The first Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival will take place under the area's dome. Ruel Pableo / The National
The first Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival will take place under the area's dome. Ruel Pableo / The National
The first Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival will take place under the area's dome. Ruel Pableo / The National
The first Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival will take place under the area's dome. Ruel Pableo / The National

Emirati artists set to shine at first Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival


Maan Jalal
  • English
  • Arabic

Seven Emirati artists will lead the line-up of a new light art festival set to illuminate Expo City Dubai.

Mattar Bin Lahej, known for his calligraphic design on the facade of the Museum of the Future, will showcase his latest piece at the first Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival. He will be joined by Najat Makki, renowned for her colourful abstract work of the region’s landscapes, as well as Mohamed Yousif, the multi-disciplinary artist and writer who often uses themes and symbols of the UAE in his work.

Abdalla Almulla, Khalid Shafar, Reem Al Ghaith and Maitha Hamdan will also join the event, which is set to run from January 26 to February 4 at Al Wasl Plaza.

“Announcing this remarkable line-up of Emirati artists brings us one step closer to the start of what promises to be an incredible festival, further strengthening Dubai’s position as a destination for global arts events,” said Amna Abulhoul, co-curator and Expo City Dubai's executive creative director.

“The participating artists each come with their own unique stories that beautifully complement one another, and together tell the story of Dubai, which visitors will see come to life at Dhai Dubai."

Emirati artist Mattar Bin Lahej will be part of Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival. Photo: Loro Piana
Emirati artist Mattar Bin Lahej will be part of Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival. Photo: Loro Piana

Almulla's geometrically inspired architectural designs explore the relationships between light and daily prayer times, while Shafar has made a name for himself blending Emirati culture and contemporary design elements.

Visual artist Al Ghaith is known for using mixed media to highlight urban transformation in the UAE and multi-disciplinary artist Hamdan often uses her work to explore social boundaries and religion.

Emirati conceptual artist Maitha Hamdan. Photo: Jacqueline V Belizario
Emirati conceptual artist Maitha Hamdan. Photo: Jacqueline V Belizario

Aside from the installations, the festival will offer workshops for children and adults centred on art and light. It will also host panel discussions featuring local and international artists, who are yet to be announced.

“Light is such a significant part of Emirati and Arab culture,” said Anthony Bastic, co-curator and creative director of AGB Creative, a cultural events company backing the festival in partnership with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

“The art and architecture of this region are renowned for their exquisite use of light and shadow. This innate meaning and profound influence of light give deep resonance to this festival. It is a festival rooted in its place, Dubai, and in the work of its local artists who help shape the Emirate’s unique cultural identity.”

Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival will run from January 26 to February 4 at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai. More information is available at www.dhaidubai.com

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.4-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20366hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E550Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESix-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh360%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sideup%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202019%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Waleed%20Rashed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20technology%2C%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.2%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Launch%20Africa%20VC%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20Riyadh%20Angels%2C%20Alex%20Angels%2C%20Al%20Tuwaijri%20Fund%20and%20Saudi%20angel%20investor%20Faisal%20Al%20Abdulsalam%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Manchester United 1 (Greenwood 77')

Everton 1 (Lindelof 36' og)

The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Aston martin DBX specs

Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 542bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Top speed: 291kph

Price: Dh848,000

On sale: Q2, 2020
 

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

West Indies v India - Third ODI

India 251-4 (50 overs)
Dhoni (78*), Rahane (72), Jadhav (40)
Cummins (2-56), Bishoo (1-38)
West Indies 158 (38.1 overs)
Mohammed (40), Powell (30), Hope (24)
Ashwin (3-28), Yadav (3-41), Pandya (2-32)

India won by 93 runs

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Top tips

Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
 

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: January 15, 2024, 6:16 AM`