Vicky
Singer Songwriter
Immerse yourself in extraordinary experiences! Curated exclusively for the Compass & RAKEZ community.
Civilizations: A tribute to the evolution of cultures and the creative legacies they leave behind.
As part of the lead-up to the Ras Al Khaimah Art 2026 Festival , a special preview evening will be hosted at Compass Coworking Center, bringing together partners, creatives, and members of the community for an early introduction to the upcoming festival.
The evening will open with an introduction by Suqrat Bin Bisher, Art Director of RAK Art Festival, who will share the vision, curatorial direction, and key highlights of the 2026 edition, offering insight into what audiences can expect in the weeks ahead.
Guests will also have the opportunity to meet the festival’s Artist in Residence, Hussain Alismail, whose practice explores identity, place, and contemporary cultural narratives developed through his residency in Ras Al Khaimah. The evening will be complemented by a live performance by Vicky, creating a relaxed and engaging setting for conversation, connection, and creative exchange ahead of the festival launch.
Don’t miss out – reserve your spot now!
IMPORTANT: Spaces are limited!
Agenda
15:45 Guest arrival and registration
16:00 Welcome and introduction by Suqrat Bin Bisher, Director, RAK Art Festival
16:10 Presentation by the Artist in Residence Hussain Alismail
16:30 Live performance Vicky
16:50 Networking and informal conversations
17:30 End of Programme
WHAT TO EXPECT
For the Ras Al Khaimah Art 2026 Festival, we invite you to explore the grand narrative of Civilizations – both as relics of our shared past and as living frameworks shaping our present and future. Civilizations evolve through the intertwining of human decisions, innovations, and exchanges over millennia, giving rise to extraordinary achievements in art, architecture, philosophy, science, and governance.
From the ancient Silk Road routes that once connected Ras Al Khaimah to distant shores, to the modern metropolises defining today’s global landscape, Civilizations examines how artistic expression has flourished across societies. The 2026 Festival celebrates the diversity of cultural forms alongside the shared aspirations that bind humanity together. As civilizations meet and merge, we ask: what endures, what transforms, and what new forms of art, beauty, and understanding emerge from this continuous dialogue?
Brought to you by:
Ras Al Khaimah Art
Founded in 2013, we’ve grown from a small festival of 30 emerging Ras Al Khaimah-based artists to become the emirate’s cultural event of the year. This year, the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival is reborn as Ras Al Khaimah Art. Beyond the Festival, Ras Al Khaimah Art is a beacon of creativity, nurturing year-round programs that ignite dialogue. We exist as a hub that empowers emerging creatives and the community through grants, masterclasses, and workshops to cultivate their crafts and talents. Join us on this captivating journey as we redefine the creative scene of our emirate and beyond.
Aldar Properties
Aldar Development is a master developer of integrated, liveable, and thriving communities across Abu Dhabi’s most desirable destinations, including Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Raha, and Reem Island. It is responsible for developing Aldar’s c. 65 million sqm land bank and includes three businesses: Aldar Projects, which manages Aldar’s fee-based development management business, including AED 45 billion of government housing and infrastructure projects; Aldar Ventures, which incubates and nurtures new business opportunities and innovation areas; and Aldar Egypt, the platform focused on developing mixed-use communities in Egypt.
Compass Coworking Centre by RAKEZ
Compass Coworking Centre, nestled in the heart of Ras Al Khaimah, is more than just a workspace – it’s a thriving hub for innovation, collaboration, and growth. Designed with the modern professional in mind, it offers a flexible and inspiring environment tailored to digital nomads, entrepreneurs, SMEs, freelancers, and students alike. From open-plan workspaces to private offices and dedicated desks, Compass provides the perfect setting to fuel productivity and spark new ideas. It’s where ambition meets community, and where work feels a lot less like work.
Speakers
Vicky
Singer Songwriter
Vicky is a Ras Al Khaimah–based vocalist known for her warm, expressive delivery and versatile repertoire spanning soul, pop, and contemporary classics. Coming from a family of talent, her musicality is deeply rooted in performance and storytelling, bringing an intimate and heartfelt quality to every set. A familiar presence within the local creative community, Vicky’s performances connect effortlessly with audiences across cultural and live event settings.
Suqrat Bin Bisher
Art Director, RAK Art Festival
Suqrat Bin Bisher is a cultural practitioner and curator working at the intersection of contemporary art, heritage, and public engagement. As Art Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival, he leads the curatorial vision and artistic direction of the festival, shaping platforms that bring together local and international artists while activating historic sites across the emirate. His work focuses on creating meaningful cultural dialogue through site-responsive exhibitions and multidisciplinary programming.
Hussain Alismail
Artist in Residence, RAK Art Festival 2026
Hussain Alismail is a Saudi visual artist whose practice explores identity, social dynamics, and human relationships through painting, digital media, and interdisciplinary approaches. Informed by travel, observation, and lived experience, his work reflects on contemporary cultural narratives and everyday encounters. As Artist in Residence for RAK Art Festival 2026, he is developing new work rooted in Ras Al Khaimah’s context, engaging with place, people, and shared histories.
H.E. Dr. Natasha Ridge
Executive Director of the Al Qasimi Foundation
H.E. Dr. Natasha Ridge is the founding Executive Director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research since 2009. In this role, she guides the Foundation’s strategic direction and operations, advancing inclusive development and educational innovation in Ras Al Khaimah. Dr. Ridge has over 20 years of experience working in the international education sector, including in Singapore and Australia. She holds a Doctorate of Education in International Education Policy from Columbia University, a Master's in International and Community Development from Deakin University Dr. Ridge is the author of two books and over 50 publications on education, gender, and philanthropy. She is the founding editor of the Gulf Education and Social Policy Review and a founding member and past president of the Gulf Comparative Education Society. She currently serves on the advisory board of the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Knowledge.
