From a tour guide who changed careers after the 2011 Egyptian revolution to the Norwegian-born sister-in-law of former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the female artists showcasing their work at a new Cairo exhibition have varied backgrounds and artistic styles.
But consultancy Art d’Egypte has brought them together to celebrate a month that includes International Women’s Day on March 8, Egyptian Women’s Day on March 16 and Egyptian Mother’s Day on March 21.
Ma’arad-ha, meaning "her exhibition" in Arabic, includes the pieces of 16 local artists at Kodak Passageway, an open gallery space in downtown Cairo until March 30.
“This exhibition provides an opportunity for Egyptian female artists to display their latest works and creative ideas, and to emphasise that their creative superpowers will always help them fight for the freedom of expression,” says Art d’Egypte founder Nadine Abdel Ghaffar.
Art d’Egypte has previously organised exhibitions showcasing Egyptian contemporary art at heritage sites, including The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Manial Palace Museum and Muizz Street in Old Cairo.
It is also the organisation behind the exhibition of 10 massive installations of international contemporary artists at the Pyramids of Giza a few months ago.
Last March, Art d’Egypte celebrated the female form in an exhibition called Mu’anath, meaning "femininity" in Arabic, but the 20 artists included both men and women.
I paint freedom, like dancers. I paint lovers. And I paint loneliness. Those are my three themes
Monelle Janho,
artist
“We are a team of all women, so for me this is a very important topic,” Abdel Ghaffar tells The National. “This year we decided to have an all-women exhibition.”
The 16 female exhibitors are: Aliaa El Greidy, Al Shaimaa Darwish, Britt Boutros Ghali, Eman Hussin, Fatma Abou Doma, Hana Afifi, Lina Osama, Marwa Adel, Monelle Janho, Nelly El Sharkawy, Nevine Hamza, Noha Nagui, Nora Baraka, Reem Osama, Rowan Al Dib and Weaam El Masry.
“We have a huge mix, from up-and-coming to established artists,” Abdel Ghaffar said.
The media and techniques used include photography, printmaking, sewing, acrylics, oil, gold leaf, digital collages, video and sculptures.
All of the pieces are for sale, ranging in price from 8,000 Egyptian pounds ($508) to 130,000 pounds ($8,275).
Exhibitor Janho, 56, used to be a French-speaking tour guide until the January 2011 revolution that removed then-president Hosni Mubarak from power and upended the country’s tourism industry.
“Then I left everything and turned to my first love, because I always dreamt of being an artist,” Janho says. “I paint freedom, like dancers. I paint lovers. And I paint loneliness. Those are my three themes."
Janho says she does not feel that Egypt’s art scene is male-dominated, noting the influence of pioneering Egyptian women artists such as Inji Aflatoun and Gazbia Sirry.
“For me personally, I’m not a feminist … but it’s the month of women. So I like the idea of women exhibiting here,” she says.
El Masry, 45, holds a doctorate degree in media art from the Faculty of Applied Arts at Helwan University. In addition to being an award-wining visual artist, she is a professor, curator and gallery owner.
She has more than 70 local and international exhibitions under her belt and was selected to represent Egypt with a media art installation at the Venice Art Biennale opening next month.
At Ma’arad-ha, she displayed three collaged drawings on paper entitled Thin slices, examining feelings around obesity and the female body.
“This work is really feminine, calm and soft and sweet. This one is really aggressive and in pain. My psychological status is really reflected in the outcome of the artwork,” El Masry says.
Some of the other artists’ pieces depict women in numerous forms, from pregnant to faceless and deformed to coquettish, but others examine various themes, such as the interrelation between human beings with nature.
Norwegian Boutros Ghali, who has lived in Cairo for more than 40 years, often paints women using strong and vibrant colours.
In contrast, sculptor Reem Osama’s pieces in bronze seem muted and meditative.
“You feel the feminine touch in the works, and the feminine spirit, the hopes, the desires, the victories,” El Masry says. “Each artist is representing her inner feelings in a different way.”
Ma’arad-ha is open Monday through Saturday, 11am-4pm and 5pm-10pm at Kodak Passageway, 20 Adly Street, Downtown Cairo through March 30. More information at www.artdegypte.org
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to help or find other cats to adopt
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Kanye%20West
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Quick%20facts
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
1st Test July 26-30 in Galle
2nd Test August 3-7 in Colombo
3rd Test August 12-16 in Pallekele
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Second Test, Day 2:
South Africa 335 & 75/1 (22.0 ov)
England 205
South Africa lead by 205 runs with 9 wickets remaining
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
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Hotel Data Cloud profile
Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
