University of the Arts Sharjah to Launch as Creative Education Hub

A new non-profit higher education institution focused on creative disciplines is being established in the UAE with the launch of the University of the Arts Sharjah. The university will consolidate arts education in the emirate by merging the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy and the University of Sharjah’s College of Fine Arts and Design into a single academic entity. The new university will offer specialised programmes across performing arts, fine arts, design, and related creative fields, bringing together practical training and academic study under one institutional framework. By combining the strengths of both entities, the University of the Arts Sharjah aims to support artistic education, research, and professional development aligned with international standards while responding to the needs of the region’s creative sector. The merger is intended to streamline resources, expand interdisciplinary collaboration, and create clearer academic pathways for students pursuing careers in the arts. It also positions the university as a central hub connecting education with Sharjah’s wider cultural ecosystem, which includes theatres, museums, biennales, publishing initiatives, and heritage institutions. The establishment of the University of the Arts Sharjah was formalised through a decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.