One spot in the Sharjah Heritage Days (SHD) you can check out the best talent at is the Artist’s Corner, opposite the food trucks area and close to the Traditional Games pavilion. Here, you can see works themed on UAE culture and heritage, portraits of the UAE leaders, scenic works, abstract art and even one of the country’s most favourite snack – Chips Oman!

Other paintings that catch the eye include those of camels and Bedouin women, a Sufi whirling dervish, a ship at sea by night, and a stunning sunset abstract.

The artworks in a variety of media – oils, watercolour, acrylic, pencil sketches – are by members of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH), Muhammad Bilal, Muhammed Favas, Abu Muhammed and Habeeb Rahman. “The idea behind this stand at Sharjah Heritage Days is to exhibit our work and show off the UAE culture through the artists’ eyes,” says Muhammad Bilal.

Their guest artist is Mariam Abwaily, who is here all the way from Iraq. An amateur artist trying to make it big, Mariam’s work is largely portraits. She even has a whole series of sketches of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, covering his life from childhood until present day. Her other art focuses on falcons, hawks and eagles.