Several events are taking place in Cairo this week to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the death of Egyptian Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz.
They include an exhibition of photographs of the legendary writer taken by the late Mohamed Hegazy, a Cairo of Naguib Mahfouz tour and free entry to his namesake museum.
Mahfouz was propelled to international fame in 1988, when he became the only Arab to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.
His legacy lives on through the dozens of novels, short stories, plays and screenplays he wrote across a 70-year career – including his masterpiece The Cairo Trilogy, which follows an Egyptian family across three generations from the 1920s.
But his awards, personal items and other tangible aspects of him as a person were not collected in one place until the Naguib Mahfouz Museum opened in July 2019.
The photos taken by Hegazy between 1992 until Mahfouz’s death aged 94 in 2006 have never been displayed in Egypt before, though they had been shown in exhibitions in Austria, Germany, Jordan and the UAE.
Duat photo exhibition
Aly Hegazy decided to display the photographs taken by his father in an exhibition in downtown Cairo that opened on Monday, which is both the anniversary of Mahfouz’s death and his father’s birthday. It concludes on September 4.
“I did this exhibition to honour my father’s memory and Naguib Mahfouz’s memory,” Aly, 19, tells The National.
The exhibition is named Duat, which means "afterlife" in ancient Egyptian mythology because it aims to revive the legacy of two great artists, he explains.
“Duat is the place where kings and queens come back to life,” says Aly, a university student and photographer. “We’re bringing these pictures back to life.”
Hegazy, born in 1964, was a photojournalist for the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper and later worked for Nisf Al Dunia magazine.
He had a unique relationship with Mahfouz, whereby he was able to take candid pictures of him on the street, at home and even in the intensive care unit at El Agouza Hospital during his final days.
The 27 photos on display capture Mahfouz in his daily rituals: buying a newspaper, walking to a downtown cafe with a cane in hand, hailing a taxi, getting stopped by fans on the street and sitting on the sofa in his robe at home.
There are also two photos of Mahfouz in the 1990s, from the private collection of his daughter Huda, that had never been displayed before.
Hakan Emsgard, the Swedish Ambassador to Cairo, was at the opening of the exhibition on Monday night.
“Mahfouz is the only Nobel Prize laureate in the Arabic language, so I think this is very important from that perspective,” Emsgard tells The National.
“I also think it’s important because it shows pictures that are very personal that say something about the person. They’re intimate, but somehow not invasive."
Visitor Khaled Abdelwahab, 29, says he found the photos showed Mahfouz as an “ordinary citizen”.
“He wasn’t this famous status that you can’t reach. He was a man of the public, walking the streets to his work, to his coffee shop to see his friends and write there,” says Abdelwahab, a policy adviser and translator for the New Zealand Embassy in Cairo.
Duat takes place at the Consoleya coworking space in Downtown Cairo until Saturday, September 4
Walk Like an Egyptian tour
Walk Like an Egyptian, a walking tour group founded in 2015, is running a special Cairo of Naguib Mahfouz tour on Friday.
The tour starts with a walk through the historical quarter of El Gamaliya in Old Cairo, where Mahfouz was born and the setting for many of his famous novels. The three novels of his trilogy – Palace Walk, Palace of Desire and Sugar Street – and Midaq Alley are all real street names in this area.
The tour includes a visit to the Naguib Mahfouz Museum, hidden within the small alleys of the bustling district near Khan El-Khalili market and Al Azhar Mosque.
Finally, patrons will drive by the house in Agouza where Mahfouz later moved, and continue downtown to the coffee shops he frequented to write and meet friends, such as Cafe Riche.
The visit ends with a stop at the Duat exhibition, as part of a collaboration between the organisers.
Asmaa Khattab, founder of Walk Like an Egyptian, says she is excited to shed light on an Egyptian personality who is “important in our modern history” but perhaps not celebrated enough.
“Everyone knows Naguib Mahfouz and they love him, but not a lot of people have visited the museum or remember him in their daily lives,” she tells The National.
The tour takes place on Friday, September 3 and can be booked through the Walk Like an Egyptian Facebook page
Naguib Mahfouz Museum
The Naguib Mahfouz Museum showcases the writer’s life and works over two floors in the historic Tkeit Abu El Dahab building next to the 18th-century Mosque of Abu Dahab.
Among the items on display are photos, awards, personal belongings, Mahfouz's personal office and the Nobel Prize of Literature certificate. Themed rooms include a cinema broadcasting the many films that were adapted from his novels.
The museum details the events of his career and life, from his government job to an assassination attempt by extremists in 1994 that left him with nerve damage.
A new exhibition titled Naguib Mahfouz through the Eyes of the Caricature, with 40 caricatures from different countries, opened on Tuesday and will run until Thursday, September 9.
Museum entry is free until Sunday, September 5; more information is at mahfouzmuseum.gov.eg
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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Dimitar Berbatov (Kerala Blasters) Word has it that Rene Meulensteen, the Kerala manager, plans to deploy his Bulgarian star in central midfield. The idea of Berbatov as an all-action, box-to-box midfielder, might jar with Spurs and Manchester United supporters, who more likely recall an always-languid, often-lazy striker.
Wes Brown (Kerala Blasters) Revived his playing career last season to help out at Blackburn Rovers, where he was also a coach. Since then, the 23-cap England centre back, who is now 38, has been reunited with the former Manchester United assistant coach Meulensteen, after signing for Kerala.
Andre Bikey (Jamshedpur) The Cameroonian defender is onto the 17th club of a career has taken him to Spain, Portugal, Russia, the UK, Greece, and now India. He is still only 32, so there is plenty of time to add to that tally, too. Scored goals against Liverpool and Chelsea during his time with Reading in England.
Emiliano Alfaro (Pune City) The Uruguayan striker has played for Liverpool – the Montevideo one, rather than the better-known side in England – and Lazio in Italy. He was prolific for a season at Al Wasl in the Arabian Gulf League in 2012/13. He returned for one season with Fujairah, whom he left to join Pune.
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Maghreb United
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
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Brief scoreline:
Wolves 3
Neves 28', Doherty 37', Jota 45' 2
Arsenal 1
Papastathopoulos 80'
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Omania, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
Winner: Brehaan, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Craving, Connor Beasley, Simon Crisford
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Match info
Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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