With its clean angular design and gentle symmetries, Bassam Freiha Art Foundation manages the difficult task of architecturally separating itself from its impressive neighbours at the Saadiyat Cultural District.
Opening earlier this month, the foundation is the first private institution in the district. It is nestled beside Manarat Al Saadiyat and Berklee Abu Dhabi, renowned for its obsidian dune-shaped structure. The construction of Zayed National Museum with its unmistakable falcon wing looms nearby. Louvre Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, with its signature floating dome is situated mere minutes away.
In this huddle of awe-inspiring structures, Bassam Freiha Art Foundation still stands out. Its restrained design juxtaposes fibre cement and glass in a cantilever structure that tapers towards its courtyard and seemingly hovers over the water around it. Its facade is pockmarked at the sides with jagged patterns. The openings emit a serene incandescent glow in the evening and allow sunlight to filter into the space during the day. The structure’s front, meanwhile, is pristine with monolithic sides that let the glass entrance in the centre dominate the viewer’s focus.
Devising a structure that is proudly distinct in one of the world’s most dense cultural hubs was surely a challenge. While one would presume the design was established after the foundation’s location was determined, it was in fact the architecture that propelled the project from a relatively modest private endeavour to a public space.
Bassam Freiha, a philanthropist and art collector, had originally intended to build a space in the back garden of his Abu Dhabi home to hold his collection. He commissioned Rasha Gebran, director of architecture and design at ADD Consultants, to come up with a few designs for the project.
“[Freiha] called me up one day and said he wanted to build a small art gallery in his backyard,” Gebran says. “I did the regular design and then three that were completely out-of-the-box.”
One in particular stood out, though it almost seemed too far-fetched, elaborate and ambitious to function as a back-garden gallery. However, it was this design that suggested the project had greater potential. The proposal caught Freiha’s attention and eventually found its way to President Sheikh Mohamed.
“Two days later, [Freiha] calls me and tells me he showed the designs to President Sheikh Mohamed and had told him about his plans to build a gallery in his backyard,” Gebran says. “Sheikh Mohamed went quiet for a bit, looked at his art and said ‘you just gave me an idea’.”
A plaque at the entrance of the foundation quoting Freiha hints at how the president enabled the project, helping it bloom from a structure to house a single collection to a public space dedicated to showcasing artworks from regional and international private collectors.
"Heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the generous support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, who endorsed the establishment of this art foundation to serve as bridge for cultural dialogue. I am honored to have it bear my name,” the plaque reads.
As the project shifted to the public sphere, Gebran was called on to refine and tweak the design accordingly. By the end of January last year, Freiha reached out to the architect again, saying that he and President Sheikh Mohamed had settled on a design, and that a location for the project was to be determined. Weeks later, the president had allotted a plot on Saadiyat Cultural District.
For Gebran, this seemed like a wild dream – what had started out as a private project had rapidly turned into an institutional project at one of the most prestigious addresses in the UAE.
“I was in awe,” Gebran says. Construction of the foundation began in March last year and within a span of eight months, it had been completed. Gebran says she owes a lot to the support and expertise of Elie Kanaan of Scan Construction, who helped the project materialise as designed.
“Without him, this wouldn't have happened,” she says. “We made a very good team, he happens to be one of my childhood friends. It was pure coincidence.”
Elaborating on the design of the foundation and the materials used, Gebran points out:
“As you can see it's [a] cantilever,” she says. “There’s a pedestal that carries the steel structure. I have a concrete body from the inside that has a glass elevation. And there's a steel structure on top of it that's carrying the cladding. So, it's like an envelope. I have this major beam on top that's lifting them from both sides, and it's laying onto the concrete.”
The structure’s exterior, Gebran says, was inspired by the character of Freiha himself. “When I see Bassam, I see power, I see influence, I see a storyline. He's been here for a very long time, and has done a lot for this country,” she says.”
The interior was challenging, especially since Gebran chose to do away with centre columns to allow for complete modularity of the space. “I have set all the columns so that the space can be completely flexible,” she says. “This is why we have movable walls. The walls are on wheels. Flexibility was key.”
When deciding on the palette for the structure, she says she opted for materials and hues that are “timeless.”
“This is fibre cement,” Gebran says of the exterior. “The reason I used it is because it's extremely sustainable and it’s recyclable. It has really big spans and we can perforate it. It’s a very solid material.”
The interior, meanwhile, from the reception to restrooms, are fitted with textured stones. The doors that lead to security rooms, meanwhile, are hidden – almost undistinguishable from the walls, instilling a feeling of openness throughout the space.
“I wanted to select the right materials that would be special and timeless. Not ones that were in today and not tomorrow,” she says.
Beyond the main building, the premises also feature an annex space as well as a courtyard that can elegantly accommodate outdoor installations, as it does for its inaugural exhibitions. The courtyard features a few chikoo trees.
“The reason why we picked that tree is that [Freiha] wanted a green tree that keeps growing and symbolises growth,” she says.
In addition to hosting exhibitions, the foundation will also aim to bolster emerging talent through programming that includes annual scholarships, art history lectures, panel discussions, children workshops and book launches. The annex was designed accordingly to meet this educational and community aspect.
Gebran says the annex was actually an idea of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi. It was his suggestion, Gebran says, to create a space for “programmes that can cater to enhancing local artists.”
The structure doesn’t seem like an afterthought, and with its sharp angular edges that peek out to the lushness of the premises, it naturally blends in with its surroundings.
Bassam Freiha Art Foundation on Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi is open daily from 10am to 8pm. More information is available at bfaf.ae
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 5 (Lenglet 2', Vidal 29', Messi 34', 75', Suarez 77')
Valladolid 1 (Kiko 15')
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
It
Director: Andres Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Three stars
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs: 2019 BMW X4
Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Quran memorisation:
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If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
