President’s Biography

Hoor Al Qasimi

President, Global Studies University

Hoor Al Qasimi has been instrumental in the development of Global Studies University (GSU) since its inception, beginning with the establishment of The Africa Institute in 2018. This initiative builds on the Afro-Arab cultural and scholarly exchange in Sharjah, inspired by the landmark 1976 ‘Symposium on African and Arab Relations,’ which envisioned a future nexus for learning and collaboration between the two regions. Working alongside Dr. Salah M. Hassan, Chancellor of GSU and Dean of The Africa Institute, she continues to shape its programs and strategic direction.

In 2023, Al Qasimi was appointed President of GSU, underscoring the university’s commitment to academic excellence under her visionary leadership. A practicing artist and curator, Al Qasimi is also the President and founding Director of Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF), established in 2009 to advocate for the role of art in Sharjah, the UAE, and beyond. She has consistently championed experimentation and innovation in the arts, expanding the Foundation’s scope to include internationally toured exhibitions, artist and curator residencies in visual art, film, and music, as well as educational programs for all ages. As Biennial Director, she co-curated both Sharjah Biennial 6 (2003) and Sharjah Biennial 15: Thinking Historically in the Present (2023). Her leadership has elevated Sharjah Biennial into an internationally recognized platform for contemporary art.

Her contributions to the field led to her election as President of the International Biennial Association (IBA) in 2017, bringing IBA’s headquarters to Sharjah. She is currently appointed as the Artistic Director for the 2026 edition of the Biennale of Sydney.

Beyond her work with GSU and SAF, Al Qasimi serves as President and Director of the Sharjah Architecture Triennial, which launched its first edition in 2019. She is a board member of Kunst-Werke Berlin e. V. and Ashkal Alwan, Beirut, and chairs the Advisory Board for the College of Fine Arts and Design at the University of Sharjah. Her advisory roles extend to Khoj International Artists’ Association in New Delhi, Darat al Funun in Amman, the Independent Film Council at ICA London, and the Eye Art & Film Prize at the Eye Filmmuseum in Amsterdam (2022–2024).

Previously, Al Qasimi served on the boards of MoMA PS1 in New York (2010–2021) and the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing (2013–2016). She was also a member of the Prince Claus Award Committee (2016–2020) and participated in numerous juries and prize panels, including the MAXXI Bulgari Prize (2022), Pinchuk Art Centre’s Future Generation Art Prize (2019), and many others.

Al Qasimi holds an MA in curating contemporary art from the Royal College of Art, London (2008). She earned a diploma in painting from the Royal Academy of Arts, London (2005), and a BFA from the Slade School of Fine Art, London (2002).