Arabic calligraphy and as an open platform for diverse artistic experiences converging in Sharjah.

He said the selected works embody the spirit and vision of the biennial by bringing together tradition and innovation, presenting the Arabic letter in new aesthetic and artistic forms that highlight its broad expressive potential. They also demonstrate its capacity to move beyond traditional applications and to serve as a field for experimentation, artistic composition and dialogue with different schools and artistic movements.

Al Qaseer said the 12th edition marks a new chapter in the biennial’s journey, offering artists and calligraphers the opportunity to rediscover the possibilities of the Arabic letter and to present their creative visions through an artistic experience that combines cultural depth with openness to contemporary practices.

He said the choice of “Balance” as the theme carries deep artistic and cultural significance, evoking balance as an aesthetic and intellectual value embedded in Arabic calligraphy’s structure.

Al Qaseer also stressed that the biennial’s continued ability to attract creative experiences from around the world reflects Sharjah’s vision of supporting Arabic calligraphy, preserving its place within Arab and Islamic cultural identity, and presenting it to younger generations and global audiences in innovative forms that reflect the spirit of the times.

The biennial’s competition offers prizes for outstanding works selected by the judging panel. These include a Grand Prize of $15,000, three Traditional Direction prizes of $8,000 each, three Modern and Contemporary Calligraphy prizes of $8,000 each, and a Jury Prize of $8,000 for an Emirati calligrapher.

The general exhibition features works in the traditional direction that showcase established artistic approaches to producing authentic Arabic calligraphy panels, encompassing various styles while adhering to the artistic and aesthetic conventions of traditional calligraphy in terms of text, reading sequence and tools used.

It also features modern and contemporary calligraphy, including lettering-based artworks and installation art, created with a range of tools and techniques.