Shahad Alsaqqaf
Shahad Alsaqqaf is an Emirati writer, poet, and multidisciplinary artist who explores storytelling through poetry, music, acting, and spoken word. She is an alumnus of New York University Abu Dhabi, with a BA in Literature and Creative Writing with a minor in Anthropology. Shahad moves fluidly between languages and artistic mediums, embracing the intersections of language, performance, and identity to connect with human experiences.
Her work is deeply rooted in both Arabic and English, weaving between the two to create layered narratives. She has performed at cultural events such as NYUAD Art Center’s Hekayah and Rooftop Rhythms. As a member of Al Diwan, she has published original poetry in its Archival Poetry Collection. Beyond the page, Shahad experiments with performance as a mode of storytelling. In New York, she co-wrote and starred in The Real AD show, explored improvisational theater at London’s BRIT School, and made her acting debut in the role of Shabasa in Hamour Doesn’t Leave the Cubicle directed by Reem Almenhali. She has also served as an MC at international events, including the Sharjah International Film Festival, attended by HH Sheikh Sultan Al Qasemi.