“The Fish Market in Sharjah, UAE"

The fish market in Sharjah was always a place that fascinated me. It was just a five-minute drive from my house, yet it held an entire world within it—a place deeply tied to the UAE’s heritage, where fishing and pearl diving were once the backbone of the country’s economy before the discovery of oil.

 

After spending a year away, returning to the market reignited that sense of wonder. I was eager to photograph and document the energy of the place—the endless ships arriving at shore, the fishermen with their weathered faces after long hours at sea, and the daily ritual of buyers gathering every afternoon to secure the freshest catch. Seeing the market in full motion was mesmerizing, a chaotic yet beautifully orchestrated dance of tradition, labor, and life by the water.