Takashi Kudo’s ties to Abu Dhabi go beyond the launch of a new museum. As the Japanese art collective’s global brand director, he is in town for the anticipated opening of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi in the Saadiyat Cultural District, which will welcome guests on Friday.
Kudo has a surprisingly personal connection to the UAE capital. Although born in Tokyo, he spent part of his childhood in Abu Dhabi, attending kindergarten and elementary school in the emirate while his father worked in the oil industry.
Now, more than three decades later, Kudo returns to a city that has vastly changed from the one he once knew.
A chance encounter with Mohamed Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, was a turning point. The two met at the 2022 Culture Summit, when Kudo mentioned he had grown up in the emirate, catching Al Mubarak by surprise. That conversation sparked a friendship, with the two visiting each other’s cities, creating a connection that eventually led to the idea of bringing teamLab to Abu Dhabi.
“I really like this vision of the Saadiyat Cultural District,” Kudo tells The National. “And I said, ‘I really want to be a part of this, and our members too'.”
Saadiyat Cultural District is designed to be more than just a centre for creativity and innovation – it’s also a place for learning, intended to inspire future generations to engage with the arts. It’s already home to institutions such as Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Abrahamic Family House, Berklee Abu Dhabi and Manarat Al Saadiyat.
Now, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi joins the district’s growing cultural landscape, alongside the coming Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, which are expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
After more than six years of development, teamLab Phenomena is finally ready to welcome its first guests. At 17,000 square metres, it is the largest teamLab in the world.
Beginnings of teamLab
The art collective began in Japan in 2001. Toshiyuki Inoko, one of teamLab’s founders, remembers the early days of the group’s formation and what they had hoped to accomplish.
“We started to explore spaces where people can physically walk inside the artwork. Spaces become one with the artwork,” says Inoko. “So, a kind of physical, spatial art that people are physically present in.
"In this world, everything is continuous, everything is connected. So nothing exists separately from each other. But in our perception, we tend to understand the world around us as existing in distinct entities.”
This also explains the philosophy of the different teamLabs, which have locations around the world, including Japan, the US, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and now the UAE. Each museum has its own distinct theme. The one in Abu Dhabi follows “phenomena”.
Inoko says the idea for this project has been around for about six years, but the art pieces have been worked on for almost a decade.
“The most symbolic artworks that represent the concept are morphing continuum and levitation, void and massless, amorphous sculpture. But this concept is something that we call environmental phenomena. So the environment produces various phenomena, and then those phenomena are the artworks themselves,” he says.
“I think that things that people have been making thus far – not just limited or including art – but just things that humans have been making. We were interested in a different way of the conventional notions of what it is to make something. For example, if you put this glass in a sealed box, it will continue to exist, and that's because it maintains its own structure.”
Where visions and disciplines collide
Bringing these ideas to life, however, requires more than just vision. It takes a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary team.
“These visions for creating the installations are also in part due to having an interdisciplinary group of specialists that include CGI animators, software engineers, hardware engineers, mathematicians, architects and AI professionals," says Kudo.
“TeamLab is like exactly like its name. We are teams and we try to create something, like in laboratories. And we are very much interested in some kind of a new relationship between humans and the world.”
Kudo’s specialty in the collective lies in philosophy and literature, which he studied at Tokyo’s Waseda University, graduating in 2000. “My background is philosophy. We have engineers and we have an architect – and sometimes we speak a completely different language,” he says.
And despite what would seem like a complicated merging of minds and disciplines, he maintains that it works. It is the many different perspectives that have helped to make the collective so successful. After all, teamLab Planets in Tokyo drew in more than 2.5 million visitors in 2023, earning a Guinness World Record as “the most-visited museum dedicated to a single art group".
Of course, with such expectations there can be a lot of pressure to replicate the success in a new location. But for Kudo, it is also a meaningful homecoming – from a curious and creative child growing up in Abu Dhabi to someone who now has a role in helping to shape its cultural future.
“Before the opening, we feel very nervous and at the same time, it's a little bit exciting,” says Kudo. “We can reach people and we can share something that we think is beautiful, but maybe other people don't think that. But we cannot stop ourselves, right?”
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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The biog
Name: Salvador Toriano Jr
Age: 59
From: Laguna, The Philippines
Favourite dish: Seabass or Fish and Chips
Hobbies: When he’s not in the restaurant, he still likes to cook, along with walking and meeting up with friends.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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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
Brief scores:
England: 290 & 346
Sri Lanka: 336 & 243
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Cagliari v AC Milan (6pm)
Lazio v Napoli (9pm)
Inter Milan v Atalanta (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Sampdoria v Brescia (6pm)
Fiorentina v SPAL (6pm)
Torino v Bologna (6pm)
Verona v Genoa (9pm)
Roma V Juventus (11.45pm)
Parma v Lecce (11.45pm)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
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Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
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- Glasgow, Scotland
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Shipping%20and%20banking%20
%3Cp%3EThe%20sixth%20sanctions%20package%20will%20also%20see%20European%20insurers%20banned%20from%20covering%20Russian%20shipping%2C%20more%20individuals%20added%20to%20the%20EU's%20sanctions%20list%20and%20Russia's%20Sberbank%20cut%20off%20from%20international%20payments%20system%20Swift.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fislamic-economy-consumer-spending-to-increase-45-to-3-2tn-by-2024-1.936583%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EGlobal%20Islamic%20economy%20to%20grow%203.1%25%20to%20touch%20%242.4%20trillion%20by%202024%3C%2Fa%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fuk-economy-plunges-into-worst-ever-recession-after-record-20-4-contraction-1.1062560%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EUK%20economy%20plunges%20into%20worst-ever%20recession%20after%20record%2020.4%25%20contraction%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fislamic-economy-consumer-spending-to-increase-45-to-3-2tn-by-2024-1.936583%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EIslamic%20economy%20consumer%20spending%20to%20increase%2045%25%20to%20%243.2tn%20by%202024%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE%20SPECS
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RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
TOUR DE FRANCE INFO
Dates: July 1-23
Distance: 3,540km
Stages: 21
Number of teams: 22
Number of riders: 198
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: 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
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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
