Emirati Poet Shamma Al Bastaki Shines at Sicily's Taobuk Festival

Klaus Schmidt · 2026-06-26

### A Voice from Dubai Creek to Sicily Emirati poet and visual artist Shamma Al Bastaki recently took the stage at the Taobuk Festival in Taormina, Sicily. She brought her unique blend of multilingual poetry and cross-genre art to an international audience. It wasn't just a performance—it was a bridge between cultures. Her work feels personal. It draws heavily from the Dubai Creek, a place that holds generations of stories. In her latest book, she mixes poetry with old oral histories and photo collages. The goal? To save those everyday memories that usually get lost over time. ### More Than Just Words on a Page Shamma doesn't stick to one style. She moves between poetry and visual art like it's the most natural thing in the world. And honestly, for her, it is. Her pieces feel alive, like they're talking to you directly. At Taobuk, she didn't just read poems. She presented her work as a full experience. The audience got to see how words and images can work together to tell a deeper story. It's the kind of art that makes you stop and think. ### Building Cultural Bridges Her appearance at the festival wasn't an isolated event. It marked the start of a new partnership between the UAE and Europe. This collaboration aims to bring more Emirati voices to European audiences. And it's about time. Here's what makes this connection special: - It's a two-way street. European artists will also get to share their work in the UAE. - It focuses on contemporary art, not just traditional forms. - It creates real dialogue between different cultures. Shamma's poetry is a perfect example of why this matters. She writes in multiple languages, mixing Arabic with English and sometimes even Italian. That kind of flexibility opens doors. It lets people from different backgrounds find common ground. ### The Power of Personal Stories What makes Shamma's work stand out is how personal it feels. She's not writing about big, abstract ideas. She's writing about her grandmother's kitchen, the smell of spices at the market, the way light hits the water at dawn. Those small moments that make up a life. Her latest publication is a collection of these moments. She gathered oral histories from older family members and neighbors. Then she wove them together with her own poetry and photographs. The result is something that feels both timeless and urgent. ### Why This Matters for US Readers You might be wondering why a poet from Dubai matters to someone in the United States. The answer is simple: great art transcends borders. Shamma's work speaks to universal experiences—family, memory, home. Those are things everyone can relate to. Plus, the partnership she helped launch could mean more cultural exchanges between the US and the UAE down the line. Think of it as a first step. If this collaboration works, it could open doors for American artists to share their work in the Middle East too. ### What's Next for Shamma Al Bastaki She's not slowing down. After Taobuk, she has more festivals lined up in Europe. And she's already working on her next project—another blend of poetry and visual art. This time, she's focusing on the contrast between old Dubai and the modern city it's becoming. It's an exciting time for Emirati artists. They're getting more international recognition than ever before. And Shamma is leading the way, one poem at a time. If you get a chance to see her work, take it. You won't regret it.